The Nantahala River Gorge in North Carolina was selected to host the 2013 World Freestyle Kayaking Championships. An 87-page bid was submitted by the Nantahala Outdoor Center on behalf of local outfitters and businesses. The bid received support from various government and business leaders. Hosting the event is expected to draw 500 paddlers from 40-50 countries and thousands of spectators, and will help promote the region as a paddling destination.

1. NANTAHALA GORGE NAMED EVENT HOME FOR 2013 WORLD FREESTYLE
KAYAKING CHAMPIONSHIPS
NANTAHALA RIVER, NC (April 15, 2010)—The International Canoe Federation—
the sanctioning body for all world championship and Olympic canoe and kayak
events—announced Saturday the selection of the Nantahala River Gorge as the site
of the 2013 Freestyle World Championships. The Nantahala Gorge was selected
alongside other international metropolitan centers like Moscow, Prague and Toronto
for events in eight other paddling disciplines. The World Championship is expected
to draw up to 500 paddlers from forty to fifty countries and spectators in the
thousands to western North Carolina, and is tentatively scheduled for mid-September
2013.
To participate in the bid process, NOC CEO Sutton Bacon submitted an 87-page
presentation on behalf of the Nantahala Gorge community of outfitters and local
businesses. The bid received public support from Duke Energy and government
representatives at the city, county and state level, including endorsements from the
Chief of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians Michell Hicks, US Congressman
Heath Shuler and North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue.
"The tremendous growth of the outdoor adventure community in western North
Carolina has created an ideal foundation to host high-profile events such as the
World Freestyle Championships. I have no doubt [the] event would be a perfect
match for our region," wrote Congressman Shuler.
The only time the World Freestyle Championships were held in the US was in 1993,
on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. The Nantahala will also host a World Cup
Freestyle event in 2012 as a test event for the World Championships in 2013. To
compliment the 2012 World Cup on the Nantahala, two other World Cup Freestyle
events will occur in the Southeastern United States during 2012.
"The Nantahala Gorge has been home to several national slalom championships
over the years, but this bid solidifies our area's status as a paddling destination,"
says Juliet Kastorff, owner of Endless River Adventures, a Nantahala-Gorge-based
outfitter and paddling school. "Bringing the spotlight back to a place where thousands
of paddlers learn will be critical to maintaining interest in the sport."
"Our vision for the World Championships is to raise the stature of freestyle kayaking
for inclusion in the Olympic program, to inspire a new generation of paddling
enthusiasts from all disciplines and to create a lasting event venue for paddlers to
enjoy for years to come," says NOC CEO Sutton Bacon. "The Nantahala community
eagerly welcomes the world