Please visit  http://www.whitewaterracing.org/2005summerdevelopment.htm
to learn more about the team FRPA development whitewater tour. Please
contact me for further information or to join in on the trip. Limited
spots remain.

Remember to sign up for the Whitewater Weekend Competition in Golden,
Colorado on May 13-15. More information can be found at
http://www.whitewaterracing.org/weblog/usttq.htm

--
Christopher C Wiegand
Front Range Paddling Association- Director
USA Canoe/Kayak Team- Jr Wildwater Coach
Lafayette, Colorado USA
www.whitewaterracing.org
720-205-9092

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have attached the race entry forms for the USA Whitewater Slalom Team
Trials Qualifier, High School Whitewater Championships and Junior
Olympic Trial Qualifiers in Golden, Colorado the weekend of May 13-15.
The event will host down river, freestyle and slalom.

We are expecting a challenging course with more than 600 CFS expected
on the Clear Creek Whitewater Center. These levels will prove to
challenge even the best whitewater slalom and wildwater racers in the
US.

Day one of slalom will start with a fast, yet challenging course for
the Colorado High School Whitewater Championships, Mountain States
Junior Olympic Qualifiers and day one of the Front Range Slalom
Championships. Day two will prove to really challenge the best boaters
to run clean and force most boaters to utilize "Plan B" for the US
Whitewater Slalom Team Trial Qualifiers and the Front Range Slalom
Championships.

The Front Range Whitewater Championships include points for the
Colorado Cup and include all classes such as all Open Canoe classes,
C-2 Mixed, C-1 Women and More.....

Great prizes and competition can be expected. Can your local team beat
ours and have more fun?

The FRPA Local Challenge is just for you!

Come join us for this fun filled weekend. Home Stays are available
based on first come first serve.

See our website for more information...
Http://www.whitewaterracing.org or contact me at
chris@...


   ----------


--
Christopher C Wiegand
Front Range Paddling Association- Director
Lafayette, Colorado USA
www.whitewaterracing.org
720-205-9092


--
Christopher C Wiegand
Front Range Paddling Association- Director
USA Canoe/Kayak Team- Jr Wildwater Coach
Lafayette, Colorado USA
chris@...
www.whitewaterracing.org
720-205-9092

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Please consider joining coaches Davey Hearn and Ben Kvanli for the
Texas Training Camp February 14-20, 2005
http://www.daveyhearn.com/texas_training.htm
featuring daily coaching, slalom workouts, off the water
presentations, and race day coaching held in concert with the US
Whitewater Slalom Team Trials Qualifier in and around San Marcos,
Texas.

For more Texas training camp information and registration forms
please visit http://www.kayakinstruction.org/dev_camp.htm.
Contact Ben Kvanli (512) 203-0093 or Jennifer Hearn (301) 229-4304
with questions.

Please pass this invitation along to others who may be interested in
whitewater slalom racing.  Thank you!

For the Feb. 20th Team Trials Qualifier Registration & Information
please check out
http://www.austinpaddling.org/events/TXWWCHAMPIONSHIPS2005.doc

Here's a list of who's qualified for the 2005 Team Trials thus far
http://tinyurl.com/6xdr7

Here is a link to the rest of the Team Trials Qualifier Races
http://tinyurl.com/3lx2r


Contact Davey and Jennifer at :

Davey & Jennifer Hearn
301 229 4304
Maximum Whitewater Performance
American Slalom Excellence Program
or on the web at www.daveyhearn.com


Contact Ben at :

Ben Kvanli (512) 203-0093

This is a nice looking website !  Keep up the good work Joel.

..ajm

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Ben" <benkvanli@...>
Reply-To: wwslalom@yahoogroups.com
Date:  Mon, 10 Jan 2005 08:59:12 -0000

>
>
>What do you think of the new site?  Mr. Joel McCune is the proud
>creator of this beauty.  He came down for some winter training here
>at the Center these last two weeks, and look at what he built for
>us: http://www.redriverracing.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe, email to:
>wwslalom-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

What do you think of the new site?  Mr. Joel McCune is the proud
creator of this beauty.  He came down for some winter training here
at the Center these last two weeks, and look at what he built for
us: http://www.redriverracing.org

A USA Whitewater Slalom meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 12
in Colorado Springs, CO at the USOC Olympic Training Center the day
before the weekend USA Canoe Kayak Board meeting.
Here are the various "agenda" items sent out via email below:

From: Mike Sloan
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 1:41 PM
Subject: RE: Agendas for USAWS Committee Annual Meetings

>A few additional questions for consideration and dicussion:
>
> What do we expect from the National Office?  How can we help the
national office do better?
>
> What kinds of support services would benefit the sport?
> e.g. on-line race registration.
>
> Also, a warning.  The budget for next year is likely to be spartan,
even by recent standards.  Most of the budget will again be
determined by USOC performance funding.  However, we asked for
funding needed to make a four year commitment for two full time
slalom coaches.  We are reasonably confident that at least this part
of our request will be granted.  SO we need to start planning for two
coaches.
>
> Mike
--------
From: Chuck Hines
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 7:40 PM
Subject: Re: The 'Meritorious Service' Award

Chuck Hines to John Seeley.  Thanks to you and others for posting
the agenda of the USAWS Business and Planning Meetings on the
USACK web-site.  I hope y'all have a good meeting in CO Springs...
      John, I would like to see USAWS revive the 'Meritorious Service'
award - this was an award presented to those whose volunteer work
over a period of Years helped further the sport (slalom racing).  I
be-
lieve it was presented from the late '70s thru the late '90s, and,
dur-
ing this 20-year period, 55 persons were recognized.  I have the list
in my possession.
      The award itself was a small 20" canoe paddle with an engraved
plate.  Nothing fancy.  But it meant a lot to me to receive it in
1996.
      Perhaps if USAWS renewed this award and appointed an award
committee of several people, they could compile a list of maybe 15
deserving volunteers whose efforts over the past five years (2000-04)
would merit the 'Meritorious Service' award.  Then the award should
be presented to 2-3 additional deserving volunteers every year in the
future ...
      Our sport depends greatly on its volunteers, of which you, John,
are one, but we generally do a poor job of recognizing these people,
especially when compared to other sports. (Water polo presents as
many as 40 awards -- trophies and plaques -- every year to its best
coaches, star players and especially its most deserving volunteers,
with each section of the country receiving recognition for its
efforts).
      Please give this proposal some serious consideration, and once
again may I say that I hope the meetings in CO Springs prove to be
fruitful for the furtherance of our sport.  Best Wishes.
--------
From: Mike Sloan
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 3:39 PM
Subject: Re: Agendas for USAWS Committee Annual Meetings

I had hoped that the agenda for the upcoming meeting might generate
some comments and discussion prior to the meeting. Since our time is
going to be limited in Colorado Springs, we need to be prepared ahead
of time to be effective.  Hence, I am going to ask a few questions to
get a discussion started.

