The 2024 International Canoe Federation Hangzhou Super Cup has truly brought together the paddling community as Canoe Sprint stars got a taste of Dragon Boat at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre.
Eight boats consisting of eight sprint athletes each, aside from the drummer and the steerer, raced over 200m, embracing the spirit of unity and enthusiasm.
Paris 2024 Olympic champions Katie Vincent of Canada and Max Lemke of Germany were among the stars present.
Despite having to prepare for their medal events, all the athletes were fully invested in taking part and making the most of the opportunity.
Reigning women’s canoe single 200m Olympic champion Vincent explained that a lot of the mechanics were like Canoe Sprint but getting the sync and connecting with so many people was harder.
“I tried Dragon Boat when I was young in Toronto at my club. So it was not my first time. It was a lot of fun to mix it up with everybody and to do something very different. We didn't do very well, but it's okay,” she said.
“It was a lot of fun, and I think we will all remember this from the trip.”
Lemke, who won kayak double and kayak four 500m titles in France, tried Dragon Boat for the first time and suggested that the multi-discipline Super Cup is a good way to move forward and hopes it keeps happening in the years to come.
“I imagined the Dragon Boats would be bigger, like the ones I knew they are bigger, and they look more stable, but this one was quite unstable. I think we almost fell in the water once, so I'm happy that I stayed dry,” the 27-year-old Lemke said.
Day one saw marathon and slalom paddlers express their interest in trying out other disciplines in Hangzhou.
Men’s K1 short-distance medallists Mads Brandt Pedersen and the South African duo of Andrew James Birkett and Hamish Lovemore were keen on giving kayak cross a go.
“It is special to meet athletes you haven't met before, and we are all hoping to try the kayak cross on Sunday after our races. I don't think we'll be in the race, but maybe just test it would be fun,” Pedersen said.
Birkett and Lovemore were feeling a bit more adventurous, joking about placing bets before sliding off the ramp into the whitewater course.
Great Briain’s Kimberley Woods had already said on the day of the Opening Ceremony that she would be cheering for Team GB in Canoe Polo.
Women’s canoe single bronze medallist Marta Bertoncelli of Italy wanted to go one up and have a crack at it.
“I think because we got introduced to the kayak cross, we are excited to bump into each other,” she said.
Gabriela Satkova, who won C1 gold in Hangzhou, wanted to try Canoe Sprint, saying Canoe Polo might be a bit too “extreme for her”.
The Czech star, however, was pleased to meet paddlers from her country from other disciplines.
“We're not doing the same thing, but belong to the same world, one family. I think it's very nice that all the events are taking place here, I met two girls from Czechia, and I didn't know them before, so it was nice that this way we got to know each other.”
ICY partner BYD sponsored the Dragon Boat event.
Full coverage of this week's ICF Hangzhou Super Cup featuring Canoe Slalom, Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon and Canoe Polo can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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