Festival of Paddling at the Freestyle World Champs 2022

Festival of Paddling

Alongside the 2022 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships, we are hosting a festival of paddling. This will give paddlers from across the country, and competitors from around the world, the opportunity to take part in a number of different activities across the site.

Below is a list of events on offer.

Competitions open to World Championship athletes

Throughout the training and competition period a number of festival events will be available for competitors from the ICF World Championship and Masters to take part and enjoy all aspects of Freestyle and the course at Nottingham. These events include:

Tuesday 28th – Wednesday 29th June – Flatwater Freestyle

  • We don’t need a hole or a wave to do impressive Freestyle tricks. For many paddlers, flatwater is their local training location and are able to do impressive combinations of manoeuvres. This festival competition aims to allow paddlers showcase these skills.
  • Results are available here

Thursday 30th June – Downriver Freestyle

  • Use a variety of waves, holes, eddylines and rapids to show off your skills and rack up the points.
  • Held mid-course under the 2nd bridge from the Pyramid Pool to the Looping Pool
  • Results are available here

Friday 1st July – World’s Biggest Loop

  • This is a freestyle kayaking high-jump competition. Competitors take turns in aiming to knock off the highbar with their boat.
  • Held in the Inlet Gate
  • Results are available here

Saturday 2nd July – Syncro Freestyle

  • The Inlet Gate is a unique feature in the freestyle landscape that allows a consistent playground for multiple athletes to compete at once. This allows for the first syncro freestyle competition to be held at a World Championships festival. Paddlers will need to throw down their moves together in order to score big!
  • Results are available here

Masters World Championships

We are pleased to host the first event Freestyle Masters World Championships from Thursday 30 June to Saturday 2 July. For more information visit the Masters World Championships webpage.

Open Competitions

One of the aims of the Host Organising Committee in bringing the World Championships to Nottingham has always been to involve the local community in the festival. These events are aimed at anyone who wants to actively participate in the festival.

Backyard Freestyle

  • This competition is open to anyone across the world to get involved; Celebrating your Backyard Freestyle Spot.  Submit a 45 second video of your ride, on flatwater, a bit of flow or an eddyline (importantly not a hole or a wave), rides will be scored out of 50 by a panel of judges; looking at creativity, flow, skill and entertainment

17th, 22nd & 24th June – World Freestyle League

  • The Nottingham Freestyle League goes global in this fun, low key series of events before the World Championship competition. Compete with your friends and locals on a variety of features across the course in this three part series.

Thursday 30th June – Downriver Freestyle

  • Use a variety of waves, holes, eddylines and rapids to show off your skills and rack up the points.
  • Held mid-course under the 2nd bridge from the Pyramid Pool to the Looping Pool
  • Results are available here

Saturday 2nd July – Rough Waters SUP

  • The paddling community is one that opens our arms to all who enjoy experiencing the white water. We are extending the invite to our friends in the SUP community so we can experience the river with a diversity of craft. Get involved and show us your SUP skills!
  • Results are available here

Festival Events aimed at Specific Groups

Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th June – Younguns Freestyle – World Championships Tour Stop

  • Younguns freestyle is the UK’s youth development and competition programme which has introduced many of the top names in our sport introduced to freestyle. The UK tour invites all youth paddlers from the UK and abroad to learn new skills, make new friends and compete in this fun competition.

Saturday 2nd July – Younguns Freestyle – World Championships Tour Stop

  • This is an extra stop for Younguns which is free to get involved with! Junior paddlers can turn up and register on the day!

ICF Development Camp

  • As part of the World Championships an ICF development camp will be hosted to engage junior and women’s C1 paddlers.

Wider Participation

Even if you’ve never paddled before, there’s still opportunities for you to have a go in a boat. Check out the Schools and Community groups page to book a session for your group or the spectators page for more information about have a go activity available on Saturday 2nd July.