A development camp is set to be held in Argentina with the goal of getting more South American paddlers into Canoe Freestyle.
Kayak Club San Juan is ready to stage the camp from February 19 to 27 and is hoping to welcome athletes from across the continent.
It will take place alongside the Argentinian Canoe Freestyle Open that will run from February 28 to March 1.
Argentina’s Maximilliano Montoya will lead the course and will be accompanied by three fellow world-class freestyle paddlers in Quim Fontane of Spain, Tom Dolle of France and Mason Hargrove of the United States.
Scholarships will be awarded to 15 paddlers which will include daily meals, transportation from the lodge to the club and accommodation during training and competition days.
A further 10 paddlers will be accepted to participate in the course, although without the benefits granted to scholarship recipients.
The programme is being made possible thanks to the support of the San Juan Government, its Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport and the International Canoe Federation Canoe Freestyle Committee.
Paddlers will get the chance to learn new skills on the wave that took centre stage at the 2017 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships.
“The idea is to keep growing Canoe Freestyle in South America by teaching new paddlers,” said Montoya.
“We are inviting all of the South American National Federations to participate as we want to them to develop freestyle in their countries.”
The development camp will consist of four sessions per day with two on the water, one focusing on video recording and another on physical training.
As well as the camp for athletes, Kayak Club San Juan will run a seminar for judges from February 22 to 26 by Charlie Brackpool, of the ICF Canoe Freestyle Committee.
It is a continent where we see great potential
“We have good paddlers in Argentina and South America as we have a lot of rivers and whitewater parks, but they are not training specifically in Canoe Freestyle,” said Montoya.
“The goal is to have more paddlers in international competitions. The plan in South America is to have development camps and competitions in different countries and to have more flags flying at World Cups and World Championships.”
The wave has optimal characteristics for learning freestyle and performing tricks of a high level of difficulty.
The water flow is also constant throughout the day and night, interrupting only on holidays.
Terry Best, Chair of the ICF Canoe Freestyle Committee, said: “As we saw when we staged the World Championships in 2017, there is a lot of enthusiasm for Canoe Freestyle in Argentina and right across South America.
“It is a continent where we see great potential as we aim to grow the discipline across the world.
“South America is home to many promising paddlers and this camp is a fantastic opportunity for them to learn new skills from the best in the world.”
Athletes or national representatives interested in securing a scholarship should click here.
A deadline of February 4 has been set for applications with the selected athletes due to be announced on February 6.
For more information about the development camp and the Argentinian Canoe Freestyle Open, click here.
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