1) The Chair and Treasurer positions are up for election this year.
I expect that Bill Constable and Matt Taylor will be nominated for
treasurer.  As in the past, I am willing to continue in the role of
Chair, but would be happy to pass on the position to a qualified
candidate.  Any discussion?

2) Any thoughts on the proposal to do away with or revise the
regional qualifier system?  Is what we have good, bad, or
indifferent?  How can we improve it?

3) How much effort should we invest in reinstituting a rankings
system?

4) How effective is the JO program, and what can we do to improve it?

5) Any other suggestions?

I am out of touch until Sunday eve (Stockholm ICF congress), but hope
you will start commenting on these issues prior to that time.

Mike
-------
From: J E Seeley
To: slalom@...
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 12:33 PM
Subject: Notice of Annual Business Meeting and Annual Planning
Meeting of the USA Whitewater Slalom Committee

NOTICE OF ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND ANNUAL PLANNING MEETING
OF THE USA WHITEWATER SLALOM COMMITTEE

The ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING of the USA Whitewater Slalom (USAWS)
Committee will be held Friday, November 12, 2004, in Colorado
Springs, CO at the Olympic Training Center, 1 Olympic Plaza.  The
Meeting is scheduled to start early Friday morning (exact time, when
determined, will be posted on the USACK website, www.usack.org.  (See
Business Meeting Agenda below.)  Members of the Current USAWS
Committee are expected to attend.

The ANNUAL PLANNING MEETING of the USAWS Committee will be held
Friday, November 12, 2004, in Colorado Springs, CO at the Olympic
Training Center, 1 Olympic Plaza.  The Meeting is scheduled to start
immediately following the conclusion of the Annual Business Meeting.
(See Planning Meeting Agenda below.)  Members of the then-Newly
Elected USAWS Committee are expected to attend.

USAWS Members not on the USAWS Committee are welcome to attend either
or both Meetings.

ANNUAL USAWS BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA

(See USACK website for possible updates)

1.  Chair's Report

2.  Approval of USAWS Committee Elections

3.  Approval of Minutes of previous Meetings

ANNUAL USAWS PLANNING MEETING AGENDA

(See USACK website for possible updates)

1.  Election of Officers

2.  Subcommittee Elections / Appointments

3.  2005 Race Schedule

4.  2005 Rules Changes (See USACK website for proposed changes)

5.  2005 Budget

6.  USOC Issues

7.  ICF Issues

8.  USACK Issues

9.  Strategic Planning Sessions

         Review of USAWS Coaching Philosophy

         Review of USAWS Elite Team Philosophy

         Review of USAWS Junior Team Philosophy

         Review of USAWS Development Philosophy

         Development of a Fundraising Philosophy

John Seeley, USAWS Secretary
------
From:   John Seeley Secretary
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 12:33 PM
Subject: Agendas for USAWS Committee Annual Meetings

Set forth below (and, for those who prefer it, by email attachment)
is the agenda for the Annual Business Meeting and the Annual Planning
Meeting, to be held on Friday, November 12, at the USOC Training
Center, 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs.  The Business meeting will
start probably around 8:30 am (exact time to be announced in
advance), and the Planning meeting will commence immediately after
the adjournment of the Business Meeting.

Anyone wishing to add an item to the agenda should contact Mike Sloan
well in advance, for his consideration.  Subcommittee reports, if
any, and any proposals to be brought before the Committee should be
submitted to me in advance, in writing (email attachment please), for
advance circulation to the Full Committee.

It would help our planning if each of you would confirm to me whether
or not you will be attending these meetings.  Again, it is requested
that you plan to arrive Thursday evening in Colorado Springs, so that
we may get a prompt start on Friday morning, and that you be prepared
to meet into the evening on Friday, should that be necessary to
complete business.

<<...>>

Agendas for USAWS 2004 Annual Meeting and 2005 Business Meeting

November 12, 2004

Colorado Springs

2004 Annual Meeting

1)      2004 Chairman's Report

2)      Approval of USAWS Committee Elections

3)      Approval of Minutes of Meetings

2005 Business Meeting

1)      Officer Elections

                 Chair

         Treasurer

2)      Subcommittee Elections / Appointments

                 Election of Development Chair

         Appointment of Standing Committees

                         Rules

                 Officials

                         Rankings

                         Elections and Nominations

3)      2005 Race Schedule

                 Senior Team Trials

                         Team Trials Qualifiers

         Junior Team Trials

                 National Championships

         Age Group Nationals

                 Junior Olympics

                         JO Qualifiers

         Pan American Championship

4)      2005 Rules Changes (See Website for proposed changes)

5)      2005 Budget

USOC Issues
ICF Issues
USACK Issues

Strategic Planning Sessions
Review of USAWS Coaching Philosophy

Review of USAWS Elite Team Philosophy

Review of USAWS Junior Team Philosophy

Review of USAWS Development Philosophy

Development of a fundraising philosophy

Potential questions to be addressed during strategic planning
sessions:

(All questions based on the caveat "Given budget realities")

(Questions in no particular order):

