Athletes are pushing their limits on some of Europe’s most challenging whitewater courses as part of a groundbreaking International Canoe Federation development initiative.
Paddlers from Argentina, Chile, India, Kenya and South Africa have come together for the ICF’s first combined Canoe Slalom and Wildwater Canoeing development camp.
The programme will see the six athletes test themselves across slalom, kayak cross and wildwater racing, requiring them to master technical gate navigation, launch from a kayak cross ramp and power down a fast-flowing wildwater course.
Their journey began in Prague, Czechia, where participants had the opportunity to compete alongside the world’s best athletes at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup.
The group have now travelled to Bratislava, Slovakia, for ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Cup races on June 13 and 14.
The programme will conclude in Krakow, Poland for the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships, which runs from June 30 to July 5.
Among the athletes embracing the challenge is Kenya’s Arno Atreiu Reblin, who sees the camp as an invaluable opportunity to develop his whitewater skills.
“I am definitely more on the beginner end of the group, which is a good thing for me because I have something to strive for and it motivates me to improve,” said Reblin.
“I’m focusing on using my bodyweight better in the boat and reading the water more effectively so I can work with the current instead of getting pushed around by it.”
Chile’s Geral Soto has also relished the experience of training and competing alongside athletes from around the world.
“Being part of the development camp has been an amazing experience,” he said.
“It’s been great to train alongside athletes from different countries and be in such a positive environment.
“This week I’ve learned a lot, especially in terms of technique and how to approach training more efficiently. Every session has been an opportunity to improve and gain new experience.”
The camp also includes India’s Shikha Chouhan and Pradhyumna Singh Rathod, Argentina’s Nerea Castiglione and South Africa’s Waris Mills.
For Mills, who is attending the programme for the third time, the experience has reinforced both his technical skills and confidence on the water.
“This is my third time being part of the development programme and I really appreciate the opportunity,” said Mills, who has been replaced by Hannah Trower in Bratislava.
“Even though we had less than a week to prepare for the races, the coaches made the most of the time available to improve our skills and build relationships with us.
“It can be challenging working with a new coach because you don’t know each other well, but these coaches put in a huge effort to build trust and belief in us despite the short preparation period.
“One of the biggest lessons for me was learning to change pace in slalom - knowing when to slow down and when to accelerate out of gates to maintain speed.
“I also rebuilt my confidence on whitewater in a slalom boat. At home I only have a kayak, so it was important for me to regain that feeling and remind myself what I’m capable of.
“I learned that sometimes you just have to send it. What’s the worst that can happen?
“The coaches pushed me hard, but that’s because they believed in me, even when I didn’t always believe in myself.”
The camp is led by Poland’s Wojciech Sekula, with support from fellow Polish coach Natalia Pacierpnik who has been replaced by Jasmine Royle in Bratislava.
“I enjoy working with a group of paddlers from different backgrounds,” said Sekula.
“They are passionate about paddling and eager to develop.
“There is great energy within the group and I am looking forward to the rest of the camp.
“My goal is to add as much value as possible to each athlete in slalom, kayak cross and wildwater, helping them build skills and confidence that they can take back to their home programmes.”
Participants in the programme will join up with paddlers featuring in the Wildwater Canoeing development camp that is being run by Czech coaches Marie Retkova, Matyas Olsak and Frantisek Salaj and started in Dunaremete, Hungary.
Among the wildwater paddlers are Mongolia’s Enkhjargal Tsogt and Tamir Nyamaa, United States’ Ava Harchak and Alan McCracken, Ukraine’s Albina Yakobchuk and Konstantyn Voronezhskyi, Estonia’s Anette Baum and Brazil’s Milena Sofia and Daniela Sofia.
Gabriela Stacherova, Development Manager and Whitewater Technical Advisor at the ICF, is overseeing the delivery of the camps.
ICF Vice President Dr Cecilia Farias said: “I am thrilled to see these paddlers being given the opportunity to experience different disciplines as part of their development journey in our sport.
“This camp provides a unique platform for athletes to test their skills in new environments, broaden their experience and gain valuable exposure to competition at the highest level.
“I am also delighted to see equal representation in the camp, with male and female paddlers competing and learning side by side.
“Creating these opportunities for all athletes is an important part of developing our sport and strengthening its future.”
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