Sellar Descent: Julio Martinez versus Walter Bouzan, a historic battle for an empty throne in the party of the wooden boats
The 87th International Descent of the Sella, one of the most anticipated canoeing events in Europe, is set to take place this Saturday. The competition, traditionally celebrated in Ribadesella, the arrival city, will see over 1,300 kayakers from 902 boats, representing 25 countries, vying for the coveted trophy.
The event officially begins with the opening ceremony on Friday in Arriondas, where the bib numbers will be handed out. Notable participants this year include Julio Martínez, a Cantabrian kayaker, who will compete at 55 years old, and Walter Bouzán, an asturian kayaker, aiming to repeat the feat of keeping the trophy at home with Alberto Llera, who won in 2019.
Martínez will compete with Brais Sánchez (K2 senior) as his partner, with the goal of winning his twelfth trophy. The number of boats participating has increased from 891 to 902, and the number of kayakers has risen from 1,277 to 1,306.
The Fenn brothers from South Africa are also participating, suggesting they could be noteworthy athletes to watch this year. The search results do not provide direct information about the favored teams or key athletes, but the event usually attracts top competitors from countries with strong canoeing traditions, and popular teams often come from Spain and neighboring European countries.
The starting shot of Saturday will be given by the former Olympic sailing champion Theresa Zabell. The event will be broadcast live on Teledeporte and the website Play.
Throughout the week, various acts have been held, including the flag-raising on Wednesday, the time trial on Thursday, the drawing of the starting order at the Casa de Cultura, and the recording of names of last year's winners in the Paseo de los Vencedores del Sella. The Paseo de los Vencedores del Sella is a place where the names of the previous year's winners are recorded.
The 87th International Descent of the Sella is a spectacle that attracts a large number of enthusiasts and kayakers along the Asturian river between Arriondas and Ribadesella. The last Spanish victory in the event was achieved by José Julián Becerro and Miguel Fernández in 2019. This year, we eagerly await to see who will follow in their footsteps.
- After the excitement of the International Descent of the Sella, some sports fans might wish to switch their focus to football, as the local team in Ribadesella, the host city, is due to play an important match on Sunday.
- Meanwhile, Walter Bouzán, a contender in this year's International Descent of the Sella, has also shown his passion for sports by coaching a local football team in his free time.
