Eva Barrios again in a gold medal performance at Spanish Winter Champs

Very high level was seen in Sunday's final of the Senior Women K1, where Eva Barrios gave another example of her great form and won a deserved gold medal in a hotly contested race.

Barrios, in white, on the wash of Contreras. Foto: Fotoyos

After Saturday's 2,000, fifty paddlers started the race and immediately formed a large group ahead with all the favorites for the title. Alternation of several paddlers in the lead, as Laura Pedruelo, Ana Isabel Martinez Contreras or Sanjurjo, but without tightening the race so much that the group had just being diminished. On the wash always seemed comfortable Eva Barrios, who tended not to spend too much force while Ainara Portela looked to have trouble catching the last wave and suffered on the back of the group, which closed the Majorcan Elena Monleón. Further back was a second group whith Mary Soria, Raquel Carbajo, Carla Pérez, Tania María Fernández and Corbera, among others.

The two short laps, in front of the large crowd that filled the banks of the CAR of La Cartuja, accentuated the feeling that Eva Barrios was keeping her bullets for later, while Contreras and Pedruelo were taking turns on the mark. On the second wash were also unknown the intentions of Begoña Lazkano, which seemed to be waiting for her time, while Ana Martinez seemed already be paying the effort after setting the pace all the first lap.

Emilio Llamedo claims gold in a spectacular 5000m Spanish Championships race

Emilio Llamedo, "Milín", got crowned once again at the Winter Championships in Spain getting his fourth title in 5,000m after a brilliant race that he ended up surpassing Javier Hernanz and Francisco Cubelos in a long and tight sprint, entering commanding a long row of paddlers who reported the good health of current senior category in Spain. Not surprisingly 19 of them finished below 21 minutes, with a 20'02 " gold medal time.

Four Winter Championships for Llamedo at just 25 years old. Foto: E. Durán

Under a very nice weather, the senior K1 race was the highlight of a Sunday  morning that we will comment in successive entries. After a hectic start, as usual with the 70 best paddlers from the qualifying on Saturday over 2,000 meters (and it must be said, somewhat like a "pretty bad start" by the officials), the lead was divided into two arrow points, one with the main favorites on the left bank, with Hernanz, Cosgaya and Cubelos, while the center lined was leaded by Olympic Champion Carlos Perez Rial with Carlos Garrote and Rodrigo Germade on his wash. Meanwhile, an explosive Joan Ardit tried it himself on the right.

Finally, under Barqueta bridge, the race surrendered to the pace set by Javier Hernanz, who leaded the return of the first lap followed by a large group of at least a dozen paddlers with all favorites except perhaps Emilio Merchán, who came in a very large second group led by Kiko Vega, just 30 meters off the lead.

Historic triumph of brother and sister Lance and Robyn Kime at the Unlimited Dusi 2013

Photo: SportsPics.co.za

The Kimes, Lance and Robyn, made history last weekend by winning the men's and women's titles at the Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon 2013, something never happened until this edition. Three intense days of competition, with high water which originated more capsizes among the favorites of those which are habitual, finished with the first title for Lance Kime and fourth consecutive for his sister Robyn.

At the start of the 1st stage, before the imposing Natal Canoe Club of Pietermaritzburg, the biggest names in South African canoeing were among the 60 seeded men and 14 women, with only absences for various reasons of Grant van der Walt and Michele Eray among those who might be able to win.

Since the departure it was clear that, due to the big water, nobody wanted surprises and started fighting to shoot the two first weirs, Earnie Pearce and Witness Weir, just in case of possible troubles. Len Jenkins Jr. was the first to cross his hometown followed closely by Hank McGregor, but gradually began to reach come up Birkett, Mbanjwa, Stott, Kime and company. From this point everybody missed already who was named as "Dark Horse", Shaun Rubenstein, which it turned out he had broken a pedal during the warm up and he suffered along the entire stage to keep the boat on the right line.

Registrations open for the Ocean Kayak Cruce 2013

Ocean Kayak Cruce

Two shores, two cultures, two countries, two continents and two spirits: sports and adventure!

We announce a new annual competition of paddling boats: Ocean Kayak Cruce 2013.

Ocean Kayak Cruce 2013 is an orientation and endurance sporting event in which participants navigate in individual sea kayaks, paddle boards or surfski in order to join Africa with the Canary Islands from Tarfaya (Morocco) to Las Playitas (Fuerteventura, Spain) by covering non-stop and without any external food supply the 100 kilometers (62,15 sea miles) of open sea separating both places along the Atlantic Ocean.

The crossing has a very precise safety system on competitors, being monitored from a permanent control center on the island of Lanzarote. In addition, the boats will be accompanied by support vessels throughout the crossing to assist dropouts or other incidents. All participants will carry on their boat required additional safe features detailed in the event´s Regulation.

Ocean Kayak Crossing 2013 is cataloged as evidence Extrem, so no rate or conform to the rules of any official international competition circuit.

Ocean Kayak Cruce 2013 Edition will be held from October 28th to November 3rd, 2013; the number of competitors is limited in this edition to 25 participants. All athletes interested in making the Edition 2013 will be selected in order of registration, with priority given to those who register first. The organization will establish a waiting list of interested competitors. 

Two organizations are responsibles for Ocean Kayak Cruce: Donstop & No Limit.

Inscription opened from February 13th, 2013.

The organization of OKC is looking for representatives of proof in every country in the world. If you are interested, please contact us.

Also, the competitor who bring 4 people to the test, have a free registration for this year 2013.

For registration and more information: www.oceankayakcruce.com

Training the 1.000 metres in the gym (II), by Pepe Mota

This time we use the "broken" 1.000 metres system: 4 series of 250 m. on Kayaergometer alterned with TRX traction.