Day 1-2011 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Poznan Kicks Off
Almost 400 athletes from 34 countries were present to launch their 2011 season campaign on the panoramic Malta Regatta Course. Indeed there could not have been better weather to begin the season and this opinion was shared by Iranian athletes Ahmadreza Talebian (K1 1000m) and Naberi Shahou (C1 paddler) who said that after four trips to Poznan, this was by far the best weather they had experienced.
The races on Friday were all preliminary and the day kicked off with the 1000m and 500m races. Today was the first day that the new “start system” was used, it is no longer a 10 second countdown and a “go”, but rather a “Ready, Steady, GO!” ICF caught up with Viktoria Schwartz (AUT) who said, “I think the new start system is more accurate because with the other system the ‘go’ always came before the ten seconds ended.” For newcomer Jasper Hoogers (NED) he explained that for him this World Cup is to serve more as a “barometer” to test where he is in relation to his competition, and the goal is to work through the World Cups and towards the European Championships where he hope his team would do well. In the Women’s K1 500m saw Nicole Reinhardt (GER) and Natalya Sergeyeva (KAZ) have a flying start to the season when both qualified directly to the Final for tomorrow. Teresa Portela (POR) joined Inna Osypenko-Radomska (UKR) after going through the Semi-Finals. South African dynamo Brigitte Hartley always a fan favourite went through, but would later explain to the ICF that she felt weak during the semi final and was struggling with an illness; she joins Max Hoff (GER) in the “Sickbay List”. Hoff though elected to stay home to shake it off and ready himself for Racice.
If there ever was a pleasant “surprise package” today, it came in the canoe of the Cuban duo of Torres and Aguilar; these two posted the fastest time in the Men’s C2 1000m and were followed by the Polish and Women’s K4 500m saw the flying kiwis qualified with the fastest time for tomorrow’s Final but they face an upward battle with Belarus and Poland teams.
The day ended with the sun still high in the sky and the hope that tomorrow brings another day of glorious weather and excellent competition. Nela Klimas of the Poznan Organising Committee concluded that while she was very satisfied with the preparations for the event, she wanted to see the spectator turnout for the Finals in large numbers.
Watch the races LIVE on Eurosport tomorrow and visit our Facebook page to let us know what you think!
Check race scores on www.kayak2010.com .
For more information on this event and all other ICF events, visit www.canoeicf.com.
