ICF World Championship

ICF STAND UP PADDLE

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2021

Ismael López ICF

After a few weeks totally emocionated by the Hungarian World Cup held in the town of Balatonfured, we began to assimilate everything that has happened in the event, we can say that it was the event of the year, not only due to the influx of competitors, also at the quality and organization level. I think it can be a turning point when it comes to watching this sport and it can mark a before and after for future international events, and set new standards at the level of the type of events and new qualifying forms. But we want to show you how we live it and here is our travel experience.

The first thing that was supposed to us is the way to get there, since we are still in the COVID era and any international trip is an added challenge. After informing us about all the health procedures that we would have to have in order to attend the event, we got down to work to see how to get to the town of Balatonfured.

Our first option was to go by van touring several European countries like many international riders and that some spanish did, but in the end we decided on the easy solution which was to take a flight to Budapest and then rent a vehicle and get to Balatonfured.

When we arrived, the first thing we felt was that it was not just any lake, its dimensions attracted a lot of attention. It is the largest freshwater lake in central Europe and one of the largest in all of Europe. With an elongated shape, its length reaches 79km and at its widest point, it reaches 14km. To get an idea of the dimensions if we compare them with the smaller sea, it has a length of 21km and a maximum width of 11km, we could say that it is an inland sea of freshwater. In addition, it is surrounded by marinas with sailboats and all kinds of pleasure boats. And every day of the event, you could see a lot of sailboats sailing and especially accompanying the competitors on the day of the long distance. After our first impression, the first day of competitions arrived and it was the day of the qualifying rounds of the technical races.

And the first thing we could see was a circuit of 7 buoys in 1000m, very technical, but at the same time super visual since the whole circuit was located a few meters from the shore where we could enjoy the races and be able to cheer on all the competitors. A type of test that in our opinion is going to be a reference to be copied by many organizers, since all the competitors with whom we were able to speak loved it and also the type of qualifying rounds with repechage, they were very motivated to be with the batteries. loaded and give everything in their rounds

The second day of competition, was the day of the long distance in which they would have to do an 18km route along a 9km circuit in which they had to do two laps. In the master 50 category, they completed a 10.2km course as in the juniors, which was the same distance.

The conditions were tough as thermal winds soon picked up and proved it was a not at all race in flat conditions. Which at the beginning they had a downwind and then a sidewind that made the conditions not easy for all the competitors, finishing the lap in an upwind. But even so, the race pace of all the competitors was very high and the times were at the height of the quality of the event.

As it seemed that the long distance race was a spectacle, in the afternoon qualifying rounds of the technical race and the sprints followed. These were carried out in the same location where the technical circuit was carried out and had to travel 200m. Lane delimitation buoys were not placed for each competitor and that in the end caused benefits and problems for the competitors, since some other competitor could cross you or help you in drafting. Issues that generated both positive and negative controversy in the Stand Up paddle community and we believe that it will last for a long time as long as this type of event continues.

On the third day of the event, the qualifying rounds of both technical races and sprints continued. But the organization decided to create a popular event so that the Stand up Paddle party was not just a professional event and give the world a vision that this sport has a place for everyone. This category was made with inflatable boards of measures up to 12.6 and they had to make a 6km route.

And finally came the last day of competition, the fourth and the forces of all the competitors did not decline. It was the day of the final rounds and the finals of the sprint and technical races, and the truth did not disappoint. We were able to experience very exciting moments and all the attendees vibrated with each of the qualifying rounds and especially in the finals.

I do not want to end this article without emphasizing the great quality of the event, setting the timing of each round throughout the 4 days of competition, in an event with more than 400 competitors from 50 different countries. At the organizational level, I have to say that I have never seen such a good organization at the level of judges and especially broadcasting. Sometimes we had doubts if it was better to see it live or on the giant screen in the village area.

As I said at the beginning of the article, I think this event is going to be a benchmark at the level of competitions from now on. And next year the World Cup moves to the coastal town of Gdynia in Poland, and the entire Up Suping Team will be there to make the World Cup feel as if you were right there.

We attach the links for those who did not see the races live, you can see the races of the 4 days. And we miss the article on the Spanish Storm, which will tell you the role of all Spanish competitors in the ICF World Cup.

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