The 2022 ICF Wildwater World Championships gets underway this weekend, as the event returns to the venue of the very first wildwater world title more than 60 years ago.
Australia has two athletes representing the green and gold on the River Vézère in Treignac, France, with Harry Langley and David Burdett both making their World Championship debuts.
With it being the first full wildwater world titles since 2018, 20 nations will come together to compete across sprint and classic events this weekend.
A 22-year-old Langley said he’s really proud to be representing Australia on the world stage.
“It’s a really big deal to represent Australia, this has been a culmination of a lot of training and a lot of hard work, so I’m so stoked to be here and it’s a beautiful place in Treignac as well,” he said.
“I just want to get out there, give it my best shot and have a lot of fun.”
The team arrived in France in late May to have some time to get familiar with the course ahead of competition starting on Friday 3 June.
“The runs are pretty crazy, the river is really big,” Langley said.
“The bottom of the sprint course I’ve found particularly tough. I am pretty confident in my classic runs but that bottom sprint section for me has been a bit of a learning curve.
“I’m taking a bit of a different line to what I initially thought I wanted to take because I think I’ll be able to get a bit more power and speed from the right side rather than the left.”
“The river is definitely big and rocky,” added Burdett. “It’s different to what we’re used to back home, but it’s been a good change so far.
“My goal is to just do my best.”
Thursday saw the Aussies march in the Opening Ceremony through the streets of Treignac ahead of the Sprint qualification starting on Friday.
Sprint finals and the Team sprint events will be held on Saturday, with the Classic events on Sunday.
Treignac hosted the first ever ICF Wildwater World Championships in 1959, and then again in 2000.
The 2022 Wildwater World Championships will be streamed live on the Planet Canoe YouTube
For the full schedule, and results, CLICK HERE
