Clairemont Teens Are Most Valuable Paddlers

Sammie Barlow (left) and Noa Hopper

Members of the San Diego Canoe Kayak Team, Clairemont residents Noa Hopper & Sammie Barlow, were recently awarded joint MVP at the team’s annual awards banquet held at Andres Restaurant in Bay Park.

Both paddlers had earned high honors at the USA Canoe Kayak Nationals held in Oklahoma in August. In the 16U age group Sammie swept the board with 5 Golds in 5 races, while Noa was the top 14U paddler with 3 Golds, a Silver & a Bronze.

Following her successful summer, Sammie was selected for Team USA and travelled to the Czech Republic to compete in the Olympic Hopes International competition against 23 Countries.

San Diego Canoe Kayak Team is now in their 17th year of providing paddle programs for the youth of San Diego.  Operating daily on Mission Bay, SDCKT has a reputation for building elite athletes on the water, and model citizens off the water.  “All of our youth paddlers learned the Olympic sport of flatwater sprint racing by starting in training boats and experiencing this great alternative to typical youth athletics,” offered Ken Truesdale, SDCKT Board President.

http://www.sdckt.net/about-us.html
http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Canoe-Kayak