How do we increase the number of high quality races?
How do we increase the number of casual races?
How do we increase the number of young athletes coming into the sport?
How can we increase top athlete retention?
Is the Team Trials Qualifier system necessary?  Is it achieving its
objectives?
Is the JO program working?  What needs to be changed?
Are rankings necessary?  Are rankings valuable? If yes, how do we get
the rankings out? What needs to be included in the rankings?
Would using rankings to qualify for Team Trials increase desire for
more races and improve race attendance?
Does it make sense to try to attract crossover from rodeo, etc…?
If
yes, how?
How do we take advantage of new boat length rules?
What can we do to encourage race organizers to hold more races?
What can we do to encourage race organizers to hold higher quality
races?
What can we do to encourage USACK Membership by athletes?
What can we do to encourage USACK Membership by non-athletes?
What can we do to encourage USACK membership by clubs?
Should the structure of the USAWS Board be changed?
Do we need to change the operating procedures of the USAWS Board?
------
From:   John Seeley Secretary
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 9:10 PM
Subject: USAWS Committee Annual Meetings -- Accommodations

Copied below is information on accommodations provided recently by
David Yarborough to members of the USACK Board of Directors (so some
of you already will have this information – my apologies for the
repeat).  The meeting will be in downtown Colorado Springs at the
Olympic Training Center, 1 Olympic Plaza.

For those of you flying into the Colorado Springs airport, I am told
it is a 7 mile taxi ride to downtown, but I don't have a fare
estimate.  I also don't know if there is a parking charge at the
OTC,
for those with cars.  Parking at the Antlers Hotel is $7/day, if you
park it yourself.

As I indicated previously, there always is a lot of business to
conduct at these meetings.  Please plan to arrive Thursday night so
that we can get an early start Friday morning (we cannot start the
meeting until a quorum is present), and be prepared to go into Friday
evening if we cannot finish our business earlier.

I also will circulate an agenda once one has been prepared and
approved by Mike.

Thanks for your attention.

David Yarborough's Message to the USACK Board follows:

Thanks to all who have responded to confirm your attendance. For
those of you from whom we haven't yet heard, please remember that
next Tuesday, October 12 is the deadline for us to confirm space at
the Olympic training center. We need to hear form everyone by next
Monday.

A number of you have expressed a desire to stay outside the Spartan
confines of the OTC. I recommend the Antlers Hotel (719-473-5600) for
anyone who prefers this environment. It is a very nice hotel and is
located reasonably close to the USOC. We can probably arrange
transportation from there if there are several people who are willing
to ride together. The room rate should be under $100.

For those who stay outside the OTC, there will be a charge of $25 per
day to attend the meetings and eat meals in the OTC dining room or $5
per day to access the center for our meetings, but not take any meals.

For those who will be attending committee meetings on Friday, we can
now offer rooms for the evening of Thursday 11/11 if you need to
arrive the day before. When making your travel plans, please bear in
mind that the OTC check-in time is 2:00PM. The check out is at
9:00AM.

Also, we have been advised that there will be no single rooms
available. We will be responsible for our own rooming assignments so
please indicate any preferences you have for whom you stay with.

We will have lots of important work to get done and it looks as if we
will have a very good turnout.

David Yarborough
Executive Director
USA Canoe/Kayak
www.USACK.org
-------
From: David Yarborough
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 4:00 PM
Subject: Yves Narduzzi

It is with a mix of sadness and pride that must inform you that Yves
Narduzzi who has served as our slalom canoe coach for the past three
years has resigned to accept an important position with the French
Canoe Federation. Yves will be returning to his homeland to serve as
national elite slalom coach for the one of the most successful slalom
programs in the world. Yves has done an outstanding job with our US
slalom canoe program and has endeared himself to many athletes,
families and friends during this stay in this country.

Yves' last day here will be Thursday, September 30.

David Yarborough
Executive Director
USA Canoe/Kayak
--------
from http://www.usack.org/articles/2004_election_results.asp
Whitewater Slalom Committee:

At Large Representative - Angela Lokken
At Large Representative - David Kurtz
Athlete Representative - Kurt Braunlich
Athlete Representative (1 yr term)* - Chris Ennis *term commences
immediately
--------
from http://www.usack.org/governance/whitewater_slalom_committee.asp
Mike Sloan - Chair
Richard Perlmutter - Vice-Chair
Bill Constable - Treasurer
John Seeley - Secretary
Amy Dingle - Athlete Director/Rep <out going, athlete rep above>
Brett Heyl - Athlete Director/Rep <out going, athlete rep above>
David Kurtz - At-Large Rep
Angela Lokken - At-Large Rep
Bert Hinkley - Northeast Rep
David Hearn - Mid-Atlantic Rep
Lee Leibfarth - South-Atlantic Rep
Bill Parsons - Mid-Continent Rep
John Brennan - Southwest Rep
Marian Davidson - Northwest Rep

Thanks to Davey and Jennifer for all the TV schedule updates

Without them I am sure I wouldn't have had the VCR on the correct channel at
all this week.

Sometimes I wonder if the TV networks understand the problems they cause us
fans by moving events from one network or time slot to another

Joel

-----Original Message-----
From: hearn6211 [mailto:daveyhearn@...]
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 1:06 PM
To: wwslalom@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Slalom] Olympic Results and more from Athens


Athens 2004 Canoe Kayak Whitewater Slalom Results
http://www.athens2004.com/en/resultsCanoe_Kayak_Slalom/results?
rsc=CS0000000

NBC Canoe Kayak coverage http://www.nbcolympics.com/canoekayak/index.html

And for all of the above plus Olympic Canoe Kayak press archives,
race results, whitewater racing schedule, journals from Athens, and
more http://www.daveyhearn




To unsubscribe, email to:
wwslalom-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com


Yahoo! Groups Links

Athens 2004 Canoe Kayak Whitewater Slalom Results
http://www.athens2004.com/en/resultsCanoe_Kayak_Slalom/results?
rsc=CS0000000

NBC Canoe Kayak coverage
http://www.nbcolympics.com/canoekayak/index.html

And for all of the above plus Olympic Canoe Kayak press archives,
race results, whitewater racing schedule, journals from Athens, and
more http://www.daveyhearn

I would rely on www.canoeicf.org, they are the officiating body ...
which says Silver.


--- In wwslalom@yahoogroups.com, "mzc3" <mzc3@d...> wrote:
>  Women's K-1 Olympic results.  I've found two pages, one said
Rebecca took
> gold and another said it was silver.
>
> Thanks!

Women's K-1 Olympic results.  I've found two pages, one said Rebecca took
gold and another said it was silver.

