2014 PLANETCANOE Planet Canoe 1 Dansprint Ergometer State of Art Kim Wraae Knudsen Olympic Silver Medalist K2 1000m Beijing 2008 Specifications Ergometer Length: 3.10 m Width: 0.41 m Height: 0.70 m Weight. 40 kg Paddleshaft Length: 1.70 m The Dansprint Ergometer is a high tech kayak/canoe simulator with an unparalleled authentic water feeling. Dansprint ApS Tel. +45 4469 8800 [email protected] Strandmarksvej 27C Mobil +45 2011 8800 www.dansprint.com DK-2650 Hvidovre Fax +45 4469 8880 indoor-outdoor 2 Planet Canoe Dansprint Ergometer State of Art President’s Foreword he momentum provided by the London 2012 Olympic Games Tcontinued throughout the 2013 season with the very best in our sport delivering time and time again on the international stage. With World Championships held in nine countries spanning six dis- ciplines, including the inaugural ICF Ocean Racing World Champion- ships, 2013 provided a truly memorable year of competition. The season also provided the opportunity for our non-Olympic disciplines to shine within the multi-sport arena, with Canoe Polo and Canoe Marathon both in action at the World Games in Cali, Columbia and the World Masters Games in Turin, Italy. As an invitational sport, Canoe Marathon was contested for the first time, whilst the established and exceptionally popular discipline of Canoe Polo made its third appearance at the World Games. Their participation in the World Games is exciting for our sport; Kim Wraae Knudsen offering a significant boost to global visibility and the opportunity for Olympic Silver Medalist us to demonstrate how each of these disciplines can enhance and oper- K2 1000m Beijing 2008 ate within multi-sport competitions. Canoe Polo, alongside Ocean Racing and Va’a, are also being consid- ered for inclusion into the Sport Accord 2015 World Beach Games. It is clear that a proven ability to operate within the various Specifications multi-sport Games environments is likely to be a consideration when, later this year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Ergometer review their sport selection criteria for the 2020 Olympic Pro- Length: 3.10 m gramme and beyond. Despite all of the exceptional on-the-water activity, perhaps the Width: 0.41 m biggest achievement in 2013 for the ICF has been to ensure the future Height: 0.70 m construction of the canoe slalom course for the 2016 Rio Olympic Weight. 40 kg Games, which was brought into question due to financial concerns. Canoe slalom has been a permanent fixture in the Olympic Paddleshaft Games since Barcelona 1992 and over this period the ICF has developed considerable expertise in ensuring successful delivery Length: 1.70 m of an Olympic venue that not only delivers a spectacular event but can also provide a true legacy; the Lee Valley White Water Centre is a clear example. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that The Dansprint Ergometer is contributed to this successful outcome. I look forward to a superb venue being built that will provide the very best in our sport with a high tech kayak/canoe simulator the Olympic experience they deserve and inspire a new wave of with an unparalleled authentic talent from across South America to pick up a paddle. I take a moment to reflect on the passing of UIrich Feldhoff water feeling. (GER) who was our Honorary President and former President of the ICF who sadly passed away in 2013. Mr Feldhoff contributed greatly to our sport and was a true ambassador for canoeing on the world scene. We will remember him fondly. I also look forward to the events in 2014 with a full canoeing cal- endar again covered worldwide on TV and online at canoeicf.com. Dansprint ApS Tel. +45 4469 8800 [email protected] José Perurena, ICF President & IOC Member Strandmarksvej 27C Mobil +45 2011 8800 www.dansprint.com DK-2650 Hvidovre Fax +45 4469 8880 indoor-outdoor Planet Canoe 1 PLANET CANOE 2014 Contents P01 President’s Foreword P04 News from Around the World of Canoeing P10 Canoe Slalom World Cup Review P14 Canoe Sprint World Cup Review P17 World Games Provides Scintillating Action P19 Wildwater Canoeing World Cup P25 Canoe Sprint Olympic Hopes World Championships P18 Wildwater Canoeing Junior World Championships P20 Wildwater Canoing Spint World Championships P22 Ocean Racing World Championships Florence | P90 P24 Sprint Junior and U23 World Championships P26 Paracanoe and Canoe Sprint World Championships P33 Slalom World Championships P38 Slalom Junior and U23 World Championships P40 Marathon World Championships P42 Freestyle World Championships Editorial P43 Becoming Mainstream P46 Progress is Never Easy P62 The Challenge The Wallaces | P72 P72 The Wallaces P77 The Challenge P81 Slalom Snapshot P86 Gender Equity P90 Dream Double P92 Canoe Polo P94 Behind the Cover Contributors Guy Dresser, Richard Eaton, Greg Smale, Midgie Thompson, Ollie Williams, Ross Solly, Mark Proctor, Brad Morgan, Brett Clancy, Rob Eyton Jones and Ramon Ganyet