Blog Posts: #ICFslalom

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

9 insights to the Rio 2016 blog series

John Gregory
26 September 2016

This final post reflects on the Rio 2016 blog analytics and assesses how our increasingly online World allowed us to build an online presence for canoeing. 

The Rio 2016 blog could be found on the ICF Planet Canoe website, under the Rio 2016 dropdown. The blog ran for 22 days with 28 posts during between July 24th and August 14th. Here is an account of what transpired and what can be learnt from the exercise.

 

One: Growth of 200% in a 4-year Olympic cycle

The Planet Canoe website showed a 200% growth in audience sessions during the Rio Olympics...Read more

Canoeing family in mourning after tragic death of German coach Stefan Henze

ICFmedia
16 August 2016

The International canoeing community is shocked and deeply saddened by the death of Olympic silver medallist and German slalom coach Stefan Henze.

Henze succumbed on Monday to injuries he sustained in a car accident in Rio on Friday morning.

His family were beside him when he died.

German Canoe Federation President, Thomas Konietzko, said the death will leave an enormous hole in German canoeing.

“He was an Olympic silver medal winner, he was a coach,” Mr Konietzko said.

“With the bottom of his heart he worked to

...Read more
ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

Rio 2016 daily canoe slalom blog index

John Gregory
15 August 2016

Here is a quick reference index back to the 28 posts making up this daily Rio 2016 canoe slalom blog in  chronological order. 

Welcome to the Rio Olympic Canoe Slalom blog

Canoe Slalom Essentials

Rio 2016 Olympic Games Canoe Slalom Qualification

Spectators guide to the X-Park Deodoro whitewater centre

...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

Recognising a true team effort

John Gregory
14 August 2016

This is the last daily blog post in this series. It rightly recognises the incredible service of those who have invested the last few years of their lives to pull off the greatest canoe slalom show on earth. You should now all be incredibly proud.

We have a terrific world class venue. A first rate Olympic canoe slalom event was delivered on time with passion by all. The quality of competition was thrilling in each class. There have been hundreds of people behind the scenes at the venue on race days, in addition to the 2016 test event. Many worked full-time for...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

Canoe slalom now to Tokyo 2020

John Gregory
13 August 2016

Well, that was fun. What’s next? For now, a look at the remaining 2016 World Cup series, 2017 World Championships and beyond.

The canoe slalom season for 2016 is not quite done yet. We have the ECA Junior & U23 European Championships in Solkan, Slovenia later this month. There are still two remaining races in the 2016 ICF World Cup series in September. Race 4 is in Prague and the final race is in Tacen, Slovakia.

The ICF will continue to bring you news through these races and I will be tweeting results through the World Cup races.

The World...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

Most promising paddler award – Jakub Grigar (SVK)

John Gregory
12 August 2016

Our award for most promising paddler goes to 19-year-old, Jakub Grigar from Slovakia. “Hands down”, said USA Canoe Kayak overnight.

Grigar has been astonishingly quick all season. He won a silver medal at the Seu d’Urgell ICF World Cup race. In the Olympics, he was the fastest at the 2nd split in the Olympic heat, he was the winner of the Olympic semi-final and he was the fastest at the 2nd split in the Olympic final.

 

Grigar progression through Rio Olympics ...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

Deodoro canoe slalom legacy

John Gregory
12 August 2016

Here we explore what this Rio Olympic event has meant for canoe slalom in Brazil. I have been following the Brazilian team since London 2012.

In 2013, I described them as “young, highly passionate and motivated team who don’t give up”. The Brazilian team has advanced incredibly in the last few years. We have seen them in World Championship semi-finals, a final in C1W, and now an Olympic final, where Pedro Da Silva [aka Pepe Goncalves] finished 6th. It cannot be denied that their rise has been meteoric.

Even before the Games had begun, Goncalves had...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom Maialen Chourraut

Canoe Slalom Olympic day 5 review - C2M & K1W

John Gregory
11 August 2016

Ladislav & Peter Skantar maintained Slovakia’s domination as the sunsets on C2M in the Olympics. Maialen Chourraut (ESP) proved beyond doubt that she is the fastest women’s kayak paddler around gates on whitewater. Here is a review of the C2M & K1W semi-finals and finals.

 

C2M – An incredible 4th Olympic gold for Slovakia

 ...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom Joe Clarke

Canoe Slalom Olympic day 4 review and day 5 medals preview (C2M & K1W)

John Gregory
10 August 2016

Joe Clarke was crowned as Great Britain’s first K1M Olympic canoe slalom gold medallist. First, a review of the K1M semi-final and final, followed by a preview of what to expect on Thursday for the C2M & K1W semi-finals.

 ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom Joe Clarke...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

50 seconds – 2 seconds or clear?

John Gregory
9 August 2016

As canoe slalom evolves to shorter and tighter races with higher stakes then the margins are being shaved ever closer by the athletes. Here we examine the process on how race control determines whether a paddler’s whole head and part of the boat has passed through the gate or whether to award a 50-second penalty. I gained exclusive access behind the scenes during the C2M and K1W heats.

...Read more