Uttara Kannada to host first Kayaking Fest June 2 and 3

Mangalore Today News Network

June 02, 2017: Reports say the very first two-day kayaking festival of the state will kickstart at Kali river at Aveda village in Uttara Kannada district from June 2, Friday - today.

The Kali Kayak Festival (KKF), the state’s first whiter warer festival, is an initiative of the departmemnt of youth empowerment & sports in association with the state tourism department, Uttara Kannada district administration and General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure (GTNAA), is aimed at attracting youths towards adventure sports, sports and youth services minister Pramod Madhwaraj told media.

The event will be inaugurated today by industries minister R V Deshpand in the presence of chief guest tourism minister Priyank Kharge, Pramod said.

The festival will see events like Kayaka slalom, race with obstacles placed in different locations in the river, boater cross, down river sprint, team relay athletes and 10km team marathon.

Keerthi Pais, advisor to GTNAA, said that already 47 sportsmen of national and international repute have registered their names to participate in the event.

The events will be conducted according to the international standards and a team of technical specialists from Malabar and Megalaya will assist the organizers.


The organizers have collaborated with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation and International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation of France, both specialists in adventure sports.

"After Kerala and Meghalaya, Karnataka is the only state which is organizing this sport and all of us should feel proud about it," Minister Pramod added.  He said the department will soon organize a workshop on safety procedures in aqua sports and a seminar on adventure sports. While Malpe beach will be reserved for commercial activities, Padukere beach will be used for training, camps and adventure sports.