Río Negro, final stage: Pinta and Mozzicafredo reign over Río Negro for the 13th time. Alonso claims his first victory

Río Negro saw yesterday afternoon  the final of the XL edition of its Regatta with the traditional stage between San Javier and Viedma, with the arrival to a crowded river promenade full of people who could enjoy a great sunny day by the river.

Néstor Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo celebrate their record 13th absolute victory in Río Negro. Photo: DeViedma.info

In the race itself, no surprises. The last stage followed the expected script. On the entrance to Viedma there was a leading group of five boats, where Balboa and Guerrero marked the pace downstream, looking for the buoy where they would have to return back to Viedma to face the finish line upstream.

It was clear that they were tightening the pace and the group started losing units. Finally, three K2s faced the sprint in front of the crowd at the Viedma shore.

Río Negro, day 5: The Regatta, almost decided after longest stage

The 67 km of the fifth and longest stage of Río Negro Regatta, left the race almost ready for the final podium, unless unexpected accidents, and followed the script written by the leaders through all this week. Néstor Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo kept stuck to their conservative tactics and left again the weight of the race on Balboa and Guerrero, who finally took again the partial victory, but scratching just 5 seconds to those from Patagones, virtual winners of the Regatta, as it would be very difficult for them to lose their 4'30" advantage. On this occasion, the third K2 on the podium, Jonathan Muñoz and Andrés Roth, managed to complete the entire part in the group head, finishing 12 seconds after the winners.

Alonso will achieve today his first title at Río Negro. Photo: Diario Río Negro

Interesting was the race in K1. Iván Alonso (ESP) with its title secured, opted this time for a conservative pace that would allow to...

Río Negro, day 4: Pinta and Mozzicafredo, one step closer to final victory

The 4th stage of Río Negro saw how its route, by problems with the access to the river, and modality were changed on the intended plan by the organizers, finally been raced over 57 km (14 more than the stipulated) and with a elapsed start every 15 seconds for senior K1 and K2, which was something initially programmed for the 3rd stage.

Balboa - Guerrero (left) and Pinta - Mozzicafredo (right) during yesterday's stage. Photo: Diario Río Negro

So, after the draw, the fact was that Balboa and Guerrero were meant to start just 15 seconds ahead of Pinta and Mozzicafredo. They had no other chance, then, to push hard and try to put some pressure on their rivals.

Río Negro, day 3: Pyrrhic victory of Balboa and Guerrero after a time penalty

The third stage of Río Negro Regatta, after the first day off, made the 38 kilometers between Luis Beltrán and Choele Choel, again under a blazing sun.

On the water, little news. Again a tight marking between the two favorite  K2s. Balboa and Guerrero became winners again of the stage, but followed only 5 seconds away by Pinta and Mozzicafredo who look to have the young champions under control. In addition, the rest day was used by the organization to set up a report with the penalties imposed on the second stage, where Balboa and Guerrero were penalized with one minute for skipping a buoy getting advantage. This eventually causes the difference in overall after this third stage is increased in 55 seconds for Pinta and Mozzicafredo.

Salvo and Alonso entering the finish line. Photo: César Daniel Nahuelcura

In the K1s, several penalties of 15 seconds for the same reason, but with no major changes in the first positions. The senior category lived another day of transition, with the Spanish Iván Alonso comfortably leading the race, this time accompanied all the entire stage by the U23 Nicolás Salvo, merit the Spaniard recognized at the finish coming together and hand by hand with the youngster from Neuquén, among the applause of the crowd. And that does not mean at all that this third day was a walk at the park for these guys. Keep in mind that in a stage of 38 km these two K1s arrived within four minutes of the first K2s, which certainly speaks well of the strong pace they managed to sustain.

Results after 3 days:
STAGE
OVERALL

Río Negro, day 2: Spaniard Iván Alonso crushes the race in K1

Finished the first third of Black River with the arrival yesterday to Villa Regina and, regarding the K1s, the race is already virtually decided except further surprises. Iván Alonso put the hammer down and showed his quality along the 59 km. of the stage. Since the eighth kilometre made a solo paddle in the absence of rivals that could hang up on his wash. His companion on the first stage, the U23 Nicolás Salvo, yesterday finished second more than 7 minutes away from Alonso.

Photo: Diario Río Negro

It was not that clear the race of the K2s, where Pinta and Mozzicafredo this time were second behind Balboa and Guerrero. The defending champions did not make the mistake of the first day and all the first half of this long second session (they went up to three hours at the finish line) was performed in a compact group that had up to eight boats. Gradually, of course, they were losing effectives until midway Balboa and Guerrero decided to attack after two hours of paddling in the bunch.

