The 16th iteration of the Eurochallenge, the Sea Kayaking World Cup, begins today and is organised by the Villajoyosa Yacht Club. The Downwind, the championship’s principal event, is set to commence tomorrow, Friday May 1st, with over 200 rowers representing 15 nationalities already present in Villajoyosa. The athletes will commence the competition at the central shoreline and travel 22 miles to Campello.
Representatives of the Spanish Canoeing Federation, the General Director of Sports, Luis Cervera, the Mayor of Vila Joiosa, Marcos Zaragoza, and the Sports Councillor, Peyo Lloret, will participate in the trophy ceremony in the afternoon, following the spectacular lifesaving event on the central beach on Friday May 2nd.
This competition, which is considered a World Cup this year, unites the world’s most accomplished paddlers and is distinguished by the quantity of participants, as well as the quality and diversity of nationalities that establish this international sea kayak series as a benchmark in the international calendar.
The following paddlers are among the participants: the world and European champions Rice, Fenn, and Hart from South Africa, Vilella from France, Pereira from Portugal, and Harbrecht from Germany, as well as Kira Bester from South Africa, the French Le Roux and Delrieux, and the Spanish Bunnett. In terms of the local athletes, Marian Hernández is performing exceptionally well this year, thanks to her impressive times. Sara Mengual has secured second and third place finishes at the last two World Championships, and juvenile Andrea Jiménez has recently attained European qualification.
The 16th edition of the Eurochallenge, which is organised by the Villajoyosa Yacht Club, is made possible by the collaboration of the Vila Joiosa City Council, the Valencian Government, the Superior Council of Sports, the Alicante Provincial Council, the International Canoeing Federation, the Royal Spanish Canoeing Federation, the Canoeing Federation of the Valencian Community, and numerous other entities, including the Campello Yacht Club and the Altea Yacht Club.
The Eurochallenge has emerged as a prelude to the Sea Kayaking World Championship, which Villajoyosa will host in 2026, and it has become a prominent sports competition on a global scale. It welcomes athletes and travellers from a variety of backgrounds.
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