Stories
Olympics are coming to a close
I am not sure about you, but I have been following the Olympics on-and-off as I get time.
It is probably the only time we leave the TV on all day, and have a glance at the interesting bits as they happen.
I still haven't seen the opening ceremony, but I am guessing the closing ceremony will be just as good.
It is quite fascinating watching events, the extreme fitness of some of the competitors, and the lengths they go through for the chance of a few moments of glory.
Coming from an organisers background, I can't ever imagine organising an event that large. I guess you get 4 years holiday in-between.
One event that caught my eye was the C-1 500m and C-1 1000m events. It is probably the closest thing to Waka Ama that I have seen at the Olympics. Which I guess gives us a glimmer of hope that one day OC-1 500m could be there along side the rest.
I can imagine the fight over who will go, assuming they allow one entrant per country like the rowing.
C1-500 Maxim Opalevo competes. (Photo credit Jiang Enyu/Xinhua)
"The final for Men's Flatwater C1 500m has concluded. Russia's Maxim Opalev finished first with 1:47.140 minutes. Spain's David Cal came in second after 1.257 seconds and third place went to Ukranie's Iurii Cheban."
How does 1:47.14 compare to an outrigger canoe ?
Taaroa Dubois from Tahiti had the fastest time of 2:10.01 at the recent World Sprints held in Sacramento CA.
23 seconds is a large difference, obviously the Ama, adds to the drag of the canoe in the water, and I am assuming the C-1 canoes have a rudder. I wonder how a ruddered OC-1 would compare?
Maybe we should start pushing our OC-1 paddlers to new limits, who would like to see an OC1 1000m sprint at Nationals?
Something to think about while you watch the closing ceremony....
Comments
Anon - C1 canoes dont have a Rudder. The paddler uses a J stroke to steer the canoe. Be great to see OC1 At the olympics! one day i am sure it will happen.
24-Aug-2008
Anon - OC1 1000M events! What a great idea! that would certainly push the limits and give paddlers some new goals to strive for. Can we fit it into the Nationals Programme alex?
24-Aug-2008
Anon - 1000m OC1 would be grate at Nationals
24-Aug-2008
Mangler of Paddlers - May as well add the W2 500m since it might be at the next worlds and throw in a W2 1000m as well. The nationals need a couple of fresh race categories to keep the sport competitive.
24-Aug-2008
Anon - Yes it would be nice to have OC1 OC2 & OC6 at the Olympics, I also understand that to qualify a sport for the olympics it needs 75 countrys present at the worldchamps. How many countrys were at world sprints?
24-Aug-2008
Anon - Haha only like 14 countries at worlds
25-Aug-2008
Anon - From what I read, it was 23 countries spread over 3 continents. Although, there is a bit more to qualifying a sport then just that. The 14 countries at our worlds are not all olympic recognised countries as such. eg Tahiti is part of France. California, Hawaii and Pacific North West are all parts of USA, etc
25-Aug-2008
Anon - so that means there were only about 8 or something
25-Aug-2008
anon paddler - Would be great to see IVF plan towards OC1 at Olympics, but it is very likely that would need to be through the international canoe/ kayak federation, and maybe even having to join that federation.
25-Aug-2008
Anon - owell lets just worry about that 1000m Singles at Nationals
25-Aug-2008
annon - Yep not enough following World wide for our sport to get to the Olympics .
Thats why Rugby and league will never get there ,because no other countries in the World care about these sports.
Only 16 counries in the World cup of rugby,
Less for league and cricket fairs even less.
We should all take up syncronised swimming ha ha.
Instead of pushing for the sprints ,why not push for ocean 6 man marathons at the olympics.
use the sailing venue.
25-Aug-2008
Anon - France will win
25-Aug-2008
anon - Bring back the Mixed W6 - 1 team per club
25-Aug-2008
Manukua - Manukua UGLIEZ wat!!!!!!!!!!!
25-Aug-2008
paddler 4 now - well i hope that wakaz becomes a event at olympics and as for the oc1 1000 if you can last the distance then you should give it a go.
25-Aug-2008
Anon - well bring it on!!
25-Aug-2008
Hillbillies6 - yea bring bak the W6 mixes 1 per club....
and ive also been watching the olypics and theres some real dumb sports there(handball, bmx, et)...take waka ama to the olypics!!!
25-Aug-2008
Anon - 1000m 1man race on a 250m course, there's some skill.
25-Aug-2008
Anon - Nah leave it away
25-Aug-2008
Carl. - From a competitor who has competed in the olympics and the world Waka champs, they are not as far apart as some percive.The team I was in for the waka worlds trained as dedicated as my team for the olympics, only difference was the NZ government didn't pick up the tab for the travel and the high tech testing - unlike this years Tahiti team who were fully financed.People should stop getting on this site and bagging the efforts of those who are out there and giving up enormous amounts of time, the managers and support staff included,to keep nz waka at the forefront.
25-Aug-2008
Anon - There will only be two new sports added to the olympics in 2012; vying for those spots are the two incumbents softball, baseball; rugby 7's, karate, squash and golf (which is being backed by the USPGA). The chances of waka-ama becoming a olympic sport is next to zero especially with no real european/asian presence; but hey there is always a possibility in the future. We should concentrate on our nats and worlds making them better and stronger.
26-Aug-2008
Anon - i don't think we would have to introduce it as a new sport. it could be another event under canoeing
26-Aug-2008
Anon - Yes I agree it could come in as another event under canoeing; as BMX did with cycling, however the inclusion of any sport/event has to satify a number of criteria and just like BMX, waka ama can be exciting to watch esp OC6 1500m. Global/TV popularity is the biggest creteria that IVA would have to work on.
26-Aug-2008
Andy - No rudder on C1 and you only paddle one side using "J" Stroke to steer
28-Aug-2008