OUR STORY

The ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships are coming to Bryson City, North Carolina in September 2013. This premier international athletic event will be hosted in the Nantahala Gorge, and has been brought to Swain County through the efforts of the Nantahala Gorge Organizing Committee (NGOC), a community organization comprised of the Swain County Chamber of Commerce, the Golden Leaf Foundation, VisitNC, and a number of local businesses. NGOC's objective for the event is to deliver a superior quality freestyle kayaking event and establish a legacy for the region as the premier, world-class outdoor recreation destination in the southeastern United States.

The event is slated to attract up to 300 of the world’s top freestyle athletes to compete on the new 2013 Wave, which has been modified to create an optimal freestyle feature. A revolutionary digital scoring system, unveiled for the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Series by Nantahala Outdoor Center, will allow for real-time results, athlete info, and play-back potential, resulting in unprecedented spectator engagement in the competition.

Spectators can also expect an Appalachian Heritage Festival, both at the event venue in the Nantahala Gorge, as well as in nearby Bryson City, highlighting traditional Cherokee and Appalachian folk arts, crafts, dances and music. The festival will also feature an assortment of family activities, including rafting and float trips, bicycle contests, rock climbing, storytelling and hands-on crafts.

PHOTOS
The photos on this page are available for use by media outlets covering the upcoming 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships. All are from the September World Cup competition. To download high resolution images now, please tell us who you are.

2013Wave.jpg
Construction of the 2013 Wave was completed in January of 2012 in preparation for the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships. The project enjoyed the support of the Golden Leaf Foundation. Photo by NOC.

AbelThevenet.McB.jpg

Abel Thevenet of France competes in the semifinal in the K1 Men’s class at the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup. Photo by Steven McBride.

BackLoop.McB.jpg
Athlete performing a “back loop” in the 2013 Wave. As per ICF rules, all moves must land within 45 degrees of perpendicular to the feature in order to count for points. Photo by Steven McBride.

BradMcMillan.McB.jpg
Local paddler Brad McMillan waits in the staging eddy to take his run in the C1 class at the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final. Photo by Steven McBride.

BrendonOrton.jpg

Great Britain’s Brendon Orton, competes in the K1 Mens Junior class in the World Cup finals, finishing second overall. Photo by Charles Snodgrass.

Claire.McB.jpg
Claire O’Hara, of Great Britain, sets up for a loop on the 2013 Wave. Her performance in the K1 Women’s final round earned her the gold medal at the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final. Photo by Steven McBride.

DaneInvert.McB.jpg
Dane Jackson, USA, performs a loop at the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final on the Nantahala River. Photo by Steven McBride.

DaneJackson.jpg
Dane Jackson of Rock Island, TN, celebrates a great run during the K1 Men’s Final on at the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final. Dane finished second to Slovakia’s Peter Csonka. Photo by Fred Alexander.

DirtyBourbonRiver Show.McB.jpg
The Dirty Bourbon River Show perform live at NOC’s Pourover Pub during the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final in the Nantahala Gorge, near Bryson City, NC. Photo by Steven McBride.

EmilyJackson.McB.jpg
Emily Jackson of Rock Island, TN, sets up for a move in the 2013 Wave during the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final. Photo by Steven McBride.

EricJackson.McB.jpg
Eric Jackson of Rock Island, TN, and owner of Jackson Kayaks, performs an “entry move” during a run at the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final on the Nantahala River. Photo by Steven McBride.

EricJackson2.McB.jpg
Eric Jackson going for a “helix” in the 2013 Wave during the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final. Photo by Steven McBride.

NickTroutman.McB.jpg
Canadian Nick Troutman prepares to drop into the feature at the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final in the Nantahala Gorge. Photo by Steven McBride.

NOCOutfitter’sStore.jpg
The 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships will be held at the scenic Nantahala Outdoor Center Campus, offering a full array of amenities for spectators and athletes, including multiple dining options, NOC Outfitter’s Store, and 360-degree views of the competitive venue. Photo by NOC.

TomasAndrassy.McB.jpg
Slovakia’s Tomas Andrassy takes his final ride in the 2013 Wave during the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup. Photo by Steven McBride.

Queue.jpg

Three contestants await their turn at the 2013 Wave during the Nantahala finals of the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup in September. Photo by Charles Snodgrass.

Red-white-kayak.jpg
A contestant executes his moves in the 2013 Wave feature during the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final in September. The engineered feature was funded by a $195,000 grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation. Photo by Charles Snodgrass.

Venue-tall.jpg
Construction of the 2013 Wave was completed in November of 2011 in preparation for the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships. The project enjoyed the support of the Golden Leaf Foundation. Photo by Charles Snodgrass.

Venue-wide.jpg
Judges have a good vantage point right over the feature. Athletes are queued up on the island and in the water waiting to compete on the 2013 Wave at the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup final in the Nantahala Gorge. Photo by Charles Snodgrass.

Wall-of-flags.jpg
The 2012 Freestyle Kayaking World Cup Champion was decided on September 9 on the Nantahala River near Bryson City NC. Athletes from more than 17 countries and 5 continents participated. Photo by Charles Snodgrass

WCFinal.jpg

An athlete is almost entirely submerged, building up pressure on the stern of his boat that will release as he executes a move during the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final on the Nantahala River. Photo by Fred Alexander.

WCSpectators.jpg Spectators enjoy the show along the shaded riverbank at Nantahala Outdoor Center’s campus near Bryson City, North Carolina. Freestyle’s new digital scoring system (pictured here) which débuted at the 2012 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup Final, makes the sport more accessible for fans and casual spectators. Photo by NOC.