Sam Sutton, extreme kayaking world champion from New Zealand, emerged the all-round winner and the ‘Rapid Raja,’ of the International Kayaking Championship organised as part of the Malabar River Festival, which concluded at Kodencheri near Thusharagiri in the district on Sunday.
Mr. Sutton secured the first prize in the Freestyle and Down River Kayaking events besides winning a second spot in the Boater Cross group kayaking event held as part of the three-day championship, which concluded on Sunday at Chalippuzha near Pulikkayam.
The Kiwi champion, who was one of the key attractions of the second edition of the international kayaking championship, was taken for an honorary elephant ride around the festival venue after winning the crown of the Rapid Raja.
Known kayakers from over 10 foreign countries including the U.S., U.K., Korea, China and Scotland participated in the championship, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Other kayaking competition events of the championship included Beginners Race (individual), Kayak Sprint (individual), and mass boater cross (marathon event with 60 participants).
Over 100 people from different parts of the country and abroad participated in the white-water rafting rifts. The festival was, organised under the aegis of the Tourism Department in association with the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS), Madras Fun Tools and the Kerala Kayaking Academy.
C. Moyinkutty, MLA, inaugurated the concluding ceremony of the festival.
District panchayat member and one of the key organisers V.D. Joseph, KATPS chief executive officer Asha Jose and Jacopo Nordera of Madras Fun Tools among others spoke.