In a historic move for canoeing in Portugal, the newly appointed Portuguese Board of Directors has decided to introduce Kayak Cross to the country, with plans to organise the first-ever National Championships this year. The world’s superpower in Canoe Sprint and Canoe Marathon is now entering a new canoeing discipline.
To kick off the planned development, last Sunday, in collaboration with the city of Arouca, Portugal held its first-ever demonstration race, marking the official launch of Kayak Cross in the country. The event took place on the stunning Rio Paiva, one of the country’s most beautiful natural treasures and widely regarded as the capital of rafting in Portugal. The river’s spectacular conditions proved the perfect backdrop for this inaugural event.
The demo race attracted 50 participants, including juniors, seniors, and masters in men’s and women’s events. Among the competitors were athletes from both Portugal and Spain, including members of Portugal’s national slalom team with Frederico Alvarenga and João Cunha, but there were also participants who are not canoe slalom specialists.
The Kayak Cross format featured individual race that determined the groups for the elimination phase. The race was intense, and the finals were held under heavy rain and challenging conditions. Marta Noval triumphed in the Women’s Senior category, and Frederico Alvarenga claimed victory in the Senior Men’s event.
After the successful debut, the first-ever Kayak Cross National Championships in Portugal will take place in late March at the Amarante Tamega River.
You can find the full results here.
29.1.2025
