Two athletes representing the Ridge Canoe and Kayak Club paddled their way to success at the national time trials event in Montreal, but just missed out on spots for the Canadian national team.
Brian Malfesi was the top sprint paddler of all British Columbian competitors, finishing 3rd in the K-1 1,000 metre A final, as well as 8th in the 500 metre and 9th in the 200 metre B final. Alex Brent finished 3rd in the 1,000 metre B final, as well as 9th in the 500 metre B final.
Malfesi was waiting to see whether he made the cut, but ended up narrowly missing out joining the sprint team for world cup events in Szeged, Hungary and Belgrade, Serbia.
Sandra Lewis, with Canoe Kayak B.C., said Brian is still eligible for future world cup events later this year and beyond. She said nasty weather in Montreal dropped most B.C. paddlers times by up to ten seconds.
“He was one spot out from making the world cup team,” Lewis said. “Finishing third in the 1,000 against the reigning Canadian champion, so he’s definitely on the upward trend.
She said it had an effect on Malfesi in the K-1 500-metre final, where he came into the race ranked “first or second” but ended up finishing 8th.