Thanks!

South Bend, IN July 10-11 Junior Olympics/US Cup Race #1
Wausau, WI July 17-18 Age Group Nationals/ US Cup #2
Carlton, MN July 24-25 US Cup #3/#4

Paddlers must be qualified to compete in the Junior Olympics (see
previous post for more)

All other races are open to whitewater paddlers of all ages.
Hope to see you at the races...

Training camp and coaching opportunity in South Bend & Wausau
plus links to race site info
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Coaching/Training%20Camps/American%
20Slalom%20Excellence/slalom_excellence.htm

USACK for more
http://www.usack.org/disciplines/slalom/articles/jrolympics_uscups.as
p

For more whitewater racing and results see
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%20Racing/2004%
20Schedule/2004_schedule.htm

Link to World Cup races http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%
20Racing/2004%20Schedule/world_cup.htm

Link to the Athens Whitewater Course training June 21-July 2
and added info http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%20Racing/Athens%
20Olympic%20Course/athens_olympics.htm

Junior World Championships Lofer, Austria June 30-July 4
Here's a link to more info
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%20Racing/2004%
20Schedule/jr__worlds_team.htm

Junior Olympics July 10 South Bend information page is
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%20Racing/2004%20Schedule/Junior%
20Olympics/Junior%20Olympics.htm

from Jennifer Hearn :

"Here are some links to additional information about the Ray McLain
Wausau, WI Training Camp & Races June 22-27:

http://www.wausauwhitewater.org/training.htm
-and-
http://www.daveyhearn.com/ray_mclain_camp.htm
-and-
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%20Racing/2004%
20Schedule/2004_schedule.htm

Thank you for all of your volunteer efforts on behalf of the Junior
Olympics and paddlesports,

Jennifer Hearn
301 229 4304
Maximum Whitewater Performance
American Slalom Excellence Program
on the web at www.daveyhearn.com

Scott Shipley has been retained to design a course North of Raleigh
at the Falls Lake Tailwater site.  Brad Carr, who has spearheaded
this project says that the City has committed 50% of the money
required to make the park and Brad and others are now working on the
county to back the remainder od the project.  Construction could
start within a year.

..ajm

From Chuck Hines.  There is a Good article about NRC Olympian
Chris Ennis in the 5-30-04 edition of the Charlotte Observer.  Find
it at www.charlotteobserver.com.  Look at the site search section,
write in Chris Ennis, then punch GO.  The article, entitled "Rapids
Rise To Stardom," should pop up.
    You can also find the article, along with many other articles and
lots of useful information, at www.daveyhearn.com, under Olympic
Press Releases.
     For those interested, we're getting ready to teach another good
six-lesson classroom course on Personal Leadership Through The
Olympic Ideals.  Facilitated by the Asheville YMCA for its younger
swimmers, but open to perhaps a few others, the course is sched-
uled for the month of Sept.  This course teaches Visioning For the
Future, Focus, Commitment, Persistence, Self-Discipline & Good
Sportsmanship, and it is ideal for Teen Athletes and their Parents.
Many of our Best young Paddlers here in Asheville have taken the
course in the past, including 17-year-old World Extreme Kayaking
Champion Patrick Keller.  IF interested in Attending, let me know.
      This weekend, American Whitewater, the national organization
which has an office here in Asheville, is having its 50th anniversary
gala in Vail, Colorado.  AW has done a Lot for rivers and paddlers,
not the least of which has been arranging for the "Ocoee Olympic
Whitewater Course" to be open for recreational paddling this sum-
mer.  For a look at the days this Class III-IV section of river will
be
open in 2004, go to www.tva.com/river/recreation/ocoeesched.htm.
     This is also the week that the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay starts
its worldwide trek, beginning in Sydney, Australia.   The initial run-
ner will be Aussie Cathy Freeman, an Aboriginal who won the 400
meter run at the 2000 Summer Olympics.  The motto of the Torch
Relay this year is PASS THE FLAME, UNITE THE WORLD.  The
Relay will be passing through Atlanta on June 18.
     Several Junior Olympic Qualifier Races have been held already
this year -- in CA, CO, PA, MD etc -- and two more that are com-
ing up soon are the Southeastern Qualifier on the Nantahala River
on June 19th (www.nrcrhinos.com for details) and the Midwestern
Qualifer Training Camp/competition in Wisconsin on June 22nd to
27th. The Wisconsin event is named after the late, great whitewa-
ter mentor Ray McLain, who started MANY young paddlers down
the road to success at the Green Bay YMCA including Olympian
Rebecca Bennett Giddens and National champion Gwen Greeley.
We miss you, Ray!  For info on the Wisconsin activities, send an
inquiry to Mike Hickey at mhh@....
     Finally, don't forget about the Nantahala Outdoor Center's sum-
mer youth instructional camps, the first of which starts June 20th.
For youngsters ages 10 and over, the instruction is supervised by
1996 Olympian Wayne Dickert.   Check out www.noc.com for the
latest details on all of NOC's many summertime activities.

Go to Daveyhearn.com and click on the What's New link for a link to live
world cup results from Merano.  Check out the rest of Davey and Jennifer' s
site while you're there, it's a great slalom resource.







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This interview with Rebecca at http://tinyurl.com/3cnfo
(daveyhearn.com) is good reading for anyone involved in slalom,
especially development athletes.

..ajm

For more whitewater racing press and archives please visit:
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Coaching/Whitewater%20Champion/Press%
20Archives/press_archives.htm

Athens Olympic info:
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%20Racing/Athens%20Olympic%
20Course/athens_olympics.htm

Whitewater Slalom Olympic Team:
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%20Racing/Athens%20Olympic%
20Course/Olympic%20Team%20050304.htm

USA World Cup Team & Events:
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%20Racing/2004%
20Schedule/world_cup.htm
-and-
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%20Racing/Information/us%
20slalom%20team.htm

Wildwater World Championship Team:
http://www.daveyhearn.com/US%20Team%20Alumni/wildwater_team.htm

Slalom Junior World Championship Team:
http://www.daveyhearn.com/Whitewater%20Racing/2004%
20Schedule/jr__worlds_team.htm

Posted photos from Sunday, the 2nd day of Junior Trials in
the "Photos" section folder name "JrTrials ...".

