The Whitewater Grand Prix was far and away one of the most impressive whitewater competitions ever to happen. It has raised the bar for whitewater competitions and is a true testament to Whitewater Kayaking's continued progression. With the six stages of the event being of varied disciplines and held on some of the burliest and biggest water of Ontario and Quebec, this competition would decide undoubtedly the top paddlers of the world. Freestyle Showdown, Head to Head, Best Trick Contest, Big Wave Challenge, Time Trials, and Giant Slalom would be the proving grounds for 25 of the worlds top paddlers. 

Stage One: Best Trick Contest, Gladiator. 

Gladiator came in just in time for the Best Trick Contest. Here is a picture of Dagger paddler Rush Sturges going absolutely massive on one of the biggest waves of the Ottawa River. Benny Marr ended up winning this competition giving him an early lead in event. 

Stage Two: Head to Head

The Rouge River was raging the day we arrived for the head to head competition. In true Grand Prix style a long burly big water rapid was chosen as the race course. I looked at it for a while trying to imagine what it would look like choked with 25 paddlers battling it out to the finish line and there was only one thing I could decipher with certainty, it would be highly entertaining!

Once again team paddler Rush Sturges makes a strong showing grinding across Aniol to put him high in the standings. Nick Troutman closely followed by Brian Kirk came in One and Two at the end of the day. f

Stage Three: Time Trials

Fear was in the competitors eyes this day. A steep continuous creek was chosen for the time trials event where paddlers one after the other sprinted for the best time down the course. A stout double drop followed by a faced 300 yard long slide laced with kickers and hard moves which ended in a ledge hole. Over eight competitors swam out of the bottom hole and carnage was as common as clean lines on the slide. 

Evan Garcia cleaned his lines all the way to the bottom for the win this day!

Stage Four - Down River Freestyle

Held on the infamous Hawaii Five-O on the Missasibi River Ben Marr traded his play boat for his creek boat for this massive air which one the competition!

Stage 5: Big Wave Showdown

Technically dialed Dane Jackson, with consistent massive trick gave big wave legend Benny Marr a run for his money this day. The two ended in a dead tie for first place. Showing the potential of the Quebec region this wave was a new discovery and sent the WWGP riders bigger than ever for a spectacular showing. 

Stage Six: Giant Slalom

The last stage of the Whitewater Grand Prix couldn't have been more fitting. The race course with out the 14 gates would have been a test of any of the paddlers abilities, but with stout moves thrown in forced by the gates it had even the top paddlers of the Grand Prix, namely Evan Garcia, ready to not even put on the water that morning. The river had risen 8 inches over night adding to the difficulty of the Slalom course. Evan Garcia won this event nailing the move at every gate without even touching a single one. He came in 300ths of second in front of Gerd Serrasolses (pictured). 

With the last stage of the Whitewater Grand Prix over the results had been decided. Dane Jackson edged out Benny Marr for the to become the Grand Prix World Champion with Dagger team paddler Rush Sturges coming in third. The Whitewater Grand Prix proved to be the most testing, spectacular and progressive event whitewater kayaking has ever seen. Congratulations to Patrick Camblin and Julie Crépeau-Boisvert for putting in amazing efforts to make this competition a reality!! We greatly look forward to the future of the Whitewater Grand Prix!