Paddlers are more used to rapids with names like Black Rocks than they are black ties. But not at the 2014 World Paddle Awards, which just wrapped up in Augsburg, Germany, crowning seven paddlers at the top of their respective categories.
The annual event celebrates men and women from the world of paddlesports along with their achievements from the previous calendar year. They also apply to coaches, officials (volunteers), media, event organizers and more, leaving no one involved in the sport of the list. As well as bragging rights, the winners receive The Golden Paddle, a symbol common to all paddlesports.
Earning the only berth from the U.S. on the prestigious podium was Eric Jackson, who won the “Lifetime Achievement Award,” presented by 1992 Slalom Olympic gold medal winner Elizabeth Micheler-Jones.
Says EJ: “Paddlesports is a flip flop wearing, spend your money on kayaking trips and equipment type of sport most of the time. Not so at these awards in Augsburg. It was an amazing event, with an amazing amount of the “Who’s Who” of the world of paddlesports from so many disciplines.”
The evening was a combination of music, speeches by the Mayor and organizer Rob van Bommel, a preface by five-time World Champion slalom racer Richard Fox and more. Each presenters was also a well-decorated paddler.
“It was an honor for all who received their award to have such amazing presenters,” says EJ. “While there have been plenty of amazing kayaking events over the years for everything from video premiers to awards, nothing has come close to what this group put on in terms of having so many people from such varied sectors of the sport.”
Without further ado, the winners are:
2014 Winners
SPORTSMAN
WINNER
Hank McGregor RSA
FINALISTS
Fabien Lefevre USA
Sebastian Brendel GER
SPORTSWOMAN
WINNER
Freya Hoffmeister GER
FINALISTS
Lisa Carrington NZL
Jessica Fox AUS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
WINNER
Eric Jackson USA
FINALISTS
Dean Gardiner AUS
Gunter Brummer GER
SPORTS TEAM
WINNER
Team Great Britain Paracanoeing
FINALISTS
Team Hungary Women K4 Canoe Sprint
Team Germany Women Canoe Polo
SPORTS JUNIOR
WINNER
Emma Astrand Jorgensen DEN
FINALISTS
Sage Donnelly USA
Ana Satila Vargas BRA
MEDIA AMBASSADOR
WINNER
Steve West AUS
FINALISTS
John Gregory CAN
John Macleod RSA
PADDLESPORT PROFESSIONAL
WINNER
Expand and Extend: Women and Canoeing NEP
FINALISTS
Claire O’hara GBR
Hans Peter Weiss GER
ACADEMY AWARD
WINNER
Jessica Fox
For all profiles visit: CLICK HERE
For detailed results: CLICK HERE
