Vaikobi Race Team members, Murray Stewart, Jo-Brigden Jones and Michael Booth are pumped and ready to race at the the ICF World Champs in Moscow starting today.
Murray Stewart has already posted a win today in the heats of the K1-1000 Mens and will progress to the Semi Finals later today. Murray is chasing gold in both the K1 and the K4 at this Worlds and is coming into this event after some very strong results in the World Cup series over the past few months in Europe.
In the K4, Murray will join his K4some teammate, Dave Smith, Tate Smith and Jacob Clear where they have re-shuffled the seats with Dave Smith now sitting in the front and Tate Smith moving to the number 2 seat. Tate Smith commented that "Last time we raced there was a really strong headwind, and having Smithy at the front, he’s a bit lighter, he can tick over the boat a little bit better and I can sit back and provide a bit of extra power to the middle of the boat”.
Jo-Brigden Jones will also be competing in two events where she will race in the K1-200 Womens before partnering with Manly's Naomi Flood in the K2-500 at Moscow. Jo has been training and racing hard in Europe over the past few months and has achieved some strong results by making two A Finals in the K1-200 whilst also making the Final in the K2 with Naomi at the same meets. Go Jo!
Michael "Boothy" Booth headed over to Europe to compete in the U23 Worlds where he raced with Glenn Rypp in the K2-500 and paddled a fantastic event to make the final. After the U/23 Worlds, Boothy was asked to join the senior squad and partner with Jordan Wood who claimed a silver medal in the U/23 Worlds in the K1-1000.
A now short haired Boothy and Jordan race their heats on Friday and we wish them all the best for a great event!
In the background, Vaikobi's Tim "TJ" Jacobs has been on the coaching team for the Australian Squad in Europe over the past few months and reported back to Vaikobi HQ during the week that everyone is "pumped and ready to go!"
Once TJ returns from Europe, he will be getting back into the Ski as he begins his preparation for the major ski races this summer, including The Doctor in Perth in November.
You can follow the heats live at: http://www.results.imas-sport.com/imas/regatta.php?competition=wettkampf_112
