norse spectacle

Ahead of the start of The World Games today, it’s early this week radio1 heard reports about canoe polo. From the words of brothers Jochem and Stivo Högerle of Venlo: “Within seconds you have to go from attack to defense and again to attack, the dynamics in the game make canoe polo very physically tough, but very short and powerful. Their characterization of the sport immediately explains its rise among youth. It’s a successful combination: water, Norse spectacle and the ship you have to steer.

Scare safely from a distance

In the summer issue of the unrivaled Kanomagazine, appearing this week, I’m caught up in the story of the man who pedals alone in his canoe across the Suriname River through the Surinamese jungle. 480 kilometers. The descriptions of caimans lurking, snakes wriggling on the surface of the water and flocks of piranhas make this a great read for adventure and shudder.

Pull-your-supboard-out-the-wall machine

Beachclub MEER in Winterswijk has the first SUP rental box in the Netherlands. This one Soup Yourself, works a bit like a Febo take-out machine. You can remove the supboard at any time. Not by putting one euro into the slot, but by making an online reservation. You can do this quite easily: scan your code, choose your time, open your locker, grab your supboard and enjoy the water. This eliminates the two main drawbacks of water sports: the purchase of materials and transportation. Watersportverbond continues to monitor these developments. What do you think?

Knoeperds boat opportunities

Serge Kats, top-tier sports manager at Watersportverbond, is hosting so-called lifeboat birthdays this week (words say it all; birthdays celebrated on lifeboats on water). It becomes clear as they go that they are far from the only ones. It was full of canoes. “Two things,” Serge suggested in our meeting: “How are we going to manage this? What else can we do for the submarine?” The question that goes further than just a lifeboat, it gets busier on the water.

The world’s largest sports store chain loves water sports

In my digital mailbox I received this week’s French store brand brochure DecathlonEnthusiastic headline: ‘Find the water sport that’s right for you’. With a variety of water sports and products at attractive prices. The accessibility of water sports is thus gaining momentum.

Canoe night and night

Over a cup of coffee at the rowing association, we discussed the rapidly increasing demand for light and lighting in canoes and rowboats. You used to go in when it was dark, now you go outside.

Life is fun.

Reaction?

Arno van Gerven is director of the Royal Netherlands Water Sports Association. Every week he covers the latest topics in water sports. Would you like to respond? Do that at arno.van.gerven@watersportverbond.nl.