World Kayak Championship at Thusharagiri from July 18

The next edition of the Malabar Kayaking Championship will be held at Meenthullipara, Pulikkayam and Arippara in Kerala’s Calicut district from July 18 to 22. The championship is being organised by the District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode District Panchayat, Thiruvambadi and Kodencherry panchayats and Madras Fun Tools.

Two-time world extreme kayaking champion Joe Morley from the United Kingdom, 2012 London Olympics finalist Mike Dawson from New Zealand and noted kayaker from Italy Max Benetton were the big names featured in the previous years.

Comprising an international kayaking championship, kayaking training programmes and rafting sessions, the Malabar River Festival is organised by the Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council in collaboration with the Kerala Kayaking Academy. Iruvanjipuzha, Kuttiady river and Chalipuzha, the best white waters in South India, will be the venues of the championship.

Around 170 participants are expected to take part in the championship, which will have competitions for beginners and intermediate kayakers. There will be a special category of prizes for the best peddlers of the Indian subcontinent.

The competitions are usually held in Chalippuzha in Kodencheri grama panchayat, Iruvazhinji river in Thiruvamabadi grama panchayat, and Kuttiady river in Chakkittapara grama panchayat.