Congratulations and thanks go out to the Calgary Canoe Club, CORA, volunteers and all the racers who made the 2012 IVF World Sprints such a success. Through all the planning, practicing, training and racing – you made it through the finish line!

The final medal count is:

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
Hawai’i	22	20	18	60
New Zealand	17	25	20	62
Canada	15	4	7	26
Australia	6	4	5	15
Brazil	2	4	–	6
New Caledonia	2	–	2	4
California	–	5	2	7
Tahiti	–	–	1	1

Team Canada Medal Winners

Medal	Event	Team/Paddler	Time
Gold	Gldn Master Men – V1 500	Alex Vandeham	2:32.99
Gold	Gldn Master Men – V12 500	Canada 1	1:59.40
Gold	Goldn Master Men – V6 1000	Canada 1	4:55.91
Gold	Gldn Master Men – V6 500	Canada 1	2:07.70
Gold	Master 70 Women – V12 500	Canada 1	2:47.40
Gold	Master 70 Women – V6 1000	Canada 1	6:38.24
Gold	Master 70 Women – V6 500	Canada 1	2:52.04
Gold	Master Men – V12 500	Canada 1	1:53.90
Gold	Master Men – V6 1000	Canada 1	4:37.05
Gold	Master Women – V1 500	Kamini Jain	2:46.45
Gold	Master Women – V12 500	Canada 1	2:08.80
Gold	Snr Master Men – V1 500	Hugh Fisher	2:26.47
Gold	Snr Master Men – V12 500	Canada 1	2:06.70
Gold	Snr Master Men – V6 1000	Canada 6	4:46.29
Gold	Snr Master Men – V6 500	Canada 6	2:03.03
Silver	Master 70 Men – V6 1000	Canada 1	5:30.22
Silver	Master Women – V6 1000	Canada 1	5:19.75
Silver	Master Women – V6 500	Canada 1	2:19.35
Silver	Open Women – V6 500	Canada 1	2:15.17
Bronze	Snr Master Men – V1 500	Don Irvine	2:30.79
Bronze	Junior 19 Women – V1 500	Aleea Dahinden	2:52.94
Bronze	Open Women – V12 500	Canada 1	2:08.46
Bronze	Gldn Master Men – V6 500	Canada 2	2:14.16
Bronze	Gldn Master Women – V6 1000	Canada 1	5:55.29
Bronze	Master 70 Men – V12 500	Canada 1	2:23.70
Bronze	Master 70 Men – V6 500	Canada 1	2:25.86

The last day of the 2012 IVF World Sprint was full of excitement for the v6 1000 and 1500m semi’s and finals, but it is with great sadness that we lost one of Hawaii’s Kupuna paddlers today. During the Kupuna masters race, Bob Fiulkerson from Maui suffered a massive heart attack. Volunteers and emergency response did all they could.

Although this was a very difficult time for all the countries paddlers, there was a great connection with everyone as prayers were said and paddlers accompanied the medical vehicle out of the park with paddles raised in honor.

Racing commenced after a blessing by New Zealand in honour of Bob’s passion for the sport. CORA sends their thoughts and prayers to the Bob’s family, friends, and paddling community. Updates on race finals will be provided soon.

Day 4 – 46 races but only 1 final. And in that race, Canada took gold in the Master 70 Women – V6 1000! The 1,000 and 1,500 m. races are time to show off the skills on the turns. The race course is 250m. so the 1,000 m. race requires 3 turns and the 1,500 m. race is 5 turns. The stroke and steer really have to show their stuff while the rest of the crew powers it on.

Just as the Open Men’s 1500 m. heats started (5 races to go in the day), the thunder clouds rolled in and the rain came down, leaving everyone running for cover! Race organisers suspended racing for the day and will pick up where they left off tomorrow. The weather man has been predicting this all week but it’s not expected to last. They’ll all be ready to go in the morning for the final day of the 2012 World Sprints!