SURF KAYAKING
World Champs 2022
Words : Marc Woolward , England team member , current world number 3 Masters , 4x British Champion Photos : Hugo Grassi and Roger Aguirre Smith
Surf kayaking is the sport where extreme whitewater kayaking meets surfing with the top athletes busting inverts , aerials , huge slashes , and tube rides at some of the most challenging surf breaks on the planet . It is also a sport where British athletes excel and where a small town in North Cornwall will be soon hosting our bi-annual World Championships .
For the past few decades , athletes have met every two years to crown the ‘ World ’ s best ’ in iconic locations from Australia to Costa Rica , California to Mundaka , and Scotland to Brazil . In the 14 events since the first World Championships were held in Costa Rica in 1995 , a nation from the United Kingdom has placed either first or second on the planet an incredible 13 times . Currently , UK athletes hold 11 individual medal positions in the various world classes decided at the last World Championships held in Peru in 2019 . In such an intense and competitive paddlesport , the UK ’ s athletes excel and regularly beat the world .
The judges