BREAKING NEWS: Winners of the 2016 World Paddle Awards Announced
Left to right: Rok Rozman (Foundation award), Nadezhda Makarchenko (Junior of the Year), John Broe Rasmussen - Vejle Kajakklub (Industry Professional), Maialen Chourraut (Best Olympian Canoe Slalom), Rob van Bommel (President WPA), Renata Csay (Sportswoman), John Edwards (Lifetime Achievement) and Curtis McGrath (Sportsman).
Winners of the 2016 World Paddle Awards
BREAKING NEWS
The winners in eleven categories have tonight been revealed at the third edition of the World Paddle Awards (WPA) held this year at the Nelo Training Centre in Montebelo, a very fitting location for the worlds best paddlers to converge.
In front of a well credentialed crowd including some of the greatest athletes in paddlesports history, sports administrators, industry representatives and sports journalists, winners were presented with The Golden Paddle as a symbol of their achievements in paddlesports.
With the 2016 Rio Olympics having just passed, the best Male and Female Olympic performances were awarded for the first time in history, making the night very special. On the slalom course it was the pocket rocket from Spain, Maialen Chourraut that won the best female Olympic performance and the Slovakian brothers, Peter and Ladislav (Ato) Skantar, that took out the men’s category after a near perfect run in the final. In the sprint category Hungarian golden girl Danuta Kozak took home an astonishing three gold medals, giving her bragging rights in the women’s category with Sebastian Brendel powering home with two gold medals, helping Germany claim top spot on the medal table in canoe sprint.
Adding to the Rio flavor, the night also had a strong focus on Paracanoe and its debut at the Paralympics. Fittingly, the man responsible for this addition to the Paralympic program, John Edwards, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award. Curtis McGrath, one of the nicest blokes you’ll ever meet, was also awarded the Male Sportsman of the Year after being undefeated in the KL2 and VL2 200 at the World Championships and Paralympic Games.
In other categories, the 2016 winners are: Nadezhda Makarchenko (BEL) – ‘Sports Junior,’ John Broe Rasmussen on behalf of the Vejle Club House (DEN) – ‘Industry Professional,’ Christine Curgenven (GBR) – ‘Media Professional,’ Rok Rozman (SLO) – ‘Foundation Award.’
Summary of Results
- Industry Professional: John Broe Rasmussen, Vejle Club House DEN
- Media Professional: Christine Curgenven GBR (absent: expedition in Antartica)
- Foundation: Rok Rozman SLO
- Junior: Nadezhda Makarchenko BLR
- Lifetime: John Edwards CAN
- Sportswoman: Renata Csay HUN
- Sportsman: Curtis McGrath AUS
- Olympian Slalom Female: Maialen Chourraut ESP
- Olympian Slalom Male: Skantars SVK (absent: training camp in Australia)
- Olympian Sprint Female: Danuta Kozak HUN (absent: pregnant)
- Olympian Sprint Male: Sebastian Brendel GER
*Nominees for the 2017 awards will be open in September 2017 and details of the host city will be revealed soon.
FURTHER INFORMATION
WPA 2016
- Full list of 2016 nominees and finalists
- Photos ceremony (high res)
- Host: Nelo Kayaks - Montebelo Aquieira Lake Resort in 2017
- Video footage available on request: info@worldpaddleawards.com
WPA 2015
- Full list of winners and finalists for the 2014 Awards
- 2015 host city Barcelona
About the WPA
- A full explanation of the voting process (public voting + Academy vote over two rounds)
- Meet our Academy Members
- An overview of the awards and the The Golden Paddle
- What types of paddlesports are there?
- The WPA's global partners, official sponsors and supporters
The World Paddle Awards (WPA) were started because there has never been an institution and international event that celebrated the most remarkable men and women from the world of competitive paddlesports along with their extraordinary achievements.
Founded in 2013 by Rob van Bommel (ex-athlete for The Netherlands in canoe slalom and Director of Sportscene Media House), the WPA recognises the diversity of people and organisations in the paddlesports community honouring the hard work they put into our sports.
The WPA aims to celebrate and tell the world about the incredible feats that have been accomplished by athletes or services provided by coaches, volunteers, the media, event organisers, manufacturers, officials and so on during the past year(s).
There are 11 awards in total of which the winners will receive The Golden Paddle; a symbol of how each discipline, even though different in sensation to many, requires a paddle used from a boat on water. The Golden Paddle depicts our mission to unite all people and paddlesports. The 'Academy Award' whose nominees are selected for, by merit of outstanding achievement, only by the Academy.
Furthermore the awards reflect the fact that there are many different paddlesports within the community. Besides the Olympic disciplines of canoe sprint and canoe slalom, the WPA also respects and celebrates non-Olympic paddlesports, about 15 in total.
Social Media
Contact
Rob van Bommel, President, The World Paddle Awards rob@worldpaddleawards.com