Countdown to canoe freestyle championships begins

As the countdown begins for the 2011 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Plattling, Germany, few are more excited than the athletes themselves and the Rodeo Wildwasser Club who are the organisers of this event.

This year the Championships will be held at the Plattling Regatta Course from 20 – 26 June 2011, drawing some 25,000 spectators who will be there to watch 400 of the planets greatest freestyle athletes in action. For those that witnessed the “fiesta” in Thun back in 2009, Canoe Freestyle Championships are more than just great competition, they are social spectacles.

The World Championships in Plattling will be unique because fans will witness a huge change in the discipline; canoe freestylers will be bringing carbon fiber kayaks into the mix and it will be interesting to see how they adapt to this new feature. It is worth noting that if the water is really low, then it won’t be possible to see carbon boats as they are too fragile for low water conditions. Sanctioned by the International Canoe Federation (ICF) and sponsored by Jackson Kayaks, Lightning Paddles, Robson Paddles, Arcobrau Premium, Teva, this World Championship promises to be the best yet. The ICF and the German Canoe Federation have also joined forces to invest in the event and offer advice to the Organizing Committee. To further highlight the ICF’s commitment to the discipline, the Federation will host its Executive Committee meeting during the World Championships.

With live feeds, live webcasting and television coverage, the 25,000 spectators expected to attend will be electrified by the sheer displays of skill by athletes, not to mention the plethora of sub events planned. Of course the icing on the cake are the freestyle athletes from 30 countries who will battle it out for the glory of being crowned World Champion, after all, it only happens once every two years! The World Championships bring out the very best in competitors, even though it is not a discipline in the Olympic Programme. “Even casual spectators will appreciate the complexity of the athletic moves these athletes can achieve,” commented Chairman of the ICF’s Freestyle Committee Lluis Rabeneda.

Who to watch out for?

With all the greats set to return for the Men’s K1 event, all eyes are once again turned to four time World Champion Eric “EJ” Jackson (USA) and his Canadian son-in-law Nick Troutman, who only just managed to out maneuver him in the Thun Finals in 2009. Regardless of their being being family, EJ will be vying to win that unprecedented fifth World Championship medal. Other’s to look out for include airwheel master Stephen Wright (USA), James Bebington(GBR), Peter Czonka (SVK) and Gerd Serrasolses (ESP)

In Women’s K1, Emily Jackson (USA) the 21 year old daughter of four time World Champion Eric Jackson, is ready to set the pace for the rest of the pack and will be competing alongside 2007 World Champion Ruth Gordon (CAN) and Marianne Seather (NOR); Seather one of the worlds best overall female kayakers. Nina Halasova (SVK) the overall winner of the Euro Cup 2009, 2007, 2005 and Bronze Medallist at the 2008 European championships in Germany will also be there to challenge the likes of Emily Wall (GBR) and Anne Hübner (GER).

In the Junior Men’s K1 event, Silver Medallist Dane Jackson (USA), who competes in four categories (K1JM, C1, OC1, Squirt Men) will be going against Joaquim Fontane (ESP) who came in 4th place in Thun, and was the 2010 European Champion in Lienz, Austria. Also to watch: Michel Hasselwander (GER) Deutscher Junioren Meister 2011. Absent will be 2009 World Champion Jason Craig he was seriously injured and will unfortunately not be competing.

It’s worth looking out for C1 veteran competitor Marcus Hummel (GER), Hummel was 4th at the 2009 World Championship in Thun and will be giving competition to Phiipp Hitzigrath (GER), Deutscher Meister 2011.

In the OC1 Division that features a high number of homemade boats, most of the top guns from Thun will be returning including the 2009 World Champion Jeremy Laucks (USA), Areta Oreao (ESP) who took 3rd place, and Tobias Hüther(GER) who came in fourth.

Team Great Britain have long dominated the Squirt Division with James Reeves and Claire O ́Hara, both were World Champions in Thun and they will be hoping to keep their momentum going just a bit longer to capture another title.

The World Championship in Plattling will kick off with an extravagant Opening Ceremony; there will be music from a Bavarian brass band, the Youth Party, and live music by "Nimm3". Spectators will be treated to many sub events during the course of the Championships, including Pasta Parties, live bands, competitions to win prizes etc. This extravaganza of a World Championship will be attended by the ICF President José Perurena López , three ICF Vice Presidents and other Board Members.

Follow the action on social media channels Twitter at #ICFPlattling and www.icf-freestyle.de.

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