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From Eskimo rolls to the Beijing Olympics Aug 07 2008 Luuka Jones is about to become the first woman to represent New Zealand in the kayak slalom at the Olympics. She has come a long... way from the Tauranga teenager learning Eskimo rolls and working at the local kayak park. Jones grew up just down the road from the Waimarino kayak park, where as a 12-year-old she was offered the opportunity to work in return for kayak lessons. She enjoyed recreational kayaking before beginning to compete in slalom racing and canoe polo. It was while travelling through Europe with the New Zealand junior team Jones decided she would take competitive slalom racing further. Now based in the English town of Nottingham, Jones trains with some of the world's best slalom racers. She has been welcomed with open arms into the community and is relishing training with so many good paddlers. Jones qualified New Zealand for an Olympic spot at the Oceania champs on the Olympic course in Penrith, NSW. She then had to make the New Zealand Olympic Committee standards, which she did in June at the World Cup in Slovenia. Heats for the women's slalom race are on the August 13, with finals the following day. Jones has been down the 280metre white water course and the top paddlers rate it as very tough. There is speculation that the winner of Beijing Gold won't make the course without penalty and because of the layout of the course may not be a favourite. Sportzhub wishes Luuka Jones well for her Olympic endeavours.

Tough Olympic debut for Jones Aug 14 2008 Young New Zealand kayaker Luuka Jones had a rugged initiation into Olympic competition when she competed in the women's K1 slalom today. Jones, 19, touched the gates in her first run, with a clear run in the second to finished 18th of the 20 starters in her event, with a total time of 272.36s. The winner, Jingjing Li of China, had a total of 187.56. Jones' first run was spoilt by a 52-second penalty, which pushed her time to 162.35. She improved to a mid-field performance of 110.01s on the second run.

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