Minden hosts Pan Am Games qualifying event

The Pan Am Games are just over a month away and athletes got a chance to try out one of the venues in Minden this weekend.

The Canadian National Canoe Slalom team trials were held at the Minden Wildwater Preserve.

The course took months to prepare and athletes say organizers have done a good job with the course.

Canadian athletes were not the only ones on the course this weekend, Argentinian and American athletes were also invited.

“I train on an artificial course in Charlotte, North Carolina and so this is quite different. It takes me back to when I started kayaking on a natural river so it’s quite fun,” says U.S. team member Michal Smolen.

Millions will watch the competition in Minden but long after the games are over the benefits will remain.

“In terms of what this is doing for amateur sport in Canada, the legacy is going to be felt for years to come,” says Ian Miller with CanoeKayak Canada.