ICF - The 2010 ICF Ocean Racing Series Takes Off in Alicante, Spain

The 2010 ICF Ocean Racing Series Takes Off in Alicante, Spain

The ICF Ocean Racing World Series kicked off with the Eurochallenge last weekend. A highly regarded race, this was the perfect opportunity to mark the first year of the ICF Series.

: Zoom; The beautiful backdrop of Vila Joiosa in Alicante

The inaugural ICF Ocean Racing World Series got under way with its first race last weekend. The Eurochallenge, held in Alicante, Spain, is a highly regarded race and the perfect opportunity to mark the first year of the ICF series.

In total 11 countries participated, they included Spain, Portugal, France, Germany,
Great Britain, Australia, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Canada and Denmark. Representing the Surfski Class were no less than 128 athletes. While races in traditional boats and sea kayaks were held simultaneously there were more than 200 boats out on the water.

A Meeting of Canoe Stars

: Zoom; Far out

Not just the sheer number, but the quality of competitors proves this event was a complete success. In the line up were Canoe Sprint Olympic gold medallist Eirik Veras Larsen (NOR), the ten times Canoe Marathon World Champion Manuel Busto (ESP) who competed in the Sea Kayak category and K2 Canoe Marathon World Champion Alvaro Fiuza (ESP). Dawid Mocke (RSA) and Sean Rice (RSA) both top athletes in the Surfski world went on to take first and second place respectively in the Men’s K1 25,000m. Busto took the third spot while Larsen came in fourth.

: Zoom; Winners of the Surfski class, Dawid Mocke in his Surfski 1 and the Spanish duo in the Surfski 2

The event ran smoothly thanks to the hard work of the Organising Committee and the Spanish Canoe Federation and the competition progressed with great sportsmanship throughout. The ICF Ocean Racing Series is designed to recognise and promote the rapidly developing activity of Ocean Racing (also known as Surfski) among the ICF member federations and the international paddling community.

ICF President, Jose Perurena said “We are sure that this series will provide a platform for increased promotion of this exciting discipline and we look forward to the participation of our national federation members in ICF events in 2010 and beyond”.

Ocean Racing requires paddling fitness and endurance as well as navigational and other ocean skills making it an ideal meeting place for athletes of all paddling disciplines as well as specialist Ocean Racers.

See the results box (top right) for full results.