Athletes Testing State of the Art Starting System

Athletes from across Canada will test a new state-of-the-art starting system Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, on Lake Banook in Dartmouth. The system will be one of the legacies of Canoe '09, the 2009 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.

Top Canadian paddlers will compete at the Bell Aliant Racing Centre, on Lake Banook, starting Saturday in one of the National Team Trials.

Funding from the Department of Health Promotion and Protection's B-FIT program helped purchase the system.

"I'm looking forward to seeing top-notch paddlers compete at Canoe '09," said Health Promotion and Protection Minister Maureen MacDonald. "I also hope that by watching this exciting competition, more Nova Scotians will be inspired to stay physically active."

The addition of a new starting system is one of many facility upgrades for Canoe '09 taking place Aug. 12-16 on the lake.

"This new starting system has taken our natural, world-class racing venue to the next level," said Chris Keevill, chair of Canoe '09. "This system, and the other improvements being made for Canoe '09, have transformed Lake Banook into the Bell Aliant Racing Centre, which will support our elite athletes and inspire young and up-and-coming paddlers."

The system ensures a fair start for all competitors and is the standard for ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.

Nine blocks hold the front of each boat on the start line. The blocks simultaneously drop below the water when the race starts.

The system was designed by Hungarian-based Polaritas-GM Limited. Last summer, technicians from Hungary came to Dartmouth to teach local volunteers how to assemble and operate the system.

For more information on the system, other improvement and the world championships, visit www.canoe09.ca .