36th Descent of the Sella
An unprecedented event marked the 1972 edition of the International Descent of the Sella. In an effort to ensure maximum fairness at the start line, the head referee, Ramón Cuétara, organized a special system: he gathered the three judges from the Spanish Canoe Federation along with fifteen experienced assistants to help enforce the assigned positions.
The outcome was as drastic as it was controversial: 79 boats were disqualified for not respecting the positions assigned by the draw. This sweeping decision ignited a strong dispute between the Descenso Organizing Committee and the Federation.
On one side, the Spanish Canoe Federation refused to officially recognize the race results due to the many irregularities and formal protests lodged by competitors. On the other, the Sella Organizing Committee defended its judges’ actions, insisting the decision was necessary to uphold the race’s integrity and the long-standing traditions of the event.
The conflict severely strained relations between the two organizations and led to an unprecedented scenario the following year, in 1973, when the Sella Descent took place without official status or Federation recognition—marking one of the most controversial chapters in the history of this international sporting festival.
tag: international descent of the river sella 1972