Río Negro, day 1: Victorious return of Pinta and Mozzicafredo

Pinta and Mozzicafredo facing the finish line. Photo: Matías Subat

The first stage of the 40th edition of the Río Negro Regatta (Argentina) recovered the starring of the river kings, Néstor Pinta and Martin Mozzicafredo. The 12-time champions returned to the water after an absence of two years and cutted from its roots the expectations about their duel with the defending champions, Franco Balboa and José Luis Guerrero, who yesterday, in the first assault, lost more than three minutes despite being the second boat through the finish line.

For the second time in history, the race began in the town of Cipolleti and not in Neuquen, the usual starting point. With some unstable and cloudy weather, Balboa and Guerrero took the lead just after the start and set a blistering pace.

Pontevedra wants to bid for 2020 Marathon Worlds

Since yesterday, through a statement letter released by the Galician Canoe Federation, Pontevedra has given its approval to become candidate city to host the Canoe Marathon World Championships in 2020.

The Galician city, which this summer will host the European Championships, wants this way to strengthen its presence on the international map through canoeing, sport to which has already been associated for decades through race events and all the paddlers who have been born and raised there.

In the final vote, which will take place during 2016 by the ICF, Pontevedra will face the bids of the towns of Hazelwinkel (Belgium) and Bærum (Norway), the latter home to the prestigious Oslo Kajakklub, located by the fjord in the municipality adjacent to the Norwegian capital.

If so, Pontevedra could join the long list of venues that have already organised these championships and would follow the already confirmed Brandenburg (GER, 2016), Pietermaritzburg (RSA, 2017), Vila Verde (POR, 2018) and Shaoxing (CHN, 2019).

Pontevedra from the air, crossed by river Lérez

2015 ICF Classic Series ranking results

Tom Brennan (IRL). Foto: www.canoe.ie

The ICF marathon classic series are over for the current year with the dispute of the Shaoxing Canoe Marathon in China (site that will host the 2019 World Marathon Championships), so the global rankings of the World Series have determined the winners. After a quick look, you can already ser thta this formula is not established yet as it was conceived, although it is true that has opened a bit more the taste for travelling & competing (as we recently could check in the French Ardèche Marathon). But as usual, the big problem ...

Lucas and Boulanger take the win at the Ardèche International Marathon. Kiko Vega claims the singles title

The winners crossing the finish line. Foto: Mikael Anisset for www.midilibre.fr

French crew of Edwin Lucas and Stephane Boulanger won the 31st edition of the International Marathon of the Ardèche, which took place last Saturday November 7th on the 30 km. the villages of Vallon Pont d'Arc and Saint Martin d'Ardèche (FRA). After a few days with fairly high level of water in the river, finally the race was held at a level of about 48 cm. on the Salavas Bridge marker (which means about 140 cubic meters per second).

Surprisingly, the start was given almost 10 minutes before the scheduled time because of the difficulties of the more than 800 competitors at Vallon Pont d'Arc to stay steady on the strong stream.

Video summary of 2014 in Portugal

The appearance of new video shooting methods and the easier access nowadays to those tools that years ago were just top profesional stuff, are raising dramatically the quality of videos and improving the visibility of our sport to new spectators all around the world. This is something so important for the future of paddling that we should be happy of being able to enjoy it. Today, we are leaving here a good example. The video summary of the competitions during 2014 in Portugal made by its national federation:

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.

Balboa and Guerrero inherit the throne at Río Negro. Quiñanao dominated the K1

Left to right: Guerrero, Balboa, Pérez and Scalesi. Photo: Official web

If days 3 and 4 represented a turn upside down in the K2 standings at Río Negro Regatta, no less were the last two stages arriving to Viedma, final destination of the great Argentinian race. On the final day, the very young Franco Balboa and José Luis Guerrero claimed the overall victory, inheriting the throne left by Pinta and Mozzicafredo after having escorted them last year in the twelfth crown of the former kings of the regatta.

On the other hand, the misfortune came to Santiago Scalesi and Spanish Luis Amado Pérez, who were leaders until the last day, but saw how the final victory eluded them a few kilometers from the finish line.

On day 5, from San Javier to Viedma (34 km.)...

Río Negro Regatta: Scalesi and Pérez turn the race upside down after change of starting rules

Santiago Scalesi and Luis Amado Pérez, new leaders. Photo: lmneuquen.com.ar

On the last two days were held in Argentina the third and fourth stages of the Río Negro Regatta, from Choele Choel to Luis Beltran (38 km.) and Don Andrés to General Conesa (43 km.). And there has been a very big change in the K2 races due to the incidents in the front bunch on the first two stages. To avoid them, the officials decided that the Senior Men K2 would startone by one every 30 seconds, in a controverted decision that could change completely the pace of the race. As it finally did.

