Australia’s canoe slalom team is completing their final preparations, ahead of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, which start on Thursday in La Seu D’Urgell, Spain.

Eleven athletes will compete across the four world championship divisions (C1, K1, C2 and WK1).

The Australian squad enjoyed a solid World Cup campaign earlier in the year and have retained the remainder of the team that competed at World Cup 3.

Sam Lyons won a selection race over fellow New South Wales paddler Anthony Brown, in August, and will paddle in the K1 alongside Beijing Olympian Warwick Draper (Victoria) and young gun Will Forsythe (New South Wales).

The men’s C1 remains unchanged, with Olympic bronze medallist Robin Bell (Western Australia), Ian Borrows
(New South Wales) and Robin Jeffery (Western Australia) leading the Australian charge and looking to build on their
performances earlier in the season.

Kate Lawrence (New South Wales), who won a silver medal in World Cup 2 in Slovakia, will look to make her mark at world championship level as she headlines the women’s K1 class. Lawrence will be joined by younger sister Ros Lawrence (New South Wales) and Victorian Sarah Grant.

The men’s C2 combination of Chris and Scott Guinea only achieved selection after the World Cup season when they recorded a time quick enough to qualify for the world championships.

The Victorian pair will compete at their first world championships and will use this as a step in their development.

Meanwhile, Ros Lawrence, Leanne Guinea (New South Wales) and Jessica Fox (New South Wales) will paddle in the
women’s C1 exhibition event.

Head Coach Mike Druce says all paddlers are ready for the peak event of the 2009 season.

‘We have had a really good preparation period and everyone is eager to translate their training performances into strong racing,’ Druce said.

‘As always the competition will be very difficult but we are happy with how we have prepared for the event.’

The world championships commence on Thursday and will run until Sunday 13 September.