Naish on Top at the 9th Corinth Crossing

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By Ryan QuinnOct 4, 2019

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Category_Event Recap

September 22, 2019, Corinth, Greece – 2017 Champion Nikos Sygrios returned to the top step of the podium at the 9th annual Corinth Crossing on the 2020 Naish Javelin.

The 530 SUPers of the 9th Corinth Canal Crossing felt the awe of how small they are in front of the canal, when they stood between its 80 m massive walls. There, the memory of people digging by hand this extraordinary project linked the history with the present and everyone admired the view with a new perspective.

Who had thought that this event, when it started back in 2011 with only 22 participants, would have been one of the biggest international events in Greece and second biggest in Europe. Participants from all over Greece and also many countries like U.K., Austria, Germany, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Romania, Albania, Malta and Sweden came to paddle the Canal’s 6.3 km in a straight line. That is why this race is known as “The world’s straightest SUP race”.

Sunday morning the organizers were still discussing within the control tower about the flow of the current inside the canal. Everything is dependent by the current flow inside the canal but the three days prior to the race, it was flowing stable from Isthmia to Posidonia, something unusual for the time. That was the big mystery that organizers had to solve, as no one knew the time of the next change of current. The thought of change during the race was something that would create big problems to amateurs or younger paddlers. Despite the forecast from control tower, the final decision was taken and Isthmia was set as the starting point. After the decision was made, paddlers began to enter the water and get ready at the starting line.

“Everything seemed simple, until I saw the number of paddlers,” George Kontarinis said. “I was watching people entering the water from the beach nearby, but when I took my place in front for the start, I was scared by the number of 530 participants, wondering- oh my God how many?”

In the back most of them were sitting on their board chatting, taking pictures, laughing and waiting for the horn to blow. The front row, in contrast, was quiet, with faces and eyes focused in front and hands holding the paddles tight, vying for the podium in Greece’s biggest SUP race.

After the final adjustments in alignment, the President of Canal’s Administration, Mr Pantelides, blew the horn for the start.

There are no words that can describe the moment. The large number of paddlers seemed like a “blue tsunami” running towards the canal’s entrance. Only from a drone could anyone get the whole picture!

At the start, Naish’s Nikos Syrigos, winner of the race in 2017, with a powerful sprint on his Naish Javelin, managed to lead the race early, followed by Phaedon Doukas and Alexandro Prapa. Near the 1 km mark, Syrigos made a second push and left the field behind him all the way to the finish line.

For the Women, the winner of the last three consecutive races of Corinth Crossing, Naish’s Konstantina Kontarini, with a strategic move on Linda Schwaiger, managed to take the lead and claim her fourth event win. Naish’s Dori Bathori and Dimitra Tsoni were the next two finishers to round out the podium.

The most beautiful moments were the smiling faces of everyone finishing this unique race. The satisfaction for completing the 6.3 km was imprinted on them. Applauses from the crowd especially on kids finishing, gave the spirit and the attitude that this event is very different, embracing the values of sportsmanship, history, culture and joy.

While the paddlers began to enjoy the post-race party the organizing committee was working for the results of the 9th Corinth Canal Crossing. Trying to get them as soon as possible and having no mistakes was a hard task. However, Mr Nikolaides, head officer for the results, managed to have the results ready 30 minutes earlier than it was scheduled.

The top three finishers in each category as well as the youngest (7 y.o) and oldest (79 y.o) participants were awarded in front of the cheering crowd, by the official guests that honored the event. The Mayor of Corinth, Mr Gionis, Police Commissioner, Mr Bravos, Coast Guard Commissioner, Mr Polyzoides and ambassadors from the Corinth Canal Administration, Mr Pantelides and Mrs Sakisli, were some of them, showing that the authorities are supporting great events that promote the region of Corinth.

Organizers would like to thank everyone that participated for following the instructions given and cooperating perfectly with the committee. Having their best attitude made this event the most memorable one yet!

Winners of the 9th Corinth Canal SUP Crossing:

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