Margaret Langiord’s “paddling career took her from Lion’s Bay to world competition IN 1985, 15-year-old Margaret Langford first set paddle to water during kayaking lessons at Lions Bay. Six short years ‘later Langford has earned a spot as Canada’s number two kayaker in the women’s white water cance slalom at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Now 21, Langford, a graduate of West Vancouver Secondary, is taking a year off from the Uni- versity of B.C., where ‘she is working on a degree in physical education, to focus on training for the Olympics. . : - While the Olympics may seem . far off to some people, Langford and ‘the Canadian squad are al- ready making intense preparations for the event which is nine months from now. Today, Langford flies to Europe where she will compete in three races in England before heading to Spain. She will also train.on the artificial course at Nottingham, the-:site of the 1995 World Championships, to gain more. experience for Barcelona, which is also an artificial course. By Elizabeth Collings News Reporter finished 11th. She started her career with local races and then in 1987 she par- ticipated in the Mid-America Slalom Series. “That sort of got me into it. I just found it was really exciting, a lot of fun, meeting new people from different parts of the world.”” The next year she was the only Canadian to compete at the Junior World Championships, held at the same course as the 1992 Olympics in Seu d’Urgell, approximately two hours from Barcelona. “When I got there, it was a motivating experience, something that set the tone for the rest of my paddling career,’” Langford says. After the junior worlds, she started training in earnest. She dropped other sports, started ’ 46 Although her build is small and compact, Langford says being small is not a disadvantage in white water kayaking. 99 - ~ Leading Canada in women’s kayaking at the Olympics is Van- .couver’s: "Jeanne. Woods. The "+ number-three’ slot goes to Sheryle Boyle of Ontario. : coe .Because..of her experience on the World Cup circuit, Langford says: she already knows the com- petition that will be at the Olym- pics. ; “It’s going to be pretty much the people we’ve raced against be- ' fore.so we know who we’re up against,’ says.Langford, : In the upper. echelons of the sport,’ almost any competitor can win on a given day, she says. - “International experience is key. it’s race experience; it almost comes down to a head game.”’ Years of hard work and dedica- tion are paying off for Langford who was the top Canadian woman at the World: Championships at Yugoslavia last summer where she NV runner joins five NORTH VANCOUVER en- durance runner Enzo Federico will join five Canadians at the Mount Everest Marathon, the world’s highest marathon to be held in Nepal on Nov. 22. Federico recently completed the tugged Leadville 100-mile trail race held in Colorado at altitudes -- ver 10,000 feet. Although he is experiencing some back problems, Federico is confident he will be able to com- plete the Mount Everest Marathon under the 11-hour cutoff. weight training and increased her water time which before had been limited to weekends. “I started getting a lot better. I picked it up really quick.”’ Although she completed. two years of general sciences, ‘Langford says ‘‘I found it was not compatible with training full-time. It was incredibly difficuit.’’ + Last year she switched to the physical education department which she finds more enjoyable. Her best results for 1991 include 3th at a World Cup meet in Minden, Ontario, third in the Ca- nadian team trials and the U.S. team trials, and second in the Ca- nadian nationals. Although her build is small and compact, Langford says being small is not a disadvantage in white water kayaking. “It’s a very, very sport,’’ says Langford. technical Other B.C. marathoners heading for Nepal are Dr. Ken Hirst of Chilliwack and Brendan Kennelly of Surrey. Hirst was the masters winner of the 1991 Vancouver Marathon and a top finisher in the 30-mile Knee Knackering Run, a course that follows the Baden Powell trail from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. Kennelly compete! in Canzdian and Hawaiian [ronman triath'ons before turning to traii :unning and ultra marathons. ih Shore News - 43 ise NEWS photo Terry Peters LIONS BAY’S Margaret Langford shows the form that has lead to her rapid ascent in the world of kayaking. She will be representing Canada at the 1992 Olympics in Spain. Canadians in Nepal marathon Mountain race includes a 17-day acclimatizing trek and conditions ranging from -25°C and snow to 20°C Bazaar (3446 metres), with condi- In order to acclimatize properly to the high altitude, the race is preceded by a !7-day trek from the roadhead into the Everest region. This allows for high altitude training under medical supervision. The race begins near Everest base camp at Gorak Shep (5,184 metres) and finishes at Nache tions ranging from -25°C and snow ai the start to 20°C in Nam- che. The Everest Marathon is a fundraiser for the Nepalese peo- ple. The 1987 and 1989 races rais- ed more than $75,000. The Canadian runners have chosen to raise funds for the Ca- nadian-based Nepal School Pro- jects, a registered charity that funds schools and water systems in remote areas of the country. For more information on the Mount Everest Marathon or the Everest Marathon Fund, Call Federico at 988-0694 or Kennelly at 594-5762.