A record number of athletes participated in the opening International Canoe Federation Stand Up Paddling World Ranking Event of the season as Comacchio put on a fantastic show.
The event, known as the Spring SUP Race, proved to a huge hit once again with 310 paddlers from all over the world participating from April 5 to 7.
Italy’s Cecilia Pampinella and Japan’s Rai Taguchi came away with two titles each after brilliant performances in Comacchio.
Competing on home waters, Pampinella emerged victorious in the women’s open technical, beating Katniss Pariss from the United States and Spain’s Laura Quetglas.
Pampinella was also crowned champion in the women’s open sprint, overcoming Spain’s Susak Molinero and Greece’s Rea Logotheti.
The other women’s event saw Quetglas take the long distance title, with Pampinella finishing third behind Molinero.
There was also double delight for Taguchi at the Lago delle Nazioni.
The Japanese star beat Italy’s Filippo Mercuriali and Donato Freens from The Netherlands to seal the men’s open technical crown.
Taguchi also came out on top in the men’s long distance as Freens took silver and Spain’s Antonio Morillo earned bronze.
The other winner on the day was South Africa’s Cameron Tripney who captured the men’s open sprint title.
Tripney finished ahead of Germany’s Normen Weber and Italy’s Mercuriali who picked up silver and bronze respectively.
It was the seventh edition of the Spring SUP Race and the second time it had been an ICF SUP World Ranking Event.
“It was an intense but beautiful weekend,” said Simone Tugnoli Perone, Race Director of the Spring SUP Race.
“There were lots of athletes, lots of champions from the latest World Championships and lots of spectators.
“The management was a bit difficult because we didn’t expect more than 100 extra competitors compared to last year but everything went well.”
The next ICF SUP World Ranking Event will held in Austria where the Lake Rocks Festival will be staged from May 9 to 12.
Pictures by Controluce Photo
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