These uploaded photos are "thumbnails" even at the highest resolution
shown on Yahoo (480x360), the full resolution photos (2560x1900 ==
1.5 MB) would make high quality 11" x 14" prints. Full resolution
photos are available over the web via FTP, email me for details.

Photos are in chronological sequence, only 2nd runs for Sunday's
photos. Class order was K1W, C1, C2, K1.

..ajm

Posted some good photos from 1st day of Junior Trials in the "Photos"
section folder name "US Junior Team Trials 2004 - Saturday". The
majority are reasonable 'face' shots.

These uploaded photos are "thumbnails" even at the highest resolution
shown on Yahoo, the full resolution photos (2560 x 1900 - 1.5 MB)
would make high quality 11" x 14" prints. If you find photo of your
favorite junior paddler, and want the full resolution version, just
email me with the photo name.

Photos are in chronological sequence, a few 1st run shots, mostly 2nd
runs.  Class order was K1W, C1, C2, K1.

..ajm

Just in case you have been unplugged, take a moment to read Sunday's
short article on the Olympic Selection from the Athens World Cup at
USACK http://usack.org/articles/athens_sun.asp:

Excerpt :

'Joining Jacobi, Taylor, Heyl and Parsons on the US Olympic Team are
Rebecca Giddens (2002 World Champion) in the women's kayak, and Chris
Ennis in the one-man canoe. Entering the race at the Hellinikon
Sports Complex (which will include the baseball, softball, fencing,
and field hockey venues at the Olympic Games) the US had qualified
only two entries in slalom for the Games. Regarding the jump from two
to six slalom athletes on Olympic Team, USA Canoe/Kayak Executive
Director boasted, "We accomplished what we set out to do this
weekend."'

Go Team USA !!!

..ajm

I once saw a tutorial on the forward stroke with
pictures of Paul Ratcliffe, which was good.  I think
it was on www.slalomsite.org or .com which no longer
exists.  Does anyone know if this is still on the web
somewhere or where there is any slalom forward stroke
instructional information.

I am not looking for sprint or sea kayak technique,
there is plenty of that around.

Thanks!

=====
Do, or do not.  There is no "Try".
      -Yoda

__________________________________
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US Olympic Team Trials Qualifier
Dickerson Whitewater Course, Maryland
Sunday, March 7, 2004

Please visit http://www.bce-racing.com/ to complete 1. Entry form, 2.
BCE waiver, 3. Mirant waiver, and 4. Entry Fee payable by check to
the "BCE".

Registration deadline is Saturday, February 28.  Sorry, there is no
late registration or registration at the Dickerson Whitewater Course.

Please note that if the Potomac River level is forecast to be 5.5
feet or higher on the Little Falls gauge then the Team
Trials Qualifier will be moved to the Feeder Canal as the Dickerson
course will be inundated.

Spectators and for those who do not hold current BCE membership cards
must mail a Mirant spectator waiver to the BCE to be admitted into
the course.

Saturday, March 6, 2004
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Open Practice for Registered Racers Only
1:00 PM - Course Closed for Race Course Design
4:00 PM - Demonstration Runs

Sunday, March 7, 2004
8:00 AM - Pickup Race Bibs
8:30 AM - Competitor's meeting
9:15 AM - Forerunners
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM - First runs
11:01 AM - 11:29 AM - break
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Second runs

Subj: It's Official, Slalom Team Trials will be at South Bend
Date: 11/21/03 5:11:41 PM Eastern Standard Time

To The Slalom Community

We have just completed discussions with the TVA concerning the
potential to hold the Slalom Olympic Team Trials on the Ocoee.  The
Tennessee state and regional authorities that the TVA was expecting
to fund a significant amount of the trials have decided due to budget
constraints that funding for the race would not be available.  As a
result, we will be holding slalom team trials at South Bend.

TVA remains interested in working with the USACK to hold events on
the Ocoee, and we expect to hold ongoing discussions about future
opportunities.

Thankyou for your patience,

Mike Sloan
Chair, USA Whitewater Slalom

Summary of Annual Business and Annual Planning Meetings
of the USA Whitewater Slalom Committee
November 14-16, 2003 (Charlotte, NC)

Prepared by John Seeley, Secretary, and Mike Sloan, Chair

This summary is provided to inform the slalom community of the
principal actions taken at recent meetings of the USAWS Committee
(sometime loosely referred to as the "Slalom Board").  While efforts
have been made to make this summary accurate, the summary is not an
official record of these meetings.  The official record of the
meetings resides in the meeting minutes, which will be publicly
available after the meeting minutes are approved at a future Board
Meeting.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR 2004

Mike Sloan -
Chair
(present) **

Richard Perlmutter – Vice Chair – Reelected to a two year term
(present)

John Seeley – Secretary – Reelected to a two year
term
(present)

Bill Constable –
Treasurer
(present)

Jason Beakes – Athlete
Representative
not present)

Amy Dingle – Athlete
Representative
(present) **

Brett Heyl – Athlete
Representative
(present)

(Vacant) – Athlete Representative
*
(not present)

Bert Hinkley – Northeast Regional Representative
*
(not present)

David Hearn – Mid-Atlantic Regional
Representative
(present) **

Lee Leibfarth – South-Atlantic Regional
Representative
(present)

Bill Parsons – Mid-Continent Regional
Representative
(present)

John Brennan – Southwest Regional
Representative                        (
present)

Marian Davidson – Northwest Regional Representative
*
(not present)

Dave Kurtz – At Large
Representative
(present)

Angela Lokken – At Large
Representative
(present) **

*   A USACK election will be held to fill the vacant position of
Athlete Representative on both the USACK Board and the USAWS
Committee.  Also, in USAWS elections this fall to fill the six
expiring positions of Regional Representative, no ballots were cast
by the membership for Northeast or Northwest Representative.  USAWS
elections for these two positions will be held again.  The current
representatives continue to serve until replaced or reelected.

** These four members also are members of USACK Board, which met
concurrently in Charlotte.  They were present for most of the USAWS
Committee meeting, including all critical discussion and votes.

