Teva Mountain Games -Vail Colerado NZL on the Podium

With spectator crowds of close to 35,000 and over 3000 competitors this is a massive event testing the mettle of the world’s best. Held over four days the town of Vail USA becomes a Mecca for the worlds’ top extreme athletes. New Zealanders are strong contenders with a strong reputation for being at the fore of the world’s best in kayaking proved again they are at the top internationally. Congratulations to the following athletes for their prowess

Steep Creek Championship
Sam Sutton NZL, a Rotorua local took out the Steep Creek Challenge ahead of Mike Dawson NZL 2009 champion. Sam showed his style all the way winning both runs with a clear margin ahead of the worlds’ top whitewater kayakers. Sam who had been preparing in the States for the last three weeks showed his superb skill, technique and fitness on both his runs. Mike Dawson sitting in 4th place after run one was ready and rearing for his second run knowing he had to put down a blistering time ,he knew he was in trouble when early into the second run his shaft snapped on a rock heading into the Leap of Faith waterfall and left him working hard to make it down this gnarly river in 7th position. Johann Roozenburg (Rotorua) also showed his ability coming in 6th position after two solid runs. In the women’s challenge Nikki Kelly NZL was piped at the post into 3rd position by old time rival and friend Tanya Faux AUS, Leea Samuels NZL came in a credible 6th position just ahead of fellow NZL’er Rachael Curtis of Nelson

Down River Sprints
Mike Dawson NZL had a clear margin winning the sprint 8..36s ahead of fellow NZL Sam Sutton with Tao Berman USA coming in 3rd position. The NZL paddlers were on a roll and well represented on the podium with top world extreme woman kayaker Nikki Kelly NZL (Rotorua) in 3rd position in the women’s sprint closely followed by Louise Jull NZL (Otaki) a new comer to international extreme events in 4th position.
Mike, Sam and Johann now head towards Italy to contest their World Extreme title in the teams division against the world‘s best extreme kayakers from around the globe. With a sound performance behind them they are looking for a podium finish in Ivrea, Northern Italy
Unfortunately he high temperatures, snow melt and extreme river flows caused the cancellation of the final day of kayak racing and the 9th annual Teva Mountain Games Vail, Colorado June 3-6, 2010 came to an end

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BOP Times article Kiwis dominate