Mistři divoké vody - Rozhovory s legendami 50.-70. let – Červinka Jiří (2022)

The book of ten commented interviews and short kayaking stories titled Masters of White Water recalls the successes of our paddlers at the World Championships in white water during the 1950s to 1970s. It also brings unique photographs from the era of black-and-white rapids and rollers. The interviews and stories not only map the medal wins from the World Championships but also reveal the life stories of kayaking legends such as Vladimír Jirásek, Ludmila Polesná, Miloslav Duffek, the Novák couple, Zdeněk Valenta, Renáta Knýová, Jaroslav Pollert Sr., Petr Sodomka, Vladimír Vaňha, and Stanislav Chládek. Did you know that among them is the discoverer of the kayaking stroke that changed paddling in white water, a world-renowned builder of artificial slalom courses, or a respected figure in the sea kayaking community? The interviews, which were created over more than twenty years, are supplemented with current commentary, and each chapter is often introduced with a dramatic story from the kayaking world of that time. Unfortunately, some of the protagonists are no longer with us, and the book serves as both a thank you and a tribute to the great generation of Czech paddlers from the early days of the World Championships in slalom and white water rafting.