USACK Office / STAFF

The Office moved from Lake Placid to Charlotte in July 2003.
Charlotte-based Staff:  David Yarborough, Executive Director; Jenny
Hardman, Office Manager (including membership, events, insurance,
sanctioning, book-keeping, etc.); Mary Beth Chambers, Director of
Marketing (including advertising, public relations, branding, media
liaison, Office information systems, recruitment of volunteer talent
for Office, etc.); and six half-time volunteer interns.  Information
on contacting the office can be found on the USACK website:
www.usack.org.

The USAWS Board, and everyone else at the meeting was very impressed
with David Yarborough, and the rest of the staff, and is very
confident about the future, if we can get through this year.

2004/2005 TEAM UNIFORM SPONSOR

David Yarborough announced a major sponsorship agreement with Adidas
to provide National "A" Teams and internationally competing Junior
Teams for the Olympic Sports (Slalom and Sprint) with uniforms for
2004 and 2005.  The total value of the sponsorship is set at
$100,000, meaning that the uniform packages will be complete, and
very high quality.  This sponsorship agreement was arranged with the
assistance of the USOC.

2004 Budget

The 2004 USACK budget discussion was very difficult. Total USOC cash
funding to USACK for 2004 has decreased by $125,000 from 2003, from
$638,000 down to $513,000.  In addition, costs for insurance have
gone up dramatically, and other revenues from sources such as
membership have declined over the last couple of years.  These
problems have been made worse by a revenue shortfall in 2003, which
has substantially reduced our operating reserves.

USACK's most significant source of funding is the USOC, and funding
from this source has been cut dramatically over the past few years.
There are three main components of USOC funding:

Base funding – an annual amount which is paid to, and is the same
for, each National Governing Body (NGB)
Performance funding – funding to NGBs which is directed to specific
athletes and specific projects (e.g., Silvan's Salary is paid from
Performance funding), which cannot be used for other purposes
Direct funding – funding made directly to athletes and for programs
such as Olympic Training Center funding that does not pass through
the NGBs

Base funding has declined from $371,000 to $250,000.  The Performance
funding has stayed about the same as last year, but is earmarked by
the USOC specifically for a small number of named athletes and for a
few narrowly focused projects.

As recently as 2000, of the total amount of the USOC's funding
support to all NGBs (Base plus Performance), about 80% was Base
funding and 20% was Performance funding.  Since then the USOC has
been shifting more and more of its funding each year from Base to
Performance, with the result that sports which are not realizing very
strong performances internationally are seeing decreased funding
overall.  For 2004, only about 20% of the USOC's overall combined
funding to NGBs will be Base and 80% will be Performance.  Base
funding can be spent by the NGB's with much more flexibility than can
Performance funding.

The USACK National Office has committed to increasing sponsorship
revenues for the organization by a significant amount to offset part
of the lost revenue, but even with moderately aggressive revenue
projections, USACK needs to reduce expenditures by about $170,000
relative to what had been considered to be the lowest budget at which
USACK could maintain current operations.

PERSONNEL REDUCTIONS
The USACK Board determined that the reduction in expected revenues
could not be addressed without significant reductions in expenses,
including staffing.   Both the Slalom Director's and Sprint
Director's positions have been eliminated effective December 31,
2003.  A new position of "High Performance Director", to handle those
duties of the terminated positions which are essential to be carried
out at the USACK level, has been established effective January 1,
2004.  USACK will seek a qualified candidate to fill the new
position.  Both the Slalom Director (Brian Parsons) and the Sprint
Director have been invited to apply.

However, this was not sufficient to close the budget gap, and an
additional $100,000 in budget savings was required.  The Sprint
development coach, Paul Podgorski, was let go in order to reduce
costs, and to ensure that critical Sprint projects leading up to the
Olympics could be funded.  Slalom was able to avoid laying off our
Canoe Coach by drastically reducing expenditures on all other
projects, and by agreeing to implement an aggressive fundraising
campaign to fund the position for the remainder of the year.

EMERGENCY FUNDRAISING EFFORT
The USAWS Committee expressed the strong desire to be able to
continue funding the Canoe Coach position through the end of the year
and beyond, as necessary for the training and performance of our
canoe athletes.  This objective is independent of our ability to
qualify a canoe for the 2004 Olympics.  Chair Mike Sloan announced a
special emergency fundraising appeal to all individuals in the slalom
community to raise $44,000 (the amount of the shortfall for funding
the National Slalom Canoe Coach position and the other necessary
Slalom programs under threat of termination.  A significant portion
of this fundraising goal must be met by December 31, 2003.

If USACK is to carry out its mission, substantial funding from the
private sector (corporate, foundation, and individual) must also be
secured, and a substantial portion of the new Executive Director's
and Director of Marketing's efforts have been, and will continue to
be, directed to this task.  However, the slalom community must also
step forward very quickly.

US NATIONAL WHITEWATER CENTER
Executive Director David Yarborough reported that this project, being
developed on 25 acres by interests in the Charlotte community as part
of an overall 300 acre outdoor activity center (camping, biking, rock
climbing, ropes, etc), is on schedule.  The financing is scheduled to
be in place this winter, with ground breaking in the 2nd quarter of
2004.    There will be three independent whitewater channels,
producing a first-class international competition site larger than
Penrith.  Scheduled use will provide for elite slalom training and
competitions.  Cash flow from commercial use (primarily rafting) and
from a for-profit swift water rescue training center is projected to
provide the necessary operating cash flow. The completed project is
expected to open to the public in the spring of 2006.

2004 US OLYMPIC TRIALS VENUE
The 2004 Olympic Team Trials are scheduled to be held Friday-Sunday,
April 2‑4, 2004.  The strongly preferred venue for this race
continues to be the Olympic course on the Ocoee River, while South
Bend continues to be the second preference and only other practical
alternative, all factors considered.

Agreement appears close with TVA for holding the race on the Ocoee.
If this agreement is reached, TVA will provide a cash sponsorship,
roughly equivalent to the cost of the water on the Ocoee.  TVA will
also arrange for cash sponsorships from a selection of regional
funding agencies.  However, TVA has also insisted that the USACK
provide a significant amount of sponsorship cash for the event.
Executive Director David Yarborough believes that we are likely to be
able to meet this requirement, and also to generate a significant
amount of income from the race above and beyond the costs of holding
the race.  However, he is unlikely to receive any binding commitments
prior to the middle of January.

