When looking in the faces of the Organizing Committee members of the 2011 ICF Freestyle World Championships you will note a hint of relief. The final runs of all disciplines will be held on Saturday with good water level conditions. The authorities of the city of Plattling forecasted that the highest level will be reached on Friday and the level will go down to a good gauge from a competition point of view.

On Tuesday a flood warning was given by the city authorities which could have flooded parts of the venue. The Organizing Committee decided to tighten the program so that there was enough scope to react to the now predictable development of the river’s water gauge.

“We can work very well with the newest prognosis. Saturday will be the best day to carry out the final runs of the World Championships. On Friday we expect a rise of the water level at the Isarwave. But fortunately it will not be high enough to draw any further evacuation or re-scheduling measures”, said Robert Sommer, chief of the local Organizing Committee. “On Friday we will give the athletes a day off and carry out all of the side events like King of the Wave or the Teva Big trick contest. Also the athletes have now some extra practicing possibilities to prepare themselves for the final runs on Saturday.”

Sommer also thanked the city authorities for the good cooperation. “The communication between the city of Plattling, the police and all other involved persons and institutions and our OC was very good. We worked on a sharp crisis plan and made the best decisions under the given circumstances.”

Also the ICF had only positive feedback about the work of the OC at this event. “Not only the athletes level was very high so far, the organization is also working perfectly. We all continue on our path to get Freestyle into the Olympis schedule in the future”, said Lluis Rabaneda Chairman of Freestyle at the ICF.

Joe Jacobi, CEO of USA Canoe Kayak and former Olympic Gold medallist, who came to Lower Bavaria to collect impressions for the organization of the 2013 IFC Freestyle Worlds was very excited. “The Freestyle sport is on a good way. The level on and beside the wave is really high. Even more important is the commitment of the many Volunteers which make such an event possible. They are proud to be here and try to help whereever they can. That is one impression amongst others I take back to the US”, said Jacobi this afternoon.

Schedule for Friday and Saturday
Friday
14:00 Fun Events: “King of the Wave”, “SUP - surf´s up!”, “Teva Big Trick”
18:00 Team Captain’s meeting: Squirt M/W, OC, K1 JW
19:00 Training, finalists only: K1M, K1W, C1, K1JM
20:00 Open Wave

Saturday - Finals
ab 09:00 Training, finalists only
10:00 Squirt Women
11:00 Squirt Men
12:00 OC
13:00 K1 Junior Women
14:00 C1
15:00 K1 Junior Men
16:00 K1 Women
17:00 K1 Men
19:00 Awards & Closing Ceremony
20:30 Press Conference with winning athletes