Christchurch paddler Scott Martlew will open New Zealand's 2016 international kayaking campaign tonight, with a simple recipe needed to get him to the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics.
The 23-year-old is part of a seven-strong team competing in Duisburg, Germany, with the ICF Paracanoe World Championships held in conjunction with the first ICF World Cup of the season.
While teammates Lisa Carrington, Marty McDowell and the women's K4 have already qualified for Rio, Martlew needs to finish in the top-four of the KL3 division to win a spot.
"There are multiple country entries in Scott's division and there must be at least two continents represented in Rio so the permutations are a bit tricky," Martlew's coach Leigh Barker explained. "Basically Scott just needs to paddle fast - it's a pretty simple task and all he needs to focus on."
Martlew, who lost his left leg to a rugby injury in 2010, finished 10th at last year's world championships in Italy. The top six last year booked Paralympic spots at that event, while this week's championships will be the final chance to race in the sport that will make its debut at the Rio Games later this year.
Martlew has spent the majority of his training time in the Czech Republic, preparing for this week. The first seven paddlers from each of tonight's heats progress to tomorrow night's semifinals. The first two boats in each of the four semifinals - plus the fastest third-place finisher - will make Thursday's nine-boat A final.
McDowell and Carrington, meanwhile, will kick-start their World Cup campaign on Friday night (NZ time), with the women's K4 racing a day later.
World Cup 1 website
Paralympic Qualifier – Germany
*To qualify Scott must finish 5th or better in the A final (top 4 would be safer!)
| Race No. | Event | Ger Time | NZ Time | Competitor | Result/Progression |
| Tuesday | | | | | |
| 12-16 (5H) | M KL3 200 heat | 3.00-3.20pm | 1.00-1.20am | Scott Martlew | 1-7 + NBT to semi |
| Wednesday | | | | | |
| 43-47 (4S) | M KL3 200 semi | 11.15-11.35am | 1.15-1.35am | Scott Martlew | 1-2+NBT to A final
3x3rd, 4x4th +2x5thBT to B final
2x5th + 4x6th +3NBT to C final |
| Thursday | | | | | |
| 86 | M KL3 200 B final | 11.20am | 9.20pm | | |
| 87 | MKL3 200 A final | 11.25am | 9.25pm | | |
World Cup 1 - Germany
| Race No. | Event | Ger Time | NZ Time | Competitor | Result/Progression |
| Friday | | | | | |
| 3-8 (6H) | MK1 1000 heat | 8.44-9.19am | 6.44-7.19pm | Marty McDowell | 1-6 to semi |
| 20-23 (4H) | WK1 200 heat | 10.50-11.05am | 8.50-9.05am | Lisa Carrington Aimee Fisher | 1-6 + 3NBT to semi |
| 38-41 (4S) | MK1 1000 semi | 2.07-2.28pm | 12.07-12.28am | Marty McDowell | 1-2+NBT to A final
3x3rd, 4x4th +2x5thBT to B final
2x5th + 4x6th +3NBT to C final |
| 51-53 (3S) | WK1 200 semi | 3.50-4.00pm | 1.50-2.00am | Lisa Carrington Aimee Fisher | 1-3 to A final
4-6 to B final |
| Saturday | | | | | |
| 82 C | MK1 1000 C final | 11.11am | 9.11pm | | |
| 83 B | MK1 1000 B final | 11.18am | 9.18pm | | |
| 88 B | WK1 200 B final | 11.55am | 9.55pm | | |
| 95 A | MK1 1000 A final | 12.46pm | 10.46pm | | |
| 97 A | WK1 200 A final | 1.05pm | 11.05pm | | |
| 103-107(5H) | MK1 200 heat | 3.00-3.25pm | 1.00-1.25am | Marty McDowell | 1-7 + 3 NBT to semi |
| 108-111 (4H) | WK1 500 heat | 3.35-3.53pm | 1.35-1.53am | Lisa Carrington | 1-6 + 3NBT to semi |
| 118-119 (2H) | WK4 500 heat | 4.50-4.56pm | 2.50-2.56am | J Lovett, A Fisher, C Ryan, K Imrie | 1-3 to A final 4-7 +NBT to semi |
| 120-123 (4S) | MK1 200 semi | 5.10-5.25pm | 3.10-3.25am | Marty McDowell | 1-2+NBT to A final
3x3rd, 4x4th +2x5thBT to B final
2x5th + 4x6th +3NBT to C final |
| 124-126 (3S) | WK1 500 semi | 5.35-5.47pm | 3.35-3.47am | Lisa Carrington | 1-3 to A final
4-6 to B final |
| 131 (1S) | WK4 500 semi | 6.35pm | 4.35am | J Lovett, A Fisher, C Ryan, K Imrie | 1-3 to A final |
| Sunday | | | | | |
| 132 C | MK1 200 C final | 8.30am | 6.30pm | | |
| 133 B | MK1 200 B final | 8.35am | 6.35pm | | |
| 137 B | WK1 500 B final | 9.12am | 7.12pm | | |
| 141 A | WK1 500 A final | 10.39am | 8.39pm | | |
| 142 A | MK1 200 A final | 10.45am | 8.45pm | | |
| 148 A | WK4 500 A final | 11.53am | 9.53pm | | |
| 153-154 (2H) | WK4 200 heat | 12.52-12.57pm | 10.52-10.47pm | J Lovett, A Fisher, C Ryan, K Imrie | 1-3 to A final 4-7 +NBT to semi |
| 159 (1S) | WK4 200 semi | 1.22pm | 11.22pm | J Lovett, A Fisher, C Ryan, K Imrie | 1-3 to A final |
| 163 A | WK4 200 A final | 2.45pm | 12.45am | | |