Paddlers hailing from the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic represented the USA in a big way at this year’s International Canoe Freestyle World Championship in San Juan, Argentina.
In all, 13 members of Team USA, over half the team, came from states within the Blue Ridge Outdoors coverage area, and with so many top notch white water destinations at our finger tips, it’s easy to see why.
That includes Tennessee native Eric Jackson, founder of event sponsor Jackson Kayak, and his children Dane and Emily, Bennet Smith and Hunter Katich of Alabama, Western Carolina University grad Matt Anger, Anna Bruno (originally fromm Pennsylvania), Rowan Stuart of North Carolina, Olivia McGinnis and Tad Dennis of Georgia, Jordan Poffenberger of Virginia, Clay Wright of Tennessee, and Seth Chapelle of Maryland.
The event, which wrapped up on Saturday December 2, saw Team USA place second overall with a total of six metals: 2 gold, 2 silver and two bronze. Great Britain took the overall title with seven metals, while France took third with a total of four.
23-year-old Dane Jackson took first in the canoe men’s finals, breaking the record for the highest score in a single run in process, while Seth Chapelle and Jordan Poffenberger took third and fourth respectively.
Olivia McGinnis of Georgia took third overall in the women’s junior kayak finals.
Dane Jackson also earned a second place in the men’s kayak finals, while 50-year-old Clay Wright of Tennessee took first place in in the men’s squirt finals.
Anna Bruno came away with third overall in the women’s squirt finals.
All in all, it was a terrific showing for Team USA and the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions in particular. For a complete list of results, click here!
