The 2018 World Paddle Awards have been announced, celebrating the best and most remarkable performances in paddlesport over the past year.
By Guy Dresser
World Paddle Awards 2018
Sportswoman of the Year
Jessica Fox was Sportswoman of the Year, a second consecutive win and, perhaps, an unsurprising victory for the Australian who last year won her second Olympic medal and, with the successful defence of her 2017 World Championship K1 title, became the most successful slalom paddler in history with seven world senior titles.
Sportsman of the Year
Sportsman of the Year is Fernando Pimenta, the sprinter who in 2018 became the first Portuguese kayaker to win a world title in an Olympic event after carrying off the K1 1,000m title at the ICF World Championships. He also took the World 5,000m title after virtually leading the race from start to finish.
Team Award
On the water, Germany’s all-conquering men’s canoe polo team picked up the inaugural Team Award, ahead of Canada’s Outer Harbour Warriors and Tahiti’s Shell Va’a. The German team, which had won five silver and three bronze medals in the 12 World Championships staged since the first event in the UK, finally won gold in 2018. The team dedicated their win – and the World Paddle Award – to former teammate Fiete Junge, who died unexpectedly in the run-up to the Canoe Polo World Championships after contracting meningitis.
Sports Junior award
There was British delight at the victory of freestyle kayaker Ottilie Robinson Shaw. Her win marked the fifth year on the trot that a girl has won the Sports Junior award. Ottilie said she hoped her win would encourage other girls into kayaking.
Foundation Award
Joe Mornini and Team River Runner were a popular American winner of the 2018 Foundation Award. A retired special education teacher and lifetime outdoor enthusiast, Joe co-founded Team River Runner, to provide wounded and disable military veterans with the opportunity to embrace new challenges through adaptive paddling adventure programmes.
Media Professional of the Year
Off the water, film maker and adventurer Olaf Obsommer from Germany, and Czech Daniel Stach tied in the Media Professional of the Year category. It’s the first time there’s been a tie for any World Paddle Award.
Stach is that unusual creature, a canoeing celebrity. The media professional has his own national TV show but started out as a member of the Czech junior slalom canoeing team in 2004. He was nominated for an award in recognition of his breathtaking commentaries at numerous canoe/kayak World championships.
Obsommer won for his substantial story-telling contributions to major sports television projects, especially in whitewater kayaking.
Lifetime Achievement Award
A popular winner in the Lifetime Achievement Award category was Claudia Kerckhoff van Wijk from Canada. A ten-time Canadian slalom paddler back in the 1970s and 1980s, and a World Championship bronze medalist, it is her drive and enthusiasm in inspiring others for which she has principally been recognised. Van Wijk has practically lived and breathed the world of whitewater kayaking all her life, from her competitive youth to her life as an owner/operator of canoeing and rafting centres, manager of the Canadian national team, and as a driving force behind the inclusion of canoe slalom in the 2016 Pan American Games.
The Academy Awards
These awards are made solely at the discretion of the World Paddle Awards Academy with over 40 members, recognising exceptional achievements. So far only three people have had the honour to receive this award: Jessica Fox (2014), Sebastian Brendel (2015) and Hank McGregor (2017). This year, the Academy recognised three individuals:
Aniol and Gerd Serrasolses
Both were nominated for the Sportsman of the Year award for their achievements on wildwater: Gerd in 2015 and Aniol in 2016. Both were nominated for the 2018 Foundation Award with the Serrasolses Brothers Program. They are elite athletes who have pushed the boundaries of wildwater kayaking, their humanitarian projects have transcended the sport and made a positive societal impact around the globe.
Laurence Vincent Lapointe
Laurence has been a nominee for the Sportswoman of the Year award three times, in 2015, 2017 and 2018. An outspoken advocate for women’s canoeing to be included in the Olympic programme, in 2018 Laurence received more than 3,000 votes, one of the highest public votes in the history of the World Paddle Awards.
