The new Ciutat de Palma Trophy, which will be held in the Parc de la Mar, will bring together the world elite of this sporting discipline in the Majorcan capital

“The Ciutat de Palma Trophy will mark a turning point in our sport. It was about time that somebody decided to organize an event like this at Parc de la Mar, a venue that seems purpose-built to host a major canoeing competition.” Three-time Olympic medalist and flag bearer for the Spanish team at Paris 2024, Marcus Cooper, is eager to paddle in his homeland on October 12th, the date set for the first Ciutat de Palma Canoeing Championship, organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma alongside Paddle Games and Nelo.

The competition, in which some of the best flatwater paddlers in the world (16 men and 16 women) have already confirmed their participation, was created with a dual objective: to establish a major annual international canoeing event in Mallorca and to bring the spectacular nature of this sport to the public in an urban setting.

A Test for ‘Gladiators’

Cooper, who won bronze in K4 and placed fourth in K2 at the last Olympic Games, will be one of the stars of this new competition, which will debut a never-before-seen regatta format designed by Paddle Games, adapted to the characteristics of the artificial saltwater lake located at the foot of Mallorca’s cathedral, in the historic center of the Balearic capital.

“Parc de la Mar´s waters will be a test for true gladiators, with more splashing than usual, and people will have the opportunity to see the athletes’ faces of effort up close,” explains Marcus Cooper, convinced that the lake’s limited distance, far from being a handicap, will make the competition “more spectacular” and offer spectators “the chance to enjoy both the beginning and the end of the race,” something that doesn’t happen in official competitions.

Carlos Borrás, a canoeist from the Real Club Náutico de Palma and director of the event, assures that participants will not be informed of the exact distance and route until the day before the competition, although Marcus Cooper assumes it will be an “explosive” race with a turning maneuver around a mark. This circumstance, says Borrás, minimizes the difference between long-distance paddlers and sprinters, allowing both profiles “a chance to win in the same event.”

The Appeal of Palma

The Real Club Náutico de Palma admits that, at first, they weren’t sure if athletes would accept the invitation to participate in such a novel event. “We had serious doubts, as our aspiration was to organize a world-class trophy, and we didn’t know what the response would be. We quickly realized that Mallorca, and Palma in particular, has a great appeal for athletes, and now we’re very confident with the starting list we have,” confesses Borrás, who highlights the long history of the Real Club Náutico de Palma’s canoeing section and its significant international record, which includes world and European medalists.

Manu Fraga, director of the club and organizer of the Copa del Rey de Vela, assures that the Ciutat de Palma Canoeing Trophy is destined from its first edition to become a benchmark. “We’ve been thinking about creating an event like this for some time. While it’s true that our organization enjoys significant prestige as a host of sailing competitions, we needed to stage a major spectacle centered on canoeing. Our goal has been to bring the world’s best to Palma for everyone to enjoy.”

Sponsors

Nelo Kayaks, as the main sponsor, and Palma City Council, through its institutional sponsorship, support this initiative that seeks to establish itself in the local calendar of major international sporting events. The competition also has the collaboration of Paddle Games, the Royal Spanish Canoeing Federation, and the Balearic Canoeing Federation.

The first Ciutat de Palma Canoeing Trophy will be officially presented to the media next Monday, September 30th, at the Real Club Náutico de Palma, with the presence of Carlos Borrás, Marcus Cooper, and others. The complete list of participants, as well as the regatta programme, will be announced then.