The British Columbia Wild

What a hectic summer so far! Things have been high paced with the first three world cups, Pan-Am Games Torch relay, Cam's Silver medal in the Pan-Am Games being packed in to 30 days! Following the Pan-Am Games we traveled to Canada's most precious landscape: British Columbia, for the Canadian national championships.

The 2015 nationals, hosted in Chiliwack, British Columbia, meant paddling on a beautiful natural river and camping off the grid. The opportunity to disconnect for a quick week was well received by us and our teammates. Perhaps our favourite slalom races are the ones where you simply camp in the woods, cook your oatmeal in the morning, and get on the water to see just how fast you can paddle your canoe. That's bliss.

Here's our side of the lens throughout the week :).

The Smedley morning oatmeal!
Credit: Liam Smedley

All kayakers have a piece of light my fire with them
Credit: Liam Smedley

Liam's early work in Fabric Architecture ;)
Credit: Liam Smedley

Egg sandwiches for Race Lunch
Credit: Liam Smedley

Cleaning time!
Credit: Liam Smedley

Loving the Pack-Up Bottle
Credit: Liam Smedley

Thanks so much to the Light My Fire team! With our new gear we packed more efficiently than ever before. Everything we needed simply packed into our Lunch Kits, pack up bottles, and assortment of sporks :).

Smedley Canoe managed to claim 1st, Cam, and 2nd, Liam, in Canoe Singles men for the third consecutive year. More importantly: we struck gold with our Ontario teammate Ben Risk in the Canoe Single Men Team Race! This is our favourite event at the national championships and every year we are closer to the kayaks! This year only a couple seconds out. We'll get them next year!

Here's some of the action !

 Cam on his way to the 2015 C1 Men National Title
Credit: Rfort Fotos

Liam laying down his Silver run behind Cam

Credit: Rfort Fotos

Liam Smedley, Cameron Smedley, and Ben Risk. C1 Men Team (Ontario) Gold

Credit: Rfort Fotos

What a week. Excited to return to British Columbia next spring for our Olympic Team Selections in Rutherford!

Next time on Whitewater hunters: we travel to the artificial slalom courses of Spain and France to compete among the world's best and test how well a spork works as a canoe paddle ;).

Happy paddling,

Liam & Cameron Smedley
"Smedley Canoe"