King of Asia@king of asia was so sick !!!! best race course ever, great people and a very fun party !! Gerd Serrasolses is a beast and unstopable this year. took both wins on boater X and super final time trial !! Thanks Vasili and everyone involved on making this event happen !!! we'll be back for sure !!!@red bull
Posted by Aniol Serrasolses on Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Published on August 22nd, 2015 | by Kayak Session
Video of King of Asia Extreme Kayak Race (Altay, Russia)
The sixth edition of the King of Asia Extreme Kayak Race took place last weekend on the banks of the Chuya river near Chibit in Altay, Russia.
For over four days paddlers from over 8 nations camped at the grassy fields right at the takeout of the Mazhoy section to participate on Russias biggest extreme race event. A lot of top paddlers attended the vent this year proving the quality of it and its growth internationally.
The event started of Thursday morning with the Mens qualifier down the lower Mazhoy Gorge, from the ‘Malish’ rapid all the way down to camp. Over 4 minutes of big water paddling through tight walls, big holes and lots of waves. Everyone did two runs, best counts. Gerd Serrasolses was the fastest followed by his brother Aniol Serrasolses and Fabian Dorfler on third place.
On Friday the event moved downstream on the lower Chuya as it was BoaterX day. The course was pushy and really fun and a couple touch and go dry bags made for some tricky lines and good ol’ boaterX fighting. The start was a seal launch from the wooden bridge and the boily aerated water upon landing provided some of the best carnage for the spectators. Heats of 4, best two advance to the next round. After lots of funny moments and fast paddling 4 paddlers were left for the final; Fabian, Gerd, Vladimir and Alexei.
This section was also the women qualifier which Alona Buslaeva won comfortably followed by the BoaterX finals that she also won after some good passing.
On the mens finals Gerd Serrasolses had a good start and kept his lead all the way to take first place followed by team mate Fabian Dorfler and two strong Russian paddlers Alexei Lukin and Vladimir Kazankiy.
After the BoaterX it was time for the Chinese race, a mass start running from shore all the way down the course that would be the last chance to qualify for the next day superfinal for those who didn’t go fast enough on Thursday. After a great start Konstantin Lubyagin took the win followed by another three lucky paddlers that also made it to the superfinal.
Saturday started early with a mandatory training run down the race course. A cold night and an early morning start made for some lower water levels than what we had been paddling but still plenty of water to make it a tough race. All paddlers raced their best putting together some fast lines and good times despite some mistakes on the last rapid, the ‘Russian rollercoaster’ that was one of the crux of the race.
After that it was time for the women to race down the lower section to camp and the men set safety.
Everyone had a great time and after a good lunch and some more paddling everyone was ready for the awards and the party.
In the end Alona Buslaeva took the win becoming the 2015 Queen of Asia followed by Svetlana Chernishova and Galina Derevyankina.
On the mens class Gerd Serrasolses managed to be the fastest becoming the 2015 King of Asia closely followed by Fabian Dorfler and Russian powerhouse Egor Voskoboynikov. Rounding off the top five were Alexey Lukin and Aniol Serrasolses. After many prizes and the traditional family photo the party started with open bar, music and awesome full moon to lighten everyone throughout the night.
The King of Asia 2015 was an absolute success with lots of participants, great organization and awesome times!
Everyone enjoyed the high water, the nice weather and the friendship between paddlers even if sometimes its hard to communicate. Thanks a lot to the organization for putting the event together, the safety crew, the timers, shuttle drivers, barmans and DJ’s, event sponsors for the prizes… SPASIVA!
WHITEWATER!
RESULTS
BoaterX (men):
1. Gerd Serasolses (Spain)
2. Dorfler Fabian (Germany)
3. Alexey Lukin (Russia)
4. Vladimir Kazankiy (Russia)
BoaterX (women):
1. Alona Buslaeva (Ukraine)
2. Svetlana Chernishova (Russia)
3. Galina Derevyankina (Russia)
4. Elena Bushmina (Russia)
Superfinal (men):
1. Gerd Serasolses (Spain) – King of Asia 2015
2. Dorfler Fabian (Germany)
3. Egor Voskoboynikov (Russia)
4. Alexey Lukin (Russia)
5. Aniol Serrasolses (Spain)
Superfinal (women):
1. Alona Buslaeva (Ukraine) – Queen of Asia 2015
2. Svetlana Chernishova (Russia)
3. Galina Derevyankina (Russia)
4. Elena Bushmina (Russia)
Related Posts
Altai Rivers (Entry #22 Short Film Awards 2023) →
Begemot Swim (Entry #24 Beaters For All 2021) →
Caucasus – (Entry #21 Short Film of the Year Awards 2021) →