The lucky draw set Juan Manuel Scalesi and Julian Algañaraz to start first, while Santiago Scalesi and Luis Amado went 30 seconds later. It wasn't long before they joined together to pull forward. Behind,  Balboa and Guerrero started on sixth position, so there were three other theoretically slower boats ahead that could be their reference to reach the Scalesis. And in fact, at half race they were pulling of a second group after the leading duo.

Balboa and Guerrero set the first Stone at Río Negro Regatta

Balboa and Guerrero lead the race after Day 2. Photo: rionegro.com.ar

Last Saturday, a new edition of the Río Negro Regatta (ARG) started with the first stage between Neuquen and General Roca, of 46 km. With the withdrawal of the Río Negro kings, Néstor Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo, after their 12th victory on a row in 2013, several couples aim this year to sit on their empty throne.

With the usual heat (races start at 3PM) and a slightly shallower river than in former editions, paddlers must take care of their strenght if the want to go all the way down through the Patagonia until arriving in Viedma next saturday. In fact, after two stages, times are about 15 minutes higher than last year over the same course.

There were five couples commanding the race in K2 from the start of Day 1: Franco Balboa and José Guerrero, Santiago Scalesi and Luis Amado Pérez (ESP), Agustín Reyes and Guillermo di Renzo, Juan Manuel Scalesi and Julián Algañaraz and, finally, brothers Mauricio and Rodrigo Caffa.

Tomas Slovak and Cyrille Carré win the Ardèche Marathon in France. Kiko Vega takes the singles title.

The moments before the start. Photo: Canoë-Kayak Magazine

After the cancellation due to flood conditions in 2012, it was held last Saturday a new edition of the International Marathon of Ardeche, in the French region of Rhône-Alpes , on a medium-low water level, which was no obstacle for a great show.

1,472 paddlers gathered under a fine sunny day that made the delight of competitors and spectators. Among the favorites, big names in the international scene, with all sights set on the current world champion and Olympic medalist in K1 1000m Max Hoff, who returned to his first discipline (river descent) with his teammate Tobias Bong. Having already won the Ardèche three times with Stiefenhofer , he tried again this time commanding a K2 that...

Mruzek and Odvarko in K2 and Tomas Slovak in K1, winners of the Cesky Krumlov River Marathon

This last weekend, with a double session on Friday and Saturday, the Cesky Krumlov River Marathon was held in the Czech Republic, race included into the ICF Marathon Classic Series 2013. While the marathon was held on Saturday over a distance of 36 kilometers , on Friday there was a Sprint competition as an appetizer on the stretch of river that runs through the center of the city, just 250 meters long but with a weir shot included. The winners in this discipline were Richard Hala and Jonatan Sramek in K2 and Tomas Slovak in K1, all of them just arrived from paddling the Fish at South Africa.

Mruzek and Odvarko leading the marathon race. Pic: Jan Homolka

On Saturday, almost three hundred boats gathered on the water of Cesky Krumlov river to face the descent all the way down to the town of the same name. Many contestants, as usual, made it on RR kayaks, but every year there are more who are encouraged to do so on the increasingly popular tables SUP (Stand Up Paddle) as well as in large canoes and all kind of plastics, including canoes with a crew of nine members. Noteworthy is the participation and festive atmosphere at these Central European competitions , as with the French Ardèche or the Irish Liffey, without going any further. One aspect, leisure and tourism, that in Spain is trying to be exploited by the Miño and Cinca Descents, among others, although it is true that the basis of target audience is not comparable.

Spain take the doubles medals two by two in Men while Jeannette Løvborg and Henriette Engel Hansen claim the world title at home

Sunday, September 22^nd, was the final day of the ICF Marathon World Championships in Copenhagen. After the emotions experienced in the previous two days, there were high expectations  when at 9:30 started the Women Senior K2 and Men Senior C2.

However, the first surprise jumped out just before the first kilometer. And never better said, because in the K2 of ones of the favorites for the medals, South Africans Michele Eray and Bridgitte Hartley , one of the rudder roulette screws jumped out, leaving them off the race. So the first leading bunch, facing the first portage, included one K2 from each of the following teams: Danish, Hungarian, Czech, British and Spanish Nuria Villacé and Raquel Carbajo. The other Spanish crew, formed by the very young and Begoña Lazcano and Amaia Benavente, was forced to leave after having done most of the first round in that group due to some sickness suffered by Lazcano. A pity, but a boat to keep in mind for the future and not just at Marathon, but also at Sprint.

