Sorry about the lack of updates over the past few weeks...better late than never!

23-29 June: World Cup 2: Tacen (Jacqui and Kate)
Its certainly a big change moving from the relatively mild and constant water of Prague to the surging and unpredictable Tacen course. The key to Tacen is to keep the boat flat, and moving fast, so that any surprise surges don't have too much of an effect on the boat.

Training was fun, and so was the qualification race - Jacqui 6th and Kate 8th. Kate also showed good form the next day and earned a spot in the final! She finished 9th.

Jacqui however, had trouble on the first drop in the semi-final, came back too early from the right-hand line, straight through the middle of the stopper and despite her best efforts didn't get through the surges to gate 2...so down the next drop and two 50s. Well, the most you can do is try your best on the day and if it doesn't work so be it, you learn from it and move on.

15-22 June: World Cup 1: Prague (Jacqui and Kate)
The Olympic Team were reunited with the rest of the Aussie Team in Prague this week to prepare for the first world cup of the season. On Friday both Jacqui and Kate lay down some competitive times to qualify easily for the semis. In the semi Kate's time was fast enough to make the Final but her penalties kept her out. Jacqui was on a good run until gate 13, where her lack of confidence on spin gates let her down - a touch, some lost time, and no Final for her either!

12-15 June: Duisburg (Jacqui)
I had a few days recovery out of the slalom boat watching the sprint canoe World Cup in Duisburg. It was really nice to spend some time with Torsten, and to meet the rest of the flatwater Olympic Team, who I'll no doubt be catching up with in Beijing. Torsten didn't race as fast as he could have, due to a head cold, but still made the B finals in all his races. It was exciting to watch the mens K4 earn a bronze medal.

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