Well over 200 competitors from around the world, including 22 athletes from the United States will be competing September 2-8, 2013 at the ‘Nantahala Wave,’ the product of MWDG design work under the direction of staff at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and the committee formed to produce the 2013 World Championships for Freestyle Kayaking, or Freestyle ‘Canoeing’ as it is referred to internationally.
The feature is more a hydraulic than wave, producing a competitive environment that the International Freestyle Committee members prefer. It is retentive, – easy to ‘retain’ or stay in (or not flush out), enabling a rider to execute a large number of moves, which in turn accumulates points. The higher the points scored, the better! Here’s a link to the competition site.
The event will be streamed, so check back beginning September 3rd when preliminary rounds begin. MWDG team member Risa Shimoda will compete in the squirt boat competition, and past intern Jordan Poffenberger is a medal contender in two classes, the decked canoe (C1) and open canoe (OC1). Good luck to them both!