As you may have read in today's Ottawa Citizen (click here for article) , over the last couple weeks Rideau's sister club, Ottawa River Canoe Club, has been the target of a series of break-ins at there facility on the Ottawa River in Dunrobin. The thefts have not only cost the club financially, but they have seriously inhibited the clubs ability to run there very succesfull summer programs, which get hundreds of new kids exposed to our sport. Worse still, I know that the ORCC as a whole is very demoralized and shaken by these break-ins and the damged that they have done to the wonderful, young club. C4C and our national teamates will be holding a raffle tomorrow during the Canada Regatta in Ottawa to help raise what we can to get ORCC on track for the rest of the summer. We will be selling tickets tomorrow for a draw with sweet prizes generously donated by our friends at Level 6 and CanoeKayak Canada as well as prizes donated by our national team athletes. Bring some extra money and help a very special canoe club keep up the great work they do, and help us lend the moral support to our friends who need a big boost!

See you all tomorrow, look for the Level 6 tent and come get a ticket!

It was an insanely early flight this morning, but it is nice to be back home in Ottawa after a big weekend. Kyle and I raced well in both of our races and while we are disappointed at the result we are very happy with the improvement over our last races in Welland. The 500m yesterday was a particularly good effort, we handled the wind well and were able to really push through the last 150m. Gab and Andrew proved why they are the best c2 in Canada again this weekend, and a solid race on our part, at this point, was not enough to beat them. Well done guys.

Big congratulations to Mark as well, he raced extremely well and proved the class of the very strong Canadian C-1 field. We will be represented very well in the Olympic events at Worlds this August and I am excited at potential that our team is showing.

I will now be taking a few days to relax, enjoy the club atmosphere here at Rideau and get ready for the Rideau 100m race on Canada Day. More big challenges and oppurtunities await this summer but for now I am taking a few moments to simply relax.

Saturday, and all of the 1000m races are behind us. It was a good day all around for C4C today. Kyle and I had a strong race in C2 today and got third spot behind Ben and Rich in second and Gab and Andrew who held off all challenges and took the win. With the win they clinch the 1000m entry for worlds, congratulations to them. Congratulations as well to Mark who raced incredibly well in C1 and charged through the field taking a tough win ahead of Rich and Tom. Mark will now race C-1 1000m at Worlds. Way to go Mark.

After the races tonight Mark, Adam O and I headed across the harbour to relax and enjoy some delicious Nova Scotia cuisine. After a hard day of racing, Mark and I decided we earned the bigger size of Lobster. Mark's was 2 1/4 pounds and mine was a measly 1 3/4, they were fresh and delicious.

It was another beautiful day here in Dartmouth, from my window now I am watching the fog roll in across Lake Banook from the harbour. The water is quiet now but it will not be so tomorrow as trials kick off here in Nova Scotia. The day before a big race is always an exciting time and is probably most exciting here at Lake Banook when everyone arrives at the different clubs around the Lake and heads out for a final tune up session. Today was no exception, with all the juniors here for the Junior World Trials along with all of the seniors it was a busy day on the Lake.

Kyle and I had a solid C-1 Warm up this morning, cruised around Lake Mic Mac and got the blood going. For lunch Kyle, Angus and I hiked up to Subway for the classic racing power lunch, Chicken-Bacon Subs. This afternoon Kyle and I had a great C-2 session out on the course
testing out the wind and doing a couple starts in the new start system that is being used this weekend. We are excited to race and both feel ready to rock. After practice I headed over to the Banook gym and got a great massage from Bernie our massage therapist. Bernie is the best at what he does, and always has a story waiting for you when you get on the table. At the left is a shot of Bernie and I post massage on the shores of Lake Banook. The day was capped off by a nice dinner at Rocco's Restaurant here at the hotel, and now it is time to rest, relax watch the NHL Draft.

Stay tuned to C4C for Updates and check out race results at canoekayak.ca.

I arrived today in Nova Scotia for National Team trials #2 and got to take my first paddle of the year on the hallowed waters of Lake Banook. It was a beautiful day here in Dartmouth and the renovations and improvements around the lake ahead of the Worlds look great. It should be a great weekend and a good warm up for the Lake and the organizers for the BIG SHOW in August.

I am feeling strong and positive going into the weekend and am looking forward to some big races. Kyle has just arrived and we have established out base here at the Mic Mac Hotel which overlooks the course. I had a great dinner of Salmon, perpared by Chef Ben Russell, at 8 the Horseshoe A.K.A. Russell headquarters. I always enjoy the warm vibes of hospitality when I come to Dartmouth and it is nice to come and race in a place where paddling is such a central part of the community.

Tomorrow will be a key tune up day ahead of the weekend, stay tuned to C4C for the National Team Trials #2 action.

In Response to this C4C Ask Us Anything Question:

Morty,

For you to have any credibility as a role model, let alone a blogger, we need to hear from you when times are bad, not just when they are good. Its fun hearing about Florida and Hawaii, but there is more to be learned from your disappointments at NTT's. Time to end the silence!

(no author)



To the nameless author, who so easily throws out a question of personal credibility, yet eagerly ducks behind the shroud of anonymity so easily offered by internet communication, I will grant this; yes I should have posted about my disappointing experience at national team trials. It would have given a better picture of what the racing experience is like win or lose and allowed those that follow the site to understand what I was going through. Yet, I will ask the author to please rethink the harsh words questioning my credibility as a role model, and instead please simply regard me as a poor blogger for now. I care more about this sport and the people that participate in it, most of all the kids that gain so much from putting a blade in the water, than anything in my life, save my family and friends. I feel that my actions and words everyday are a testament to that and that a lapse in updates to my website does not warrant a slight to my example for others in how to enjoy, work hard within and give back to the sport of canoeing.

Trials was a bad weekend, no a bad single Sunday. I have learned from my experience and am training hard and putting my full effort into enjoying training and paddling well everyday. I will post about my road forward and will not dwell now on my disappointments. Thank you for your interest Nameless Inquirer, you succeeded in making me end my silence. I ask you only that if you would like to level a criticism towards my credibility as an example to others again, please show some personal credibility yourself and sign your name on your message.

Ian Mortimer