Spectators in Plattling were treated to an action-packed opening day of the International Canoe Federation Canoe Freestyle World Cup.
A fantastic field of athletes coming from 19 nations and five continents have come together in the German town for the start of back-to-back events.
With entries reaching close to 200, competition started at 7am providing a perfect morning for freestyle fans.
The feature was at the ideal level as athletes started clocking up 1000-point runs in the men’s K1 preliminaries.
Nanase Okazaki of Japan was among those to post huge scores, while hometown paddlers Roman Glasman and Leon Bast also scored well to keep the pressure on.
Due to the seeding system, the last heat of the day saw the big guns take to the water.
Tomaz Czaplicki of Poland, David McClure of Ireland, Harry Price of Great Britain and Tom Dolle of France sealed top spots to advance to the next round.
In total, 20 progressed to the quarter-finals, including two from Poland, one from Ireland, three from Great Britain, two from Japan, four from France and six Germany as well as one from Finland and Australia.
Gabriel Soldevila De Ugarte made history by becoming the first athlete from Peru to compete in the ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup.
The Peruvian paddler graduated from the ICF development camp, underlined the growth of the sport as it continues to reach new territories.
The women’s K1 preliminaries also got underway with Great Britain’s Ottilie Robinson Shaw, the reigning woman’s C1 world champion taking the top spot.
She was closely followed by Zofia Tula of Poland and Merle Hauser of Germany.
A total of 36 athletes representing 12 nations battled it out to make the cut for the quarter finals.
The open canoe heats followed with Landon Miller of the United States topping the leaderboard.
Three German paddlers split by one Canadian paddler followed to make up the top give.
In total, four paddlers from Great Britain and three from Germany, plus athletes from the USA, Ireland and Canada were the 10 that made it through to the next round.
In the women’s squirt, Robinson-Shaw top scored with compatriot Tamsyn McConchie also doing well.
Germany’s Mike Lochny and Great Britain’s Alex Edwards topped the respective heats in the men’s squirt.
“The day ran smoothly, sometimes even ahead of schedule—true evidence that the competition is held Germany,” said Terry Best, Chair of the ICF Canoe Freestyle Committee.
“The day concluded with an opening ceremony in the centre of Plattling.
“The high standards set by both the athletes and the Organising Committee promise an exciting and memorable competition ahead.
“We're excited for tomorrow's lineup, with the juniors and C1 competing, as well as the next rounds for all the other athletes.”
For all the results from today’s races, click here.
Full coverage of the events in Plattling can be viewed on the ICF’s Premium YouTube channel
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Related links
- How to watch live coverage
- All-star line-up in Plattling for ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup doubleheader
- Canoe Freestyle development camp and judging seminar set for Plattling
