Just before RDR members left Tasmania to travel to Europe, Tasmania's bid to host the 2009 Wildwater World Cup was officially ratified by the InternationalCanoeing Federation. This is in line with the ICF's policy to hold Wildwater World Cups outside of Europe every 4-5 years (1999 = New Zealand, 2003 = USA).
This is a great result for the sport of Wildwater in Australia! Furthermore, it's recognition of Tasmania as a World-class venue for Wildwater courses,as well as further recognition of Canoe Tasmania's capacity to bid for, organise and run these sort of events (Canoe Tasmania successfully ran a slalom World Cup in Launceston's Cataract Gorge during the early 1990's).
There will be 3 classic (long) and 3 sprint (short) races held during the competition in 2009. At the moment, 4 venues are planned to host the racing,scheduled for October/November. All 4 venues are dam controlled by Hydro Tasmania, who will make the event possible through water releases, and be the naming rights sponsor. The timing of Oct/Nov should maximise water resources, coming after the Tasmanian winter and early spring rains.
World Cup '09 will have flow-on benefits throughout the Australian and Tasmanian Wildwater community - publicity (increased profile of the sport), participation, development, equipment, exposure to international athletes, heightened chances of Australian paddlers doing well on their home courses......it's a great opportunity! More broadly, the event will attract more than 200 foreign visitors to the State so that they can "discover Tasmania".
A contingent from Tasmania will be present at the 2008 World Championships in Ivrea, Italy to publicise the event and provide more information. For now, the event has a website:
See also:
Above is some print publicity, featuring RDR athletes, arising from the media launch of the 2009 World Cup a few weeks ago. On television, both ABC and Southern Cross News covered the launch, and ABC also interviewed John Borojevic (Chair of Canoe Tasmania) on radio about the upcoming event.