Based on our current understanding of the TVA position, TVA and the
regional funding agencies will be unwilling to commit their
sponsorship until the USACK sponsorship is secured, or at a minimum,
the USACK agrees to accept a significant financial risk associated
with signing such a sponsor.   However, our budget situation
precludes taking any significant avoidable financial risks at this
time.  The USAWS Committee understands and shares the strong
preference for the Ocoee, but it also understands that a venue
decision must be made at this time -- athletes need to plan and
schedule training most appropriate to the Trials site, and organizers
need to get started.

Accordingly, the USAWS Committee asked David Yarborough to contact
the TVA to see if a satisfactory arrangement can be made with the TVA
by Friday, November 21, which permits the 2004 Olympic Trials to be
held on the Ocoee with no significant financial risk to the USACK.
Unless this agreement can be reached by that date, the Olympic Trials
will be held in South Bend.  In either event, the USAWS Committee is
confident of a first-class 2004 Olympic Trials event and competition.

OLYMPIC TEAM SELECTION CRITERIA
The USOC earlier this year had approved our US Olympic Team Selection
Criteria, and they were then posted on the USACK website.  The USOC
now has requested that the Criteria be changed in one respect,
relating to the amount of points toward selection to be awarded to
athletes for their performance in 2004 Olympic Trials.  The USAWS
Team Selection Subcommittee is reviewing this, along with questions
raised by the USOC concerning how the overall top boat, second boat,
third boat, etc. is determined at 2004 Olympic Trials.

SELECTION OF US ATHLETES FOR FEBRUARY TRAINING IN ATHENS

The Olympic slalom course in Athens will be opened the last week of
February 2004 for Nation training for a limited number of athletes
(probably a maximum of two boats per boat class per country).  The
Olympic "Test" event originally scheduled in Athens (and limited to
one boat per boat class per country) will not be held.  The USAWS
Committee approved the Team Support Subcommittee's recommendation
that the same system as already approved for the selection of US
boats to fill the single slot in each class for the Test event be
used instead to select US boats to fill the multiple (probably two)
slots per class for Nation training in February.

2004 EVENTS
The USAWS Committee approved the following schedule of principal
slalom races for 2004:

October 12 (2003)
Northwest Olympic Trials Qualifier
Nooksack, WA

January 31
Md-Continent Olympic Trials Qualifier
New Braunfels, TX

February 21-22
Glacier Breaker
NOC

March 6
Mid-Atlantic Olympic Trials Qualifier
Dickerson, MD

March 20-21
South-Atlantic Olympic Trials Qualifier
NOC

April 2-4
US Olympic Team Trials
Ocoee, TN or South Bend, IN

April 18
JO Qualifier
Kern Valley, CA

April 25
JO Qualifier
Kish, PA

May 8-9
US Junior Team Trials
NOC

TBD
JO Qualifier
Boulder, CO

May 30
JO Qualifier
Rochester, NY

May 30
JO Qualifier
Washington, DC

June 5
JO Qualifier (Animas River Days)
Durango, CO

June 19
JO Qualifier
NOC

July 10
US Junior Olympics
South Bend, IN

July 11
US Cup #1
South Bend, IN

July 17
US Age Group Nationals
Wausau, WI (to be confirmed)

July 18
US Cup #2
Wausau, WI (to be confirmed)

July 24-25
US Cup #3 and #4
Carlton, MN

September 18-19
US Nationals
Dickerson, MD

The selection of Dickerson for Nationals was strongly supported by
the athlete representatives at the meeting, and is conditioned upon
the pre-arrangement of an appropriate backup venue in the greater
Washington, DC area in the event of lack of access to the site and
upon the prompt satisfaction of certain additional conditions.

AMENDMENTS TO USACK SLALOM RACING RULES
The USAWS Committee adopted the following substantive amendments to
the USACK Slalom Racing Rules:

changes to conform to the USAWS Rules Subcommittee's understanding of
international (ICF) rules:
·         reduced the minimum course length to 250 meters (was 300
meters) and the recommended maximum course length to 400 meters (was
500 meters) – Art. 19.A

·         reduced the minimum number of gates to 18 (was 20) – Art.
19.A

·         amended Art. 22.B.4 to read:

"Repeated negotiations of a gate are not penalized provided
renegotiations are in the correct direction, the complete head of the
paddler passes between the gate poles, and no poles are touched."
[underscored phrase added]

·         change to address the public use of profanity at slalom
events:

·         amended Art. 34.A to read:

"Which course of action to choose is at the discretion of the Chief
Judge in the following cases:  Any competitor attempting to win a
competition by irregular means, who breaks the present rules, fails
to follow an Official's order, fails to observe the safety rules
(Article 16), who conducts themselves in a manner unbecoming of the
sport during the competition (including the use of profanity in the
presence of spectators or officials), or starts in a boat which does
not conform to the requirements (Article 5) shall be disqualified."
[underscored phrase added]

In addition to the Committee's desire to maintain an appropriate
environment within our sport, it was also noted that the type of
misbehavior observed at our races would lead to instant
disqualification at major international races.

DISCUSSION OF PROPOSALS TO REVISE USACK POLICIES CONCERNING JUNIORS
The USAWS Board reviewed and debated several proposals put forward by
Mike Hickey and a proposal by David Kurtz to revise the USAWS
Committee structure concerning Junior paddlers, and to implement a
number of programs intended to improve training and racing
opportunities for Juniors.  It was agreed that these proposals needed
additional refinement before full consideration, and the proposals
were referred to the Development Subcommittee for additional
consideration.

KEY MESSAGE FROM THIS MEETING

We need your financial assistance if our athletes are to perform at
the best of their abilities at the 2004 Olympic Games.  We need your
financial assistance to maintain our development programs for the
future of our sport.

Please contact Mike Sloan at (703) 528-1900 (Day), or (703) 438-3342
(Eve), or at MsloanC1@... to discuss how you can help.

