Germany’s talented teenager Tim Rees is used to tasting global freestyle success having dominated the junior kayak category for the past few years.
Now, the back-to-back junior world champion is taking the step up to the senior level and is relishing mixing it with the best in the world.
Today saw the 19-year-old secure a place in the top five in the men’s kayak preliminaries as he advanced to the quarter-finals at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Plattling, Germany.
Rees posted a first-run score of 725.00 points before earning 951.67 in the next to finish with a total of 1,676.67.
“It’s my first year as a senior so to be in the top five men in the prelims is a pretty big win,” said Rees.
“I hope I can repeat my rides in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and even make it to the finals which would be a dream.
“It’s pretty cool competing with the big boys.
“I’m stepping up my game and will compete in the quarter-finals.”
There were a few surprises in the preliminaries as Great Britain’s Harry Price, a bronze medallist in the event in 2022, failed to advance.
Former world champion Nick Troutman, who is representing the United States having previously competed for Canada, was also unable to progress, just two years after picking up a K1 silver.
US star Dane Jackson, who is chasing a 10th senior world title overall and a fourth in succession in K1, safely made it through after ranking 13th in the top 20 with a score of 1,426.67.
Rees will also be joined in the quarter-finals by compatriot Leon Bast who came fourth with 1,700.00.
“I am happy that two Germans are in the top five in the prelims as we’ve got a good team here,” added Rees.
“I’m paddling more or less the same as I was in the juniors.
“I don’t think it’s a very big step up to the senior men for me but for juniors it could be.
“I think I can keep up with them.
“It’s going to be a challenge to perform in every single round and make it through so we will see what happens.”
France’s Tom Dolle, a bronze medallst at the 2023 World Championships, was the only paddler to break the 2,000-point mark.
The Frenchman registered runs of 1,253.33 and 846.67 to take top spot with 2,100.00.
Ireland’s David McClure ranked second with 1,995.00, while a score of 1,940.00 put Poland’s Tomasz Czaplicki in third.
“I felt great out there,” said Dolle.
“I went trick by trick. That was the plan, and it went smoothly.
“I am very happy to take first place but it’s only the preliminaries and I’m sure the other guys will do a lot better in the next few rounds.
“I really like this place.
“I was here last year and in 2016 so it’s a spot I know really well.
“Last year, I won World Cups, so I am very happy to be here again.
“I had a good flow today, but I am going to have to step it up again.”
After starring in yesterday’s K1 and squirt events, Great Britain’s four-time world champion Ottilie Robinson-Shaw continued her fine form in the women’s canoe preliminaries.
Robinson-Shaw totalled 686.67 after following up a score of 176.67 with an impressive run of 510.00.
It was enough to overtake Germany’s Anica Schacher who pulled out all the stops to score 556.67.
Austria’s Jasmin Stangl-Brachnik earned 323.33 for fourth spot, while Germany’s Anne Sommerauer and Great Britain’s Rebekah Green completed the top five with 255.00 and 240.00 respectively.
“The first ride was challenging as the water was a lot lower and I think all the girls struggled,” said Robinson-Shaw.
“It didn’t really do the C1 women justice, and I think all the girls and myself had a lot more that we can show in a better feature.
“I am proud that in my second ride I stepped it up and got into the top position where I always like to sit.
“Whatever happens, I am proud of my paddling so far.”
Junior events also got underway today with the completion of the men’s and women’s kayak preliminary rounds.
Makinley Kate Hargrove of the US reached 1,000.00 to top the women’s category, while a score of 1,415.00 saw Austria’s Jonas Kim Hermann seal first place in the men’s preliminary standings.
Pictures by Peter Holcombe
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