Athlete development, physiotherapy and event organisation were among the topics discussed during the International Canoe Federations’ series of coaching seminars in Wildwater Canoeing.
The four-part online series held in January brought together 131 participants, including 46 women and 85 men, from 23 National Federations across all five continents.
The first seminar focused on combining boat categories at elite level. Czech star Marie Nemcova shared her experience competing in both K1 and C1, outlining the technical, physical and psychological demands of managing dual disciplines.
France’s Theo Viens added his perspective on combining C1 and C2 with partner Nicolas Sauteur, highlighting the importance of communication, joint preparation and the technical and motivational advantages of competing in more than one class.
Seminar two explored the evolving role of physiotherapists in Wildwater Canoeing teams. Belgium’s Clémence Castaigne and Czechia’s Adela Fialova described their wide-ranging responsibilities, from injury prevention and rehabilitation to mental support, logistics and team communication.
Fiolova also examined trends toward a more holistic approach in sports physiotherapy, integrating psychological and alternative therapies while emphasising athlete mindset and emotional wellbeing.
The third seminar turned to event organisation, with Italy’s Vladi Panato and Australia’s Robert Janiszewski detailing the planning and delivery of international races in Mezzana, Italy, including safety, budgeting and volunteer coordination.
Hungary’s Sara Seprenyi shared lessons in organising her country’s first-ever ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Cup, highlighting collaboration and creative problem-solving.
Participants were also guided through ICF tools and resources available to organisers.
The final session addressed coaching junior paddlers. France’s Jules Miglinieks presented an individualised approach to developing young athletes, while Great Britain’s Jamie Christie emphasised safety, safeguarding and fostering lifelong enjoyment in the sport.
Manuela Gawehn, Chair of the ICF Wildwater Canoeing Committee, said: “I am absolutely delighted with the overwhelming response to the staging on these online coaching seminars.
“We far exceeded our expectations thanks to such a large number of participants and positive feedback throughout.
“All four online seminars were packed full of engaging discussions on a variety of topics, making the series a big success.
“I would like to thank all those who participated and, particularly, Alexandra Novakova, for her leadership.”
Click here to watch the webinar series
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