Events

Banyoles, Spain will host the 2010 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships on September 22nd to the 27th. For those who didn't know the word canoe actually means kayak too in Europe.

The city of Banyoles is very excited to be hosting this International Canoe Federation event and  Banyoles’ Lake will be the epicentre of activity for the 18th annual Canoe Marathon World Championships.

The Organizational Committee is chaired by the Royal Spanish Federation of Canoeing (RFEP), Banyoles City Council and composed of representatives of the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), the General Secretariat of Sport, the Regional Council of Girona, the Catalan Federation of Canoeing (FCP), Club Natació Banyoles (CNB) and the County Council of Pla de l’Estany.

Each category and discipline will be able to submit a maximum of two boats. The RFEP will publish the Spanish National Team final list after the XV Spanish Marathon Championships (Zamora, 21st of August), but it will also take into account the 1st Spanish Marathon Cup (Cáceres, 15th - 16th of May) and the two World Cups of Marathon (Prague, 26th - 27th of June and 24th - 25th of July in Brandenburg).



Although the list is not publisher yet, there are three paddlers who have secured their place, thanks to their first place in the past World Championships (Crestuma, Portugal).

They are:

MANUEL BUSTO , (Villaviciosa, 1975) in Senior men’s category, discipline Kayak Single (K1). This is one of the best paddlers in Spain and worldwide, who has won five consecutive European Marathon Championships in K1 and ten gold medals in various World Marathon Championships, six in K1 and four in K2 with the Basque Oier Aizpurua as a partner.

EMILIO MERCHAN – ÁLVARO FERNÁNDEZ FIUZA , in Senior men's category, discipline Kayak Double (K2).
Emilio Merchán (Zamora, 1976), noted for its versatility both in speed over long distances. Took part in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games (5th in 1000 meter K4) and Sydney (ninth in K1 1000 meters), is also a four times winner (2003-2006) of the Internacional Sella Descent, forming K2 with Julio Martinez.

As a proof of his versatility at different distances, last year he was World Champion in 1000 meter K2 (with Diego Cosgaya) and European and World Champion in Marathon K2 (with Álvaro Fernández Fiuza).

Álvaro Fernández Fiuza (Pontevedra, 1982), together with Emilio Merchan, in 2009, proclaimed European and World Champions Moreover, they were runner- ups of the Inernational Sella Descent.

By ICF definition canoe marathon is a discipline of flat water canoeing, consisting on traveling a long distance on a previously established route and paddlers are required to portage as part of the race.



Also the ICF has strict regulations on craft to be used for racing. According to race requirements a canoe is a long narrow boat with the particularity of being quick and maneuverable. It is propelled by human power through a paddle of a leaf or two. The most common materials are plastic, fiberglass, carbon fiber and Kevlar. There are two types of canoeing: kayak and canoe.

The kayak is a canoe powered by a paddler that uses a paddle of two leaves and sits with his legs slightly bended.

In marathon, the individual kayak can not weight less than 8kg and measure more than 5.2 meters. The minimum weight for the double kayak is 12kg and maximum length 6.5 meters.

In a canoe the paddler is placed on his knees, instead of sitting. It hasn’t got any rudder and the paddler must direct the boat using a paddle of a single leaf.

In marathon, the single canoe can not weight less than 10 kg and measure over 5.2 meters. In double canoe, the minimum weight is 14kg and the maximum length 6.5 meters.

There are also different categories to be taken into consideration. Depending on the age, the paddler will compete as a Junior (from 15 to 18 years), Sub'23 (from 15 to 23), senior (over 18 years) or Masters (over 35).

As for master paddlers, male and female categories are divided into five age bands: 35-39 years, 40-44 years, 45-49 years, 50-54 years, 55-59 years, 60-64 years, 65-69 years and from 70 years.



The race categories are Senior Men K1, K2, C1 and C2. Senior Women K1 and K2. Sub 23 Male K1 and C1. And Sub 23 Women K1.

More more detail on the Banyoles Marathon go to www.banyoles2010.cat and for more info on the different paddling disciplines covered by the ICF go to www.canoeicf.com