Sports Minister Kate Ellis urged young Australians to consider a future in canoe kayak after her initiation on the rapids at Penrith Whitewater Stadium this month.

Australia’s first male Olympic Canoe Slalom medallist Robin Bell led Ms Ellis on a run down the Sydney 2000 course to encourage a new wave of paddlers to the sport.

Both Australia’s whitewater and sprint teams enjoyed their most successful Olympic Games in Beijing last year and Ms Ellis said the sport provided immense opportunities for aspiring young athletes.

'Australians are known as being daring and adventurous,' Ms Ellis said. “This is why so many of us like to try the whitewater rapids when we travel.

'My message to young Australians is, don’t wait until you go on holidays to give this a go.

'Apart from being a lot of fun, Australian Canoeing and the AIS have openings for those with real talent to embark on a journey that could take them all the way to the Olympics.'

The Australian Sports Commission’s National Talent Identification (NTID) Program plays a key role in identifying the next generation of Australian sporting champions.

The ASC supports over 600 athletes, of which 70 per cent are under 18, and involves more than 100 coaches.

The Australian Sports Commission recently announced $5.5 million additional grants for sports including $325,000 for canoeing.

The funding includes a talent identification and development program with Surf Life Saving Australia to form a more effective alliance with Surf Life Saving Australia and improve the transition of athletic talent from surf ski to flat-water paddling.

The investment will also provide for enhanced international camps and competition in the lead-up to slalom and flatwater world titles later this year, to support our elite athletes who have done so well for Australia.

Dual medallist Ken Wallace (K1 500m gold, K1 1000m bronze) and the K4 women (bronze) spearheaded the Beijing flatwater campaign while Jacqui Lawrence (K1 silver) and Bell (C1 bronze) shone in the whitewater slalom.

Competition to select AIS scholarship holders and the Australian team to contest 2009 World Cup and World Championships in Europe will continue at the Penrith venue this weekend (7 and 8 March). 

Minister Ellis wants her whitewater foray to inspire young athletes to taste the sport and go submit their credentials to the Australian Sports Commission’s online National Talent Identification Program. 

'The Penrith venue is a world-class facility,' Ms Ellis said. 'The AIS and Australian Canoeing in partnership with the NSW Institute of Sport have built an excellent program here as legacy of the Sydney Olympics,' Ms Ellis said.

'Our talent identification initiatives have played a big role in building the strength of canoe kayak, especially the sprint events.

'It is important we continue to invest in the next generation of high performance athletes now to consolidate these foundations.

'We have a great opportunity to grow the sport further from this Western Sydney base by partnering with the Penrith City Council, NSWIS and the education system to foster young talent.'

Males and females aged 12 to 29 interested in being assessed for the National Talent Identification Program can go to: ausport.gov.au/etid