At the second day of the 2013 ICF Wildwater Canoeing Juniors World Championships in Lofer France celebrated a big comeback by winning gold in the C1 Team Classic. Ronan Cordier, Thomas Janeriat and Pierre Troubady made the comeback for France perfect, when they paddle five seconds faster as the opponents from Croatia and Italy.

„Yesterday the other competitors were faster“, said the national coach of France Frédéric Rebeyrol. „But we know, that we can do it better and get a medal in the team race. Tomorrow at the team sprint will come our strength.“

The first day of the 2013 ICF Wildwater Canoeing Juniors World Championships in Lofer was also the first day of surprises and a czech double strike. The individual classic races were on the schedule. The course from St Martin to Lofer with the sprint arena at the end is about 3,5 km long, where the best paddlers need 10 minutes. In the last two disciplines of the day the Czech show their strength by winning both.

The 2013 ICF Wildwater Canoeing Juniors World Championships are officially opend. On Tuesday Evening Joao Tomasini, 3rd Vice President of the International Canoe Federation (ICF), declared the competition as open. Lofer celebrated at the marketplace an enthusiastic and colorful opening ceremony. The mayor Mrs Bettina Mitterer gave a warm welcome to the 15 participating nations, their standard bearer, the specattors, fans und guests and:

„Lofer is very proud to organise the Championships together with Germany“, said Mitterer. „I wish good luck for all athletes and a successful and fair competition.“

Lofer at the Saalachtal is attractive to everybody. A simple fact, proved by history.   Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was in Lofer in December 1769. The beautiful view up to the mountains of Lofer were part of a James Bond Movie. Clint Eastwood, Richard Burton and Erol Sander were guests in Lofer for their holidays.

Interview with Jens Perlwitz, Chairman at the ICF and Vicepresident at the German Canoe Federation, about the future of Wildwater Canoeing.

Canoeworlds: Jens, the 2013 ICF Wildwater Canoeing Junior World Championships will start soon. Is the organisation well prepared?

Jens Perlwitz: The conditions and the water level are excellent. The City of Lofer did everything for us to get a well prepared course and in the organisation team everybody looks forward. I am very happy to be a part of this team.

An all-time uniqueness will establish at the 2013 ICF Wildwater Canoeing Junior World Championships in Lofer (Austria), when the German Canoe Federation will organise the Championships together with town of Lofer as a german-austrian cooperation.
„This cooperation was a perfect conclusion, when we got the acceptance of the International Canoe Federation“, means ICF Chairman and Vicepresident of the German Canoe Federation Jens Perlwitz. „Lofer has this wonderful course, an ideal infrastructure and enthusiastic supporters. Together with the organisation of the german team I expect fantastic World Championships.“