Press Release

From: UK Freestyle [Canoe & Kayak] Committee
Date: 17/05/07
Ref: UK Freestyle Endorsement
UK Freestyle Ranking
UK Freestyle League

Message:

For the first time ever the governing committee of freestyle canoeing and kayaking (UK Freestyle) in the UK will be endorsing events run throughout the year and across the UK.

Endorsed events will have the benefit of support from the committee in running the freestyle element of any event. The committee will ensure that the correct rules are applied, qualified judges are available and that the competition is run fairly. The committee will also be able to provide appropriate software for calculating scores, advice on such things as scribing, timing, event schedules, etc. The committee will only be involved in the Freestyle element of any event leaving the organisers free to be as creative as they like with other aspects.

Endorsed events also have a major benefit to competitors. Not only will competitors know in advance exactly how the competition will be run (standard international format) but the results from endorsed events will be collated and a UK Freestyle Ranking list will be published at the end of 2007 (calculated from the best 3 results for each paddler).

These endorsed events will continue into 2008 but with an additional touch. The ranking list of 2007 will be divided up into leagues (exact number will depend on number of entries in 2007). At each endorsed event of 2008 there will be a separate competition for each league. This means the Pros will only compete against the Pros and the Novices against the Novices. This will give everyone a position in the UK and mean they can compete against their piers to work their way up the league. With each event they attend they will be able to see their progression. At the end of 2008 people at the top of the league will move up, people at the bottom will move down. There’s everything to play for!

Full details for squirt will be published in the near future but expect there to be 2-4 events this year (depending on venues). The same endorsement, ranking and leagues systems will apply.

Further Details:

• The 2007 UK Freestyle Ranking will be calculated from the best 3 results of each paddler
• Confirmed endorsed events are (more are being organised, details to follow)
o Washburn 19th – 20th May
o Tryweryn 8th - 9th September
o Nene 29th – 30th September [Squirt]
o Nottingham 6th – 7th October [Squirt]
• More information on the individual events listed above go to www.alpkit.com/pfaks
• More information on UK Freestyle go to www.ukfreestyle.com
• For enquiries about:
o Endorsement, publicity and general information - James Reeves [mail address protected from spambots with javascript]
o Plastic Fantastic Alpkit Kayak Series - [mail address protected from spambots with javascript]
o Rules and Judging – Emily Wall [mail address protected from spambots with javascript] [/img]