Canoe Mattoni 2006 – White-Water Racing World Championship

For the organizers, partners and all the engaged parties, the tenth year of Canoe Mattoni (held on June 12th – 18th 2006) represented a token of appreciation of their efforts in the last eight years - they had earned the honor to organize the World Championship, the most important contest of the sport. The event, originally the Czech Republic Junior Championship, was supplemented by holding several successful World Cups and European Championships. Twenty five national teams and 202 racers took part in this year’s World Championship. The Czech team was the most successful: they won five gold, three silver and two bronze medals. "It was a championship, in which I can see only positives,” said Robert Knebel, the coach of the Czech National Team.
However, the World Championship was only one (though, admittedly very essential) part of Canoe Mattoni program this year. Prominent Czech and Slovak music bands as Clou, Anna K, Peha, No Name, TataBojs or Monkey Business were performing in front of the Thermal Hotel from Monday to Sunday under the banner of the Canoe Mattoni Fest. The visitors could admire competitors on high-speed training machines, visit a motorcycle show a dance performance or marvel at football–equilibristic athletes. They also had a chance to support their favorite at the Eskimo-Roll Competition, watch the In-line Skating Race or the Football Mini-tournament. On Saturday there was a Strong Man Day and it featured an arm-wrestling competition for the strongest Karlovy Vary resident, alternating with concerts of bands such as the Living Room, East Park, Roe Deer, Southpaw and the above-mentioned TataBojs. 

The results of the Saturday races of the World Championship and Canoe Mattoni Open were declared at the festive ending of the championship that was held at the Bečov nad Teplou Castle. Meky Žbirka managed to entice all the Czech and international participants to sing along with him. Also the atmosphere of night finals of the Eskimo-Roll Contest was enchanting.
Sunday was designated as a day of records and curiosities, and mainly, the Mattoni Water Carnival - a contest of vessels with an original design. The main prize of 200,000 CZK was really attractive and thus the contestants were very particular not only about their vessels and but put their hearts into the “entertainment program” they presented at the start and on the route. The winner, the Pininfarina Party Cake crew even engaged balloons, confetti and pyrotechnical effects. Thousands of by-standers along the route could, among other things, admire such attractions as, for example, a floating football mini-field, especially the goalman´s saves. The basketball cheerleaders found their fans too. The Monkey Business concert was a pleasant ending of the weeklong marathon of sports and entertainment.