46th Descent of the Sella
The big novelty of the 1982 International Descent of the Sella was the introduction of advertising sponsorship: Fundador Domecq became an official sponsor, contributing half a million pesetas that helped improve organization, number bib printing, and other logistical aspects.
That year, 883 canoes participated, confirming the Sella as one of the world’s most popular and crowded river descents.
However, the start was controversial. Several boats jumped ahead before the official signal, leading to disputes at the finish line. The organizers disqualified multiple canoes, including the one that had crossed the line first (Misioné and McDonald).
After these eliminations, Pedro Alegre and Enrique López were declared winners with a time of 1 h 11 min 30 sec, securing their place in Sella history.
In the K1 category, Ricardo Soto Zaragoza took victory, showcasing the strong level of Asturian paddlers.
tag: international descent of the river sella 1982