Or, contributions can be sent directly to the
USACK Slalom Fund At:

USA Canoe Kayak
230 South Tryon Street, Suite 220
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 348-4418
info@...

for folks who may be interested - jh

Subj: USA Whitewater Slalom -- Notice of Annual Meetings
Date: 10/13/03 5:03:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time
To: slalom@...

To:    USA Whitewater Slalom Membership
From:    John Seeley, USAWS Secretary
Re:    Notice of Annual Business Meeting and of Annual Planning
Meeting of the USA Whitewater Slalom Committee

The ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING of the USA Whitewater Slalom (USAWS)
Committee will be held Friday, November 14, 2003, in Charlotte, NC at
the offices of USA Canoe/Kayak (USACK), 230 S. Tryon, Suite 230,
Charlotte, NC 28202.  The Meeting is scheduled to start at 1:00 pm.
(See Business Meeting Agenda below.)  Members of the Current USAWS
Committee are expected to attend.

The ANNUAL PLANNING MEETING of the USAWS Committee will be held
Friday-Sunday, November 14-16, 2003, in Charlotte, NC at the offices
of USACK, address above.  The Meeting is scheduled to start
immediately following the conclusion of the Annual Business Meeting.
(See Planning Meeting Agenda below.)  Members of the then-Newly
Elected USAWS Committee are expected to attend.

USAWS Members not on the USAWS Committee are welcome to attend either
or both Meetings.

ANNUAL USAWS BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA

1.  Call to Order and Roll Call
2.  Approval of Agenda
3.  Approval of Minutes of previous Meetings
4.  Ratify Election of Regional Representatives and Athlete
Representative to the Committee
5.  Chair's Report on the Status of USAWS
6.  Adjournment

ANNUAL USAWS PLANNING MEETING AGENDA

1.  Call to Order and Roll Call
2.  Approval of Agenda
3.  Election of Officers
4.  Election of Executive Committee
5.  Election of Subcommittee Chairs
6.  Subcommittee Appointments
7.  Committee Reports
   a.  Consider Amendments to USACK Slalom Racing Rules Proposed by
Rules/Officials Committee (posted on website, www.usack.org , (Feature
Archive))
8.  2004 Events
9.  2004 Budget
10. 2004 Olympic Team Trials
11. 2004 Junior Team Selection Criteria
12. Old Business
13. New Business
14. Date and time of Next Meeting
15. Adjournment

from Jennifer Hearn

I understand where Bill Endicott is coming from.  The USA Whitewater
Slalom Team is currently looking for volunteers to accompany the 2004
World Cup Team to Europe this spring and summer to help support our
National Team athletes.

It is however, a lot to ask people to volunteer their time and energy
for weeks, months at a time, for no pay, for minimal or no expense
monies, year after year.  This has been the American system since I
have accompanied and helped the US Whitewater Team from 1987 through
2001.

It is also a tough financial burden to place on a club (who may not
have any local National Team members) to ask them to raise scarce
funds to send a volunteer (maybe one they also need at home during
the summer months) to support something that does not immediately
benefit their whitewater racing program.

What often happens, is that the US Team takes the volunteers they can
get, and in the process lose good volunteer helpers over the years,
because to be honest the "job" can be thankless at times.  There are
also moments when you feel you have done your very best to help
athletes (and their families) and these moments can be very rewarding
as a volunteer.

But, what can the sport do to keep the good volunteers coming back?

Over the years, we have lost many slalom team helpers like; Caroline
Klam, Gordon Bare, Ken Stone, Ron Lugbill, Dave Mitchell, Scott
Strausbaugh, Fritz Haller, Mike Sastre, Mike Larimer, Lisa Riblet
Jacobi, Bob Campbell, even Bill Endicott for about a decade following
the 1992 Olympics, just to name a few.

Some of these volunteers stay involved supporting the sport in other
ways while others seem to be lost to the sport for good.  I don't see
this as a good thing.

In these hard economic times, I am not suggesting taking monies away
from our already struggling National Team athletes -- who can easily
spend $20,000 or more out of their own pockets racing internationally
each year.

I do think the sport can make an effort to nurture its volunteers,
coaches, split takers, video folks, etc., by recognizing their
dedication to our sport and its athletes by perhaps using the
following ideas:

-Send a personal invitation (or phone call from National Team staff)
asking these volunteers to accompany the team to specific events,
training camps, and activities in the USA and abroad months in
advance.

-Offer some token amount of expense money towards their travel or at
least let the volunteers know that they are included in any team
housing offers, or group rental car arrangements, etc.

-Make the volunteers also feel part of the Team by giving them part
of the current year's team uniform: a shirt, ball cap, or perhaps a
jacket.

-When everything is finished send them a thank you note with "we hope
to see you again next year", if things worked out well.

These are the kinds of things that make people feel good and just may
keep our team volunteers actively involved and perhaps encourage
others to volunteer their time and energy also.

Jennifer Hearn
301 229 4304
Maximum Whitewater Performance
American Slalom Excellence Program

Adrian makes a good point here.


"And I think you would need a lot of PR effort (additional
burden on organizers) to get enough spectators to make it worth the
effort to set up a scoreboard."

This has a lot to do with venue selection, significance of the event and, as he
says, the advertising and PR prior to the event.  The advertising and PR is one
area the sport in general does not address very effectively.  However, Adrian
also touches on another important point.... It is a lot of work to run a good
race.  Expanding the work load beyond the "must have" items adds significantly
to the time commitment and management complexity for local volunteers. 
Practicality and smart cost management indicate that scoreboards and the like
should be targeted for big events at accessible venues that are attractive/near
to spectators.  Many of our favorite race sites require folks to come from long
distances for a specific reason.

The advertising and PR does seem to be something that professional staff could
provide invaluable knowledge and materials to support.  USACK is in a position
to build libraries, bios on athletes, media contact lists etc.  It is also
something that can be run from a remote location by phone.  Doing the PR has the
added advantage of putting the staff in touch with sponsors and the media which,
IMHO, improves the profile of the sport.

My observations working with the worlds and past involvement with the slalom
board indicate that there is a tendency to go for the home run/quick fix/easy
answer rather than a consistent string of base hits.  As an Atlantan, I know how
well that has worked for the Braves in the playoffs.



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