Athletes demonstrated versatility and determination at the International Canoe Federation's Wildwater Canoeing Development Camp held during the World Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.
The latest edition of the development programme marked another successful chapter in the ICF's efforts to expand access to top-tier competition for emerging nations.
A total of seven athletes from Europe and Africa participated in the camp led by coaches Andrea Abbiati of Italy and Matyas Olsak of Czechia.
Only one athlete had prior experience in Wildwater Canoeing, with the other six coming from Canoe Sprint, Canoe Slalom, and Canoe Marathon.
However, the coaches were impressed by how quickly the paddlers adapted to the challenge of the fast-flowing course.
The camp started with sessions on flat water to build confidence before progressing to the sprint course at Ceske Vrbne, located near the Vltava River.
After that, Jacek Branski and Jakub Dyda of Poland, Claudiu Babos of Romania, Maria Lisovska and Bohdan Malovanyi of Ukraine, Annette Baum of Estonia and Wally Youssouf Ndiaye of Senegal were given a taste of the intense race course, offering the ideal setting for developing their skills.
Local clubs SK Vltava Cesk Krumlov and Synthesia Pardubice, and Kick the Waves provided boats and paddles during the camp, with a dedicated repair station on hand but rarely needed, reflecting the athletes’ solid preparation.
The camp also saw team bonding activities, continuing the tradition from the one that was held alongside the 2025 ICF Junior and U23 Wildwater Canoeing World Championships in Solkan.
The group of athletes visited Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the stunning Hluboka nad Vltavou Castle, giving them a chance to soak in cultural experiences in the host country.
All paddlers expressed their delight in being able to attend the camp, with many expressing interest in returning for future events and bringing along teammates.
“The development camp is all about giving every athlete a fair preparation on wildwater courses - especially those who don’t have access to coaches or big support teams,” ICF Wildwater Canoeing Committee Chair Manuela Gawehn said.
“It’s amazing to see athletes from so many nations come together, share knowledge, and push each other to grow.
“That’s what this camp is really about - building skills, confidence, and community.”
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