I’ve just finished my third successful year running the Freestyle Development and National Team Camps in Finland; designed to increase participation at the grass-roots level, whilst ensuring those already competing have a pathway to achieve higher performance at an international level.
It’s a real pleasure to have been invited to run these programmes and I would like to thank the Finnish Canoeing and Rowing Federation for supporting freestyle development. The work of the Federation, the Finnish Freestyle Committee, and the coaching volunteers continues to grow freestyle participation here in Finland, whilst strengthen their presence on the international stage.
Special thanks to Jyri Hämäläinen, Olli Nyrhilä, Juuso Karttunen, Teemu Väliahdet, Tuomas Kaukola, Anni Mykkänen, and Visa Rahkola for their dedication, open mindedness, creativity determination and energy in making things happen.
Finland is an amazing place for freestyle kayaking; with an abundance of waves, those joining this growing and vibrant freestyle community have so much to explore and experience. So it’s not surprising that there is great talent growing at both grass-roots and within the team – with podium position in the World Cups, and continued upward performance demonstrated at the World Championships.
Now is the perfect time to get involved. If you’re interested in freestyle kayaking, there a Youth Freestyle Development Camp on the 23-25 August 2019 (please contact Tuomas Kaukola for details) and the Finnish Championships are on the 31 August 2019 – with both National Selections and fun opportunities to experience freestyle for the first time.
Alternatively if you would like to volunteer to assist and/or get involved in providing freestyle activities please contact the Finnish Freestyle Committee. FIN Freestyle Kayaking Team – Suomen FreestylemelontamaajoukkueSuomen Melonta- ja Soutuliitto ry