Every year the kayaking calendar is full of exciting kayaking events and contests that witness keen participation from kayaking enthusiasts worldwide. Right from top kayaking champions and world class kayakers to absolute novices, these events and competitions showcase the skill and exuberance of the participants. Although it is impossible to mention every contest and event, there are a few that have become hugely popular and have become synonymous with kayaking itself.
Major Events
The list of events features festivals, contests and kayaking fairs that cover various forms of kayaking. Some of the major events are as follows:
Trinity Whitewater Festival: The Trinity Whitewater Festival is a part of the American West Coast Championship Series of the American Canoe Association. The festival encompasses several whitewater contests for men and women with varying difficulty levels. There are separate categories for standard kayaks, inflatable kayaks and canoes. Some of the most awaited events in the festival include the cardboard kayak competition, riverboard boardercross and freestyle on rapids.
iceBreak Whitewater Kayaking Competition: iceBreak is one of the most popular whitewater kayaking competition among kayaking enthusiasts. It is held at the Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids in Helsinki, Finland. The competition is held in April every year. 2009 saw the men’s boatercross event won by Vladimir Chubarov.
Kayak Freestyle World Championship: An event of international stature, the freestyle world championship event consists of various categories for men and women paddlers. The event also includes exhibitions, concerts and parties and is one of the biggest kayaking extravaganzas.
Charlotte Harbour Kayak & Wildlife Festival: Held at Port Charlotte, Florida, the Charlotte Harbour Kayak & Wildlife Festival incorporates kayak competitions and races, kayak fishing tournaments, kayak seminars and guided tours. The festival witnesses participation by experienced and amateur paddlers.
International Kayak Film Festival: Started in 2006, the International Kayak Film Festival is held in l’Argentiere Bessee in France. The festival features some of the best and most popular kayaking movies – be it classics or short web films.
Patagonia Expedition Race: The Patagonia Expedition Race is a 600 km race through some of the wildest terrain of Chile. Paddlers traverse through dense forests, vast wetlands, hilly terrain and valleys and deep fjords. The Patagonia Expedition Race has been one of the most anticipated events in the world of kayaking. This is precisely because of the high level of competition and the magical and unexplored Chilean landscapes enroute the expedition.
Bank of America Whitewater Challenge: A hugely popular event in the United States, the Bank of America Whitewater Challenge is a race that involves some of the best kayakers from across the country. The two main categories in the competition are the whitewater slalom and wildwater racing.
FIBArk Whitewater Festival: FIBArk stands for First Time Boating in Arkansas and comprises of various surface water sports like whitewater kayaking, raft races and skateboarding.
These are some of the major kayaking events and competitions held every year in several countries. These events not only promote the sport vigorously but also throw up extremely talented kayakers that keep the spectators spellbound with their great skill and mastery over the sport.
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