Csay/Bara lead one of the portages with Løvborg/Hansen behind. Pic: Jan N

Meanwhile , ahead the selection started from the first portage . It was clear that the Hungarian crew of Renata Csay/Alexandra Bara and the Danish of Jeannette Løvborg/Henriette Engel Hansen were step by step tightening the rope, so after one third of the race thay both remained ahead just along with the Czechs Anna Adamova (Kova now) and Lenka Hrochova, the only ones who could keep on their wash. Behind, the chase group was led by the current European gold and silver medalists, Lizzie Lamph and Fay Broughton (GBR) and Nuria Villacé and Raquel Carbajo (ESP), who were for a long part of the race pulling from a group that included some other strong boats, like the Italiana Anna Alberti and Stefania Cicali and the Belgians and Lize Broekx and Hermien Peters, among others. In the last laps, British and Spaniards managed tu pull away and the fourth place went finally to Lamph/Broughton (GBR).

Csay, McGregor and Kavar were the Marathon World Champions in singles

Very similar races the Women Senior K1 and the Men Senior C1. In both two pairs of paddlers took the lead from the first lap. Twelve times world champion Renata Csay (HUN) and Anna Kova (CZE) quickly opened a gap that went up to one minute in just two laps. The Italians Stefania Cicali and Anna Alberti took the responsibility in the chase group, but never managed to hold the gap. U23 champion Teneale Hatton (NZL) dropped from the group at half race, maybe not recovered 100% of her race on Friday, but made a great comeback and was again in the fight for the bronze medal after the last portage.

Renata Csay in the center, yellow boat. Picture: Jan N

Meanwhile, Renata Csay pulled away from Anna Kova in the fifth portage and made a solo last lap, entering the finish line with more than one minute of advantage. Anna Kova got the silver medal and Stefania Cicali, after a good sixth portage, entered in third position leading the group of five she had led for most of the race.

Antonio Campos (ESP) and Marton Kavar (HUN) decided in the C1 race that they didn’d want a large group around and pushed hard from the start, managing to make the gap bigger on every lap over a group of four that was more into the fight for bronze than into the chase for the leaders. Not far from them, Tamas Kiss (HUN) and David Mosquera (ESP) were fighting for bronze without losing the perspective of a virtual comeback to the leading par, but after 4 laps it was clear that gold and silver were unreachable. 

Hatton, Amorim and Birkett, new marathon world champions U23 after superb races

The Canoe Marathon World Championships kicked off with the Junior and U23 events on Friday 20th at Lake Bagsværd in Copenhagen.

In the junior competition, Hungary smashed the field, claiming three golds out of three races with Tamara Takacs in K1 Women, Adam Petra in K1 Men and Kristof Khaut in C1 Men. 

Raquel Carbajo leads the race with Hatton (in black) and Brun-Lie (in white). Photo: Jan N (DKF)

2 hours later, in perfect, glassy conditions, the U23 K1 Women, and C1 men, set off. After the first lap it was clear that Teneale Hatton (NZL), recently crowned 5000m world champion, wanted to set the pace in order to have the race under her control. After the second portage the front group was reduced to three paddlers: Hatton, Agnes Brun-Lie (NOR) and Raquel Carbajo (ESP), opening a gap of around 30 seconds over a group of six paddlers including Susanna Cicali (ITA), Noami Horvath (HUN) and Nuria Villace (ESP) and Lize Broekx (BEL), among others. The three leaders were careful to maintain the gap, each taking turns at the front to keep everything under control until the last lap. 

Sella Descent: Bouzán and Fiuza impose again their law in 2013 and Busto adds another title to his legend

Walter Bouzán and Álvaro F. Fiuza Sella won for the fourth consecutive time in the year of their announced retirement as K2. Along with the new victory of Manuel Busto in K1, it seems that future generations will still have to wait for their time to pass over the great figures of this river, with other great veterans like Rafael Carril, Julio Martínez and Emilio Merchán getting on the podium in both disciplines (and no sign of wanting to get off of it).

Photo: Fotoyos

 
Following the protocol of the opening ceremony, this time with speech by Angela Pumariega, sailing Olympic champion in London 2012, and the always exciting song Asturias Patria Querida in the voices of the entire audience, Walter and Fiuza made a pristine start taking an excellent position at the front, next to the boat of Kiko Vega and Luis Amado Pérez. However, it soon became clear that Walter and Fiuza didn't want to miss the opportunity they had after having got a few precious meters over other favorites like Merchán/Alonso, Martínez/Becerro or Llamedo/Ramalho, who were forced to start a nig comeback in the first kilometers after a capsize at the start.