Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) will host the 2014 International Canoe Federation’s Canoe Freestyle Pan American Championships September 4 – 6 on the Nantahala River, near Bryson City, N.C.
The event will be the premier competitive event of the 2014 freestyle season, featuring athletes from North and South America, including several medalists from last year’s World Championships.
Paddlers ages 15+ just beginning to break into the sport will also be among the competitors at the 2014 Pan American Championships. The event is an opportunity for young athletes to get their first taste of international competition. Among those athletes registered is Max Haworth of Chattanooga, Tenn. “For Max, who is 15, the Pan Am Championships provide an opportunity to compete in an international event. Because there is no qualifier, a novice freestyler like Max can throw his hat in the ring and gain valuable competition experience,” said his mom, Mindy Haworth.
In addition to being a good entry into international competition, Pan American Championships are also important because they foster competition in the Americas. Event manager Zuzana Montagne said: “With much of whitewater sport’s participation based in Europe, developing a healthy competitive base in the Western hemisphere is a key goal of the International Canoe Federation.”
This spectator-friendly event will be hosted at NOC’s all-inclusive adventure resort on the Nantahala River.
Preliminary competition will take place on Thursday and Friday, September 4 – 5, with the winners announced following Saturday’s Final. NOC’s proprietary digital scoring system will help spectators navigate the competition, while providing real-time results to help athletes strategize effectively for upcoming runs. In addition, the competition will feature a live DJ and announcer.
Parking and event entry is free for spectators.
Visit noc.com/2014-freestyle-panam for more information.
Nantahala Outdoor Center is the nation’s largest outdoor recreation company. Over a million guests visit NOC annually to embark on a diverse collection of more than 120 different river and land-based itineraries, learn to kayak at NOC’s world-renowned Paddling School, travel abroad with NOC’s Adventure Travel program, test the latest outdoor gear and shop at its LEED-certified flagship retail stores or enjoy NOC’s resort amenities such as its three restaurants and multi-tiered lodging.
A privately-held company, NOC is one of the largest employers in Western North Carolina and 22 Olympians including two Olympic Gold Medalists have called NOC home. NOC has been recently recognized by The New York Times as the “Nation’s Premiere Paddling School,” “The Best Place to Learn” by Outside, and as “One of the Best Outfitters on Earth” byNational Geographic Adventure.