2015 ICF World Championships Slalom
 
1
2
3
K1M
CZ J. PRSKAVEC
PL M. POLACZYK
US M. SMOLEN
K1W
CZ K. KUDEJOVA
DE R. FUNK
DE M. PFEIFER
C1M
GB D. FLORENCE
SI B. SAVSEK
GB R. WESTLEY
C1W
AU J. FOX
CZ K. HOSKOVA
ES N. VILARRUBLA
C2
DE ANTON/BENZIEN
FR PICCO/BISO
FR KLAUSS/PECHE

Extreme

2011 WWGP - Big wave challenge

A wave on the Ashuapmushuan River was chosen for today’s freestyle competition and showcased athletes’ wave skills, which were honed to a fine point. The features called 'Pillars’, which has been surfed on previous 'Stakeout's', but never at this level, gave competitors two waves to surf.

The top wave that formed on an inside corner gave up the biggest air, but the main feature was the second, an unpredictable breaking wave that challenged many. Directly behind the waves was a big hole with a crashing pocket feeding into what the athletes called the ‘Meat Pocket’. “I think that as a rule in this competition there has got to be a big hole behind every wave we compete in,” said Tino Specht.

Spectators watched the event from a railway bridge that was conveniently located above the waves. There were three heats with athletes getting 6 rides, the best two counting, and no finals. This was the platform for the freestyle gurus. Mat Dumoulin came off the injury list demonstrating to all that this wasn’t his first rodeo, winning his heat smoothly and decisively. However the moves of the day came from freestyle icon and current overall leader Ben Marr, and a name familiar to the freestyle realm, Dane Jackson. The two finished the competition sharing the first place spot, with Dumoulin following them and current ICF freestyle champion Nick Troutman in fourth. Perhaps the most impressive part of the day came during the women’s heat when Katya Kulkova from Russia threw an airscrew that shocked the crowd, a trick that event director Patrick Camblin remarked will likely "win best trick in the Rider of the Year Awards".

As the sunshine faded and the competition came to a close, athletes and organizers met in the parking lot for a barbeque. Tomorrow the Grand Prix leaves for Chicoutimi, the site of the Giant Slalom and the last stop on the tour. Apprehension is high over the difficulty of the racecourse, which is supposed to be running on the high side of good.  With the overall standings tight, it will come down to the final race to determine the Grand Prix World Champion.

Website: www.whitewatergrandprix.com