Photography Carrington and Fox | P77 Unless otherwise stated, photos are taken by the ICF Official Photographer Balint Vekassy - canoephotography.com HELLO Ushered in by the closing ceremony of the These events add an extra dimension Olympic Games, the 2013 international to the world of canoeing, providing fresh canoe calendar had a crisp look, ready to ways to innovate and experiment with Editor’s unleash a new era of paddling superstars. broadcasting and presentation. It didn’t disappoint with many defining To get this right is exceptionally words moments across all disciplines. important, not just because of the emphasis Seeing the Czech duo of Vavrinec˘ placed on audience reach by the IOC, but it Hradílek and Jirí˘ Prskavec cross the finish also affects how our sport is perceived by the line first and second at the ICF Canoe outside world. Slalom World Championships in Prague However, perhaps the most poignant was certainly one of these moments. The moment of the season came after pair, competing on their home course, dealt Fernando Fernandes’ (BRA) victory in the with the weight of expectation and media K1 Men A Paracanoe World Championships, scrutiny admirably, delivering gold and when he said, “I met this beautiful sport silver in front of a capacity crowd at the and a new part of my life began.” This is famous Troja course, just months after the something every paddler has experienced, devastating floods that hit the region (p6). I’m sure you’ll agree. 2013 also boasted an entirely new event, the ICF Ocean Racing World Championships; as well as seeing the return of the spectacular Richard Pettit, Editor & Designer Canoe Freestyle World Championships. [email protected] Planet Canoe is the official magazine of the International Canoe ederationF Avenue De Rhodanie 54, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland Planet Canoe Phone: +41 (0) 21 612 0290 featured articles from this edition President: José Perurena / Secretary General: Simon Toulson P68 P48 P81 ESTANGUET– CHANGING THE RULES PADDLING INTO THE FUTURE CANOE SLALOM OLYMPIC HISTORY Canoeing legend talks about the changes needed A look at the challenges ahead for canoe slalom Ramon Ganyet takes a look at the key moments in to improve the sport’s future and the ICF’s view on the discipline’s future the history of the sport P54 P58 P64 WINNING STRATEGIES FEELING FREEDOM THE DUSI What is the difference between gold medal Interviews with the stars of Paracanoe and their Brad Morgan explores the history of Africa’s epic winners and the rest? ambitions for the sport’s Rio 2016 debut four-day canoe marathon NEWS n March José Perurena, ICF Presi- wrestling being recommended for riple Olympic canoeing cham- OLYMPICSdent and IOC Member spoke exclu- exclusion has been the subject of much pion Tony Estanguet (FRA) was I T sively to Sportcal and described his criticism among supporters of that confirmed as a member of the disappointment at the International sport, as well as, it is thought, among Athletes’ Commission for the Inter- Canoe Federation’s shock appear- some IOC members (wrestling was national Olympic Committee (IOC), ance among the sports in the firing reinstated in September). following the decision by the Court of line when the International Olympic Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to uphold Committee was considering which the disqualification of two other sport to recommend for exclusion candidates. from the 2020 Olympic Games. The delayed announcement, due last “The ICF was disappointed to be year after the London 2012 Olympic named in the voting of the 2020 Olym- Games, was released on the 22 May by pic programme,” commented Perurena. CAS and concluded that their investiga- “Certainly all the statistics and anec- tions agreed with the IOCs findings, dotal feedback do not point to canoeing confirming that Japan’s Koji Murofushi being in such a lowly position in the and Chinese Taipei’s Mu-Yen Chu were Olympic Games. both guilty of a breach of conduct in “Therefore our view is that the the election process. system of evaluation needs to be re- “The role of athletes in the Interna- examined. For example, a few months tional Olympic Committee is essential earlier we were receiving TV production to the development of sport in the awards for the Games in London, then future. During my tenure, I will try to we are mentioned as a potential candi- fulfill my mission to voice the athletes date to be removed from the Olympic concerns,” said Estanguet. programme. He joined the Slovak shooter Danka “The Olympic Games needs sports Bartekova, Australian rower James like canoeing and canoeing needs the Tomkins and Zimbabwean swimmer Olympic Games.” Kirsty Coventry, who were also elected The process that eventually led to to the commission. 4 Planet Canoe Inspiring Future Champions In 2012, national anthems echoed around the Lee Valley White Water Centre, champions were created and dreams realised.