Press Release
14 September 2015
1 - 3 October 2015
8th World Championship in Extreme Kayaking
Oetz (sgh) – For the eighth time in a row, 150 of the world’s best whitewater kayakers
from 27 different countries meet in Austria’s Ötztal between the 1st and 3rd of
October to determine the adidas Sickline Extreme Kayak World Champion on the
legendary “Wellerbrücke“ rapids.
A “sick line” is the perfect, smoothest and fastest line downriver. That’s what the
competitors have to find when racing the so-called “Wellerbrücke” rapids, a famous section
of the glacier-fed Ötztaler Ache River, peppered with loads of natural obstacles. The course
has the reputation of being the Eiger Northwall of whitewater kayaking, thus it offers the
perfect setting to crown the World Champion in extreme kayak racing.
The Wellerbrücke rapids are solid class 5 whitewater, both technically difficult and
dangerous. The well-known rapids on the course have illustrious names like “TNT Cataract”,
“Champions Killer” or “Champions Killer Minus 1”. They are both feared and endeared by
extreme kayakers, all of whom respect the river as much as they want to conquer it. Any
mistakes paddlers may make have high consequences. Therefore the field of international
kayakers is filtered down in two qualification runs to determine the 48 best paddlers who
compete in the actual World Championship race.
„Some of the whitewater paddlers who participate in this World Championship run much
higher waterfalls and even more extreme rivers during their expeditions around the world.
But they do this maybe once in their life and time doesn’t matter”, explains Axel Burkhardt,
Director Global Sports Marketing adidas Outdoor. “The adidas Sickline tests the kayakers’
ability to not only get down one of the world’s most challenging rapids in one piece, but to
do this fast as well. The 280-metre long racecourse demands everything in terms of skill
and fitness from the athletes, meaning they have to retrieve their full potential to the point,
run after run. They cannot afford the slightest mistake and they must be extremely fit,
because the cruxes are located at the end of the course.”
Last year, 26-year old Joe Morley from Leeds in Great Britain outpaddled a field full of the
best kayakers in the world in his final run, claiming the second Extreme Kayak World
Champion title of his career. In 2013, Morley had surprised the kayaking community, when
he defeated the seemingly unbeatable 3-time adidas Sickline World Champion Sam Sutton
from New Zealand. Last year Morley returned as defending champion and top favourite and
he stood up to the pressure. He put in a commanding final run on the 7°C-cold Ötztaler
Ache River, clocking 56,48 seconds, the fastest race time of the day and almost one second
faster than Kiwis Mike Dawson (0:57,42) and Jamie Sutton (0:57,50) who placed second
and third. This year, Morley is aiming for a three-peat. „In theory I think there’s still stuff to
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squeeze regarding time on this course; I can always be fitter and I can always be stronger
on the flat. I know it’s ambitious to try to beat Sam’s record of winning the adidas Sickline
three times, but I would like to come back and get another title obviously and keep going for
as long as I can”, Morley says.
Joe Morley’s double has fired the enthusiasm of kayakers all over the UK. With 28
participating athletes, Great Britain sends the largest national team to the adidas Sickline
Extreme Kayak Worlds, followed by Germany (21) and France (16).
Only the best advance to the next round
The top 48 compete in a so-called ‚head-to-head’ format or knockout system, i.e. the fastest
of the qualification battles the 48th, the second fastest competes against the 47th and so
on. The order of the respective heats is based on a classic tournament ladder. The faster
kayaker of each heat advances to next round, together with two ‘lucky losers’ (the two
fastest of the eliminated top 48 athletes). The top 26 compete once again in a knockout
system. The 13 victorious athletes and two more ‘lucky losers’ then advance to the super
final where they compete for world championship honours.
Athletes at the event concur that the adidas Sickline WCH is unique as the best athletes of
many different kayaking disciplines – freestyle and slalom world champions, extreme
kayakers and river expedition paddlers – come together in a race situation. The head-tohead format makes competition fair and extremely close. Any one of the top 15 finalists
have the chance and the ability to earn a spot on the podium.
adidas Sickline Queen
To date eleven women have registered for the adidas Sickline 2015. The five fastest ladies
in the qualification rounds battle it out on the Wellerbrücke rapids to become the adidas
Sickline Queen. 23-year-old Nouria Newman (FRA), known as the best female extreme
paddler in the world, will return to defend her title, after dominating the women’s field last
year. She won ahead of Toni George (NZL) and of Martina Wegman (NED).
Safety first
For safety reasons, public authorities have officially closed the Wellerbrücke rapids yearround. The section is only open for the adidas Sickline World Championship. To ensure the
highest possible safety for the competitors, the organisers run an extensive safety
operation. Water rescue services, mountain rescue services, and the Austrian Red Cross
work hand in hand with the event-own “Swiftwater Rescue” team. “The riverbanks are
virtually littered with extremely qualified safety staff that use innovative life saving tools, like
ropeways, and turn the Wellerbrücke rapids – at least for one weekend – into the safest
rapid in the world”, says Event Director Mike Hamel. “The athletes are pushing the physical
and mental limits in this race. We want them to focus on their run rather than having to think
about what will happen when they end up swimming in 6 degree cold water.”
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All-around service for athletes
Before and after the competition, the adidas Sickline participants are truly pampered.
Throughout the race weekend athletes can enjoy free physiotherapy and massages at the
adidas Reload Center in the Expo Area. Former Canoe World Champion and butcher Uli
Knittel caters for the physical well being with his sumptuous dinner buffets and the hearty
“Jackson Kayak” lunch. Film producer Olaf Obsommer and other kayak celebrities present
their latest movies at the Big-O Movie Night. And for all those who just can’t get enough, DJ
Chainsaw is rocking the crowds at the legendary adidas Sickline Champions Party at Jay’s
Cantina in Oetz.
GoPro generates spectacular footage from athletes’ perspective
GoPro Inc., the manufacturer of small wearable and gear-mountable water- and shockproof
POV cameras that are distributed in over 100 countries worldwide, is once again on board
as exclusive camera partner of the event. GoPro equips all finalists with a GoPro
SESSION® helmet camera to generate new spectacular images of the World
Championship race from the perspective of the competing athlete.
Livestream on eversport.tv
The final of the adidas Sickline Extreme Kayak World Championship is broadcasted live in
several countries. Kayaking fans around the globe can also watch the race online on
eversport.tv. As in previous years, kayaking legend Ben Brown (NZL) will commentate the
livestream.
For more information go to www.adidas-sickline.com
For media enquiries please contact:
Sonja Güldner-Hamel
Planet Talk GmbH
P_+49 8031 354 65-12
M_+49 170 27 50 510
@[email protected]
http://www.adidas-sickline.com
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