Pérez-Llorens and Llamedo, winners of the Asturias Championship of Cross-Canoe

The winners on their first portage. Photo: Cope Ribadesella

This last weekend was finally held at Ribadesella the Asturias Championship of Cross-Canoe, which was postponed last February due to a storm. Weather was not actually good again at this time, but at least the race could take place normally.

After the usual start running from the far end of the beach, the first to hit the water on their kayaks were eventually those who would claim victory, in this case Luis Amado Pérez and Miguel Llorens (SCD Ribadesella) in K2 and Emilio Llamedo (Los Rápidos - Jayre Aventura) in K1, who together led both laps to the course with two portages included again on the beach.

Spanish Winter Championships (II): Youngsters set the bar high

In the younger categories, we could see lively and very colorful races in the Spanish Winter Championships. Not only because of the number of paddlers, but the times achieved in less than favorable wind conditions, make us optimistic about the development not only of the season, but the next few years regarding the junior national teams, where the last year we already got a few world and European medals.

Pelayo Roza, Junior K1 champion. Photo: E. Durán

The Junior Men K1 was a good example, with special involvement of the sprint national team members. The trial over 2,000 meters was won by Pedro Vázquez (Los Rápidos - Jayre Aventura) with 8:14, a time that due to the strong headwind could only be beated by 11 senior paddlers. Pelayo Roza (SCD Ribadesella) took second place, followed by Ramón Lecumberri (Náutico Sevilla , first U17). The same podium would be given the next day at the end of the 5,000 final, but with the exchange of the first two positions, because after a great comeback in the sprint, the gold went to Pelayo Roza.

Spanish Winter Championships: Javier Hernanz claims back the title while Eva Barrios and Antonio Campos get second gold in a row

Hernanz, Germade and Peña (left to right). Photo: E.P. Aranjuez

This is the first post of the few I will dedicate to the Spanish Winter Championship over 5,000 meters, held again in a splendid sunny Seville and marking the first milestone of an intense 2014 season just started.

After a tough 2,000m qualifying on Saturday, due to strong headwind and that was won again by Francisco Cubelos in the K1 Senior Men (4th consecutive year that Cubelos claims victory over this distance), the 70 fastest paddlers had an appointment in Sunday's final, which was expected, as usual, hotly contested.

The start had its particular role in this race. After forming two large spearheads, one on the left after Rodrigo Germade and one in the center led first by Carlos Perez Rial and later by one of the components of Kayak Tudense (which seemed Roi Rodríguez), it came the inevitable moment when paddlers begin to look to either side and the two spearheads come together and begin the fight for the best washes. After the usual sound of voices and clash of blades, one of the paddlers ended up in the water. Once he managed to get on the boat again, helped by the Red Cross zodiac (which actually made him tarrible waves after that) we all thought that he could be Paco Cubelos.

Javier Hernanz claims his Regional Winter Championship in Asturias (Spain)

Javier López (left) and Javier Hernanz (right). Photo: Anselmo Bernal

Although we have to wait to Seville to see a new duel Llamedo - Hernanz, we could assist to a nice spectacle at the always colourful Asturias Winter Championship, held last Sunday at Trasona Dam. It somewhat reduced version of the championship, as bad weather forecast made the organization cancel all the races scheduled on Saturday, including all the U14 categories, Masters races and the 2,000 meters qualifiers for U16, juniors, U23 and seniors.

Olympians show their quality on the first weekend of the Nelo Winter Challenge

Olympic paddlers seem to have started strongly this 2014 season and the first session of the Nelo Winter Challenge, held this past Saturday at the training center Aguieira (Portugal ), both at the 2,000 and at the 200 appeared London 2012 medalists showing their value with victories.

The Nelo Winter Challenge inaugurated a new format plenty of paddlers, both from Portugal and several other European countries. Races were held over 2,000m in group with a turn at an island, and then the 200m also in group and with paddlers being eliminated in successive rounds until a final 10 boats race.