In his second blog for the ICF ahead of the 2017 Canoe Sprint World Championships, Czech paddler Filip Dvorak takes us inside the excitement and anticipation of the build-up towards the biggest event of the year.

Things are getting serious in Račice.

It is Wednesday and a vast majority of all the teams are already accreditted and getting ready for racing. For the last couple of days one could observe the changes that are taking place all around the venue. Huge TV screens being installed, TV teams arriving, the number of boats in depo rapidly growing and yesterday the rehearsal for the opening ceremony could be heard all around the venue.

These are the signs, that the biggest event of flatwater canoeing season is just around corner.

For me personally the main sign that the actual competition is approaching is the arrival of the boat manufacturers' trucks. All three major ones (Nelo, Plastex, Vajda) are already present and doing their thing: cleaning, polishing and repairing.

These days are super busy for them working basically from dawn till dusk, making sure every single boat is ready and in the best shape possible. They deserve real credit for their work.

In Račice each one of them has their favourite spot, where they build their camp. Nelo and Plastex, the two biggest boat manufacturers, are located on opposite sides of depo. Why? I guess the competition is really fierce.

Picture: Plastex camp

Picture: Nelo camp

First heats for paracanoe athletes are already under way. I have to say that I envy them that their waiting for racing is over. They can show how hard they worked for this moment and prove that all the hard work was worth it. Meanwhile the rest of us have to maintain our focus on last warming up sessions before the competition.

On the faces of athletes you can see all the different expressions and emotions during these pre-racing days. Some are really friendly and talkative and they are heartfully greeting their friends they haven`t seen for a long time.

The others just maintain their gameface all the time, almost saying: "Don`t talk to me now, I`m in my zone“. But I am sure that they all have something in common: under the surface the nervousness and anticipation is slowly boiling and growing towards the day of racing.

Main pic - Balint Vekassy