The ICF’s Kayak Sprint Championships have just been held in Segev, Hungary. Most paddlers were participating to make their National Olympic Teams for the forthcoming 2020 Olympics in Japan. With the exception of two SA Women paddlers [incl Bridgett Hartley who won a Silver at the 2012
Olympics in London], there were no others. SA paddlers are generally recognised as being the best in the world in Canoe Marathon and Open Ocean Surfski competitions, with names like Oscar Chalupsky, Luke McGreogr and Dawid and Jasper Mocke being well-known in the paddling
fraternity, but being barred from sprinting competition and the Olympics in the 1960-80 era, paddlers here have not focused on this discipline. There is reason to believe though that South Africans, and other Africans, will excel in the sprints giving it the focus it requires. PaddleYak SA therefore wishes to encourage clubs, schools and associations to take another look at this discipline with the youth in mind. For more details contact PaddleYak SA at 0825562520 or info@seakayak.co.za. Also see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_ICF_Canoe_Sprint_World_Championships