Canoe Niagara 2013 debuts new age category, new standards for international competition

canoe kayak sprint competition icf world championships junior u23 welland ontario canada sportscene results niagara

Taylor Potts | Sportscene - In two days, the Welland International Flatwater Centre (WIFC) will welcome over 1000 participants to Canoe Niagara 2013: the ICF Junior and Under 23 Canoe Sprint World Championships.

And that’s not counting the spectators.

More than seventy countries and 800 males and females will be competing for gold in two age categories: U18 and U23. Paddlers under the age of eighteen are classified as juniors, while the newly introduced U23 category includes all of and under the age of twenty-three. Racing takes place from August 1 to 4 in Welland, Ontario.

canoe kayak sprint competition icf world championships junior u23 welland ontario canada sportscene results niagara “For our U23s and juniors to be able to race at home is really a once in a career opportunity," says Thomas Hall, Olympic bronze medalist, who will be hosting the event on live stream and television, "I can't wait to see what the Canadian team has to offer.”

Canoe Niagara 2013 marks the firsts of a few occasions. The event will be the first World Championship hosted in Ontario for sprint canoe. This year also introduces Under 23 as a flatwater World Championship age category. “The uncertainty of the racing level is what makes this World Championship really cool,” says Canadian U23 kayaker, Sam Roworth. “Since it’s the first opportunity we’ve had to compete in this age class, nobody knows what to expect.”

The WIFC has undergone significant renovations in preparation of their first Worlds. Boasting over eight kilometers of paddling potential, the 200m-wide canal provides the perfect setting for an international event. “Canoe Niagara 2013 is a major event for the City of Welland,” says Richard Dalton, General Manager. “Both the number of participants and status of this World Championship event will set a new standard for hosting International Canoe Sprint competitions in the Niagara Region.” Canoe Niagara 2013 is also a qualifying event for China’s 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, which will be held in Nanjing.

canoe kayak sprint competition icf world championships junior u23 welland ontario canada sportscene results niagara

The last two days of the competition will also host a special War Canoe Challenge. This 200-meter race will be an opportunity for Canadian clubs to win a total of $12,500. Visiting spectators who come out to support the athletes can also enjoy Welland’s Shoreline Festival concerts, featuring Canadian musicians, which will take place each night of Canoe Niagara.

Links