68th Descent of the Sella
It is remembered as “the year of The Maneuver” in the International Descent of the Sella. Near Isla de la Boticaria, just 500 m from the finish line, the pairs Julio Martínez–Emilio Merchán and Manuel Busto–Iker Aizpurua were battling for first place.
Julio and Emilio executed a surprising—and controversial—move: they jumped out of the kayak and ran over the rocky shore to the nearest bank, while their rivals kept paddling. This strategic “portage” gave them enough of an edge to secure the win.
Although the rules allow portaging to bypass obstacles, it was unusual to do so so close to the finish. The controversy centered on whether the move was fair, since any slip at that decisive moment could have cost them everything.
In K1, the winner was South African Anthony Stott, representing the South African National Team.
Unfortunately, the event was marred by two unrelated incidents:
• At 1:00 p.m., a low-power explosive device planted by ETA detonated in the exterior garden of Hotel Ribadesella Playa.
• Later that night, about thirty people were injured—none seriously—when an intoxicated driver plowed into a crowd celebrating the Sella festivities in Ribadesella.
tag: international descent of the river sella 2004
