Kayaking: Dawson shines at extreme event

Mike Dawson. Photo / Glenys Travers.

New Zealand Olympic kayaker Mike Dawson has given his coffers a major boost before the London Olympics, winning an extreme race title in the United States for the third time today.

With US$7000 ($9300) in total prizemoney at stake, Dawson took out the Steep Creek championship at the Teva Mountain Games in Colorado, fending off Tennessee's Dane Jackson, with another Kiwi Sam Sutton third on the Homestake Creek.

The Tauranga paddler crossed the line in 3mins 58.06secs, adding to the title he shared last year and won outright in 2009, against 46 of the best extreme kayakers on the planet.

"The times were a lot slower this year because of the lower volume of water but I managed to get the job done," Dawson, who will represent New Zealand in canoe slalom, said.

"I love everything about this event - the venue, the atmosphere and the racing - and to pick up another win is just a great bonus."

Dawson's girlfriend, Dutch freestyle paddler Martina Wegman, made it a double celebration by winning the women's race, Another Kiwi, Louise Jull, followed Wegman home in second, though struggled with the finishing section.

"If you mess up the bottom, you could really mess up the race ... I messed up the bottom," Jull said.

Low-water levels this year revealed extra boulders and points of rocks lurking beneath the surface of the water that made the course especially technical to navigate.

The next focus for the Kiwi kayaking contingent is the down river sprint this weekend.