WORLD WHITEWATER NEWS
NEWS
KING OF THE ALPS, PASSIRIO RIVER, ITALY
The sixth edition of the King of the Alps was a blast! Over 150 athletes from all over the globe battled it out on the Passirio River for their chance to claim the
2017 title. Despite the growing competition, four-time King Michele Ramazza of Italy managed to keep the crown. The woman’s category had a record turnout
of sixteen ladies, but reigning champion Pavlina Zasterova (CZE) prevailed. The juniors put in strong performances, earning respectable times and proving they
are talent to look out for in the future. Even the OC1 scene was larger than ever before, with 15 paddlers. The event kicked off with the traditional mass start
race. The colorful explosion of boats was as action-packed as promised, the race a favorite for athletes and spectators alike. For an unfortunate few, their
attempt to be crowned king ended here with a swim and a bootie beer. Goddard Elliot (GBR) took first place in the feisty junior class. Pavalina Zasterova
(CZE) powered her way to the front of the women’s class where she remained unchallenged for the rest of the race. A mighty battle went on for second place,
with more overtaking than a Formula One Grand Prix. It was
close, but Marieke Vogt (AUT) managed to steal 2nd in front
of Jana Joeressen (AUT). Bob McKee (UK) won for the Open
Canoes, followed by Hobson Richard (UK) and Jan Krause
(GER). With almost 100 paddlers on one start line for the
Men, tensions were high. Finding and keeping a good start
position was paramount. New dad Eric Deguil (FRA) took
the lead, followed by local Martin Unterthurner (ITA), and
Michele Ramazza (ITA). A constant head-to-head-to-head-
to-head took place throughout, but Eric managed to sneak
the win. The top 20 men went on to compete in the final
on the Moos in the Passeier. This class V section starts with a
four-meter drop, followed by 200 meters of continuous class
IV, a 90° chute, and then the “Intimidator,” a meaty class V.
Race lines were varied, the finalists putting on a fantastic
spectacle as the crowds cheered. Michele Ramazza put
down the fastest time, in front of locals Daniel Klotzner and
Daniel Haller. In the overall, Michele once again took the
win, with Daniel Klotzner and Eric Deguil in 2nd and 3rd.
New this year was the addition of the team-per-nation race.
Two athletes from the same country competed together on
the final course, with the additional challenge a gate just
above the Intimidator rapid. Of the 14 teams at the start,
Frenchies Jonas LeMorvan and Nicolas Caussanel nabbed
top honors.Words: Kayak Session - Photo: Flo SmithEKSTREMSPORT VEKO, VOSS, NORWAY
This year was the 20th anniversary of the Ekstremsport Veko, one of the biggest and longest running extreme outdoor sport festivals in the world. People from many disciplines
gathered in Voss, Norway, to fly, bike, kayak or skateboard (and without any doubt to party hard), for a consecutive week. Voss is a truly incredible place for outdoor activities,
in particular for kayakers, as it provides challenging grounds for adrenaline seekers and the wildest scenery for nature lovers.What makes Veko an incredible experience
though, is the atmosphere you can feel throughout the week that brings honest and beautiful smiles upon every face. There are no distinctions between capabilities or
nationalities. The best athletes in the world mingle with beginners. Big, mixed groups of kayakers flow downstream together. South Americans challenge Czechs over beer-
drinking contests, and local paddlers and travelers
alike get excited over sharing and discovering new
rivers. A mood of comradeship starts the morning
of the first day, and continues until the last concert
in the Veko Arena late at night. This year a strong
team of organizers including Tora Heggen, Dag
Sandvik, Marc Basso and Dereck Murphy, truly nailed
everything to provide one of the best kayaking races
of the year that is truly progressing the sport. The
three-part series involved a downriver sprint, a truly
extreme slalom course and a boater-cross. The races
were challenging for the racers and spectacular for
spectators. The Holy Diver Giant Slalom on the lower
Myrkadelen provided an extra spicy challenge that
raised the bar of difficulty to make this year’s event
unforgettable. We really hope that the Ekstremsport
Veko will continue to keep such a high standard of
excellence for years to come. Dane Jackson took
two out of three races: the downhill and the head-
to-head, leaving the Holy Diver Giant Slalom title
to French rider Nicolas Caussanel. For the women,
Czech paddler Pavlina Zasterova took all the races.
Jacques Gilardone provided excellent onsite
coverage for Kayak Session, throwing daily reports
and video on the Kayak Session website, as well as
Facebook Live broadcasts from the riverbank all day
long! For more information, go to kayaksession.com.Words: Jacques Gilardone
Photo: Frikk Fossdal