The Club Nàutic Portitxol and its firm bet for the canoeing

One of the most firm commitments of the Club Nàutic Portitxol (CNP) is with the sport. Other than the Escuela de Vela; the fishing is another of the big bets of the club; Portitxol counts on with a powerful Canoeing Department coordinated by Omar Calzón, prestigious paddler who has been nationally selected in this discipline, president of the Alberche Kayak Club (Madrid) and currently holds the title of sub champion of Spain of surf sky.

Of Asturian origin and a native of the Sella area, place with a great canoeing tradition and well known for the International Descent of the Sella, Calzón combines his activity in the CNP with his work as a swimmer for the Air Rescue Air Service (SAR) of the Spanish Air Force.

The Department of Canoeing of the CNP currently counts with about twenty paddlers of different ages, from a 10 year old being the youngest boy, who has barely been some weeks, until the 37 year old Calzón, who has been rowing since he was a kid. His right-hand man at the head of the department is 24-year-old Vittorio Mataloni, who, together with Calzon, coaches the team's paddlers. To this end, the club has around twenty competition canoes and a fully equipped gymnasium.

"The canoeists are divided into three groups: beginners, intermediate and advanced. There is training from Monday to Friday from 17 to 20 hours, and on Saturdays we go to Lake Victoria to train on the track, which is the modality we mainly work on", explains Calzón, who also competes in sea kayaking. Among the champions of the CNP canoeing team, in addition to Calzón, Toni Mikailenko, who came third in the Spanish championship, stands out.

"Here there is no distinction between classes and competition teams. All canoeists compete from the moment they are able to paddle, participating in regional and national competitions approximately twice a month," he says. Anyone of any age can join the team.

In addition, the CNP organizes the annual San Silvestre Tournament, which this year will be held on the 16th of December. This is a regional competition that is part of the School Games League, and in which half a thousand paddlers of all categories, from children to veterans, are expected to take part.

In addition to the regular training of the competition team, the Canoeing Department welcomes hundreds of children every year in the Summer Camp, as well as regular outings for schools and other groups. 

In his view, "canoeing brings a lot of discipline and organization to young people. By competing from minute one, you have to make an effort and organize your schedule very well, in order to combine it with the other aspects of your life. Moreover, it is a very complete sport that uses a large part of the body's musculature, contrary to what many people think. It is also very beneficial from a postural point of view," he says.

Regular course, it is competition equipment, there is no such thing as a casual runner, from children who have just started this year to medallists in national championships. 3 groups, 10-12 years old, beginners, intermediate and advanced. Anyone of any age.