Yukoners got an early start on medals, standing on the podium on Day 1 of the Canoe Kayak Whitewater Slalom Nationals yesterday in Jonquière, Que.

All three Team Yukon paddlers earned medals in the day’s only event, the downriver sprint.

On the section of the Rivière aux Sables that will serve as the slalom course this weekend, Luanda Pronovost, 12, paddled to a gold medal, her first-ever at the national level, sprinting to the finish in 55.45 seconds.

“I was kind of scared,” said Pronovost between training sessions in Quebec. “I didn’t want to flip.”

Her first run didn’t go to plan. She got stuck in an eddy near a hole, a recirculating rapid, on the course. But made it down the rapids cleanly on her second run.

Her older brother, Mael, finished just off the podium in both K1 (9th) and C1 junior (5th), but teamed up with junior national team member, Pelly Vincent-Braun to take silver in the C2 class.

Vincent-Braun also won silver in C1 junior, making it through the rapids in 51.65 seconds.

Yesterday, athletes travelled about 40 minutes to the Shipshaw River for the classic downriver event, a longer point A-to-B race.

Vincent-Braun showed his endurance, winning the C1 junior category with a time of 14 minutes, seven seconds.

Mael Pronovost also made the trip, finishing middle of the pack in the hugely competitive men’s junior K1 class.

Pronovost said the river was narrow and shallow in parts, so athletes who normally attach fins to the bottom of their boats couldn’t. He said the course was beautiful, a class III run with forested banks and waterfalls splashing into the river.

Team Yukon has a few more training sessions on the slalom course, a site that last hosted the national championships in 2008.

The water is murky, making it difficult for paddlers to see the many rocks that hide just under the surface and the water level is low this year. Pronovost has put bright yellow tape on his paddle in case he loses his grip so he can spot it in the water.

The slalom races will take place Saturday and Sunday, with all three Yukoners posing a threat for medals.