The morning’s event took place on the Guoguo Rapid section of the Nujiang River. According to competition rules, all participants had two attempts to navigate the rapid. Those who successfully made it through without capsizing became eligible candidates, after which judges, staff, and non-candidates voted based on the novelty, spectacle, and style of their maneuvers. The candidate with the most votes was crowned champion. In the afternoon’s preliminary round of the downstream speed race, four athletes—Wu Changlin, Li Jinsong, Liu Wenfeng, and Yang Fan—advanced to the finals on February 10. Later, Yang Fan, Li Jinsong, and Zhang Bing performed a preview of the freestyle cave race.
Red Bull Whitewater Freestyle Kayaking Competition athletes, including Li Xiaoqing, with four foreign competitors at the award ceremony
That morning’s race was held at the Guoguo Rapid section of the Nujiang River. As per the rules, each competitor had two chances to run the rapid. Those who completed it without flipping were eligible, and then judges, staff, and non-eligible contestants voted based on the originality, entertainment value, and flair of the moves. The one with the most votes won the championship.
World champion Dane completes a stunning flip in the Eight Flip Cave
Before the competition began, four top American whitewater kayaking athletes took to the water first to serve as safety support. They included the legendary Jackson family of freestyle kayaking, as well as Colin Kemp, Secretary-General of the International Canoe Federation.
Red Bull Whitewater Freestyle Kayaking Competition athletes pass the finish line of the downstream speed race
The Jackson family is legendary in the world of freestyle kayaking. Father Eric Jackson, daughter Emily Jackson, and son Dane Jackson have all won world championships. Eric is a four-time Freestyle Canoeing World Champion (1993, 2001, 2005, 2007), participated in the 1994 Barcelona Olympics, is the founder of the International Canoe Federation, and has been a member of the U.S. Freestyle Canoe Team since 1989. Most freestyle kayaking tutorial videos circulating online were filmed and produced by Eric. His son Dane Jackson defeated his father to win the 2013 Freestyle Kayaking World Championship and currently ranks No. 1 in the world. Also joining them in the Nujiang was Eric’s son-in-law, world champion Nicolas Trotman.
Li Xiaoqing wins the Red Bull Whitewater Freestyle Kayaking Competition waterfall descent race championship and excitedly stands at the Guoguo Rapid to show off his gold medal after the race
The competition site, Guoguo Rapid, is a Class IV rapid. Contestants had practiced here on February 7, so there wasn’t much time spent reading the water before the race that day. However, due to nerves or the pursuit of perfection, many chose more challenging routes, leading to a less-than-ideal first round—only 5 out of 19 racers successfully navigated the rapid.
Wu Changlin, the only female contestant in this competition, was the third to run the rapid. The two skilled athletes before her both capsized. Calm and composed, she accurately entered the main current after entering the water and smoothly passed the rapid, becoming the first athlete to succeed. It was also her first successful attempt at a Class IV rapid. After the race, Wu Changlin could hardly contain her excitement: “I’m really happy. This rapid actually exceeded my ability, but today I managed to challenge myself and succeed. I’m thrilled. Thanks to my teammates for constantly encouraging me, and to the top-notch rescue team for giving me confidence.”
Wu Xiaoyun, 59, was the sixth to run the rapid that day. But before he could adjust his kayak, a hidden current suddenly capsized his boat. To avoid greater danger, Wu Xiaoyun decisively exited the kayak, but the fast-moving water still swept him into a downstream cave. Colin quickly paddled over and brought him to safety.
An even more dramatic moment occurred with contestant No. 22, He Xiaojun. During the rapid run, the current knocked off his helmet. He intended to drift with the kayak and wait for an opportunity to flip it, but unexpectedly, the current pushed his kayak into a crevice between two rocks. Nicolas, who was providing safety support nearby, immediately came over and pulled the kayak out, averting disaster. After the race, He Xiaojun said it was a misjudgment in his entry line: “Their (the four Americans’) rescue was extremely prompt and effective. Thank you so much!”
After successfully running the rapid on the first attempt, contestant No. 11, Li Xiaoqing, went for a second try. With the confidence from the first run, he opted for a more difficult route on the second attempt. He entered the main current, avoided the cave, brushed against a rock, and then landed stably at the end of the rapid. This impressive descent earned applause from all the contestants.
Li Xiaoqing bravely tackles Guoguo Rapid and wins the Red Bull Whitewater Freestyle Kayaking Competition waterfall descent championship
After the two rounds of rapid runs, seven contestants—Wu Changlin, Lai Zhiwu, Bi Feng, Yang Zhibin, Li Xiaoqing, Liu Tuansi, and Wu Lin—earned candidate status. They stood in a row on a large rock by the river, holding their helmets. The other athletes and staff threw pebbles into the helmets of those they believed performed best. The candidate with the most pebbles was declared the winner.
Eric led the four world-class athletes in casting the first votes. They high-fived all the candidates, and afterward, all four placed their pebbles into the helmet of contestant No. 11, Li Xiaoqing. “In the first round, contestant No. 5, Wu Changlin, performed steadily and well,” Eric said after the race. “But Li Xiaoqing’s second run was absolutely perfect—swooshing over the rock with style and precision. So we voted for him. Absolutely brilliant.”
Before entering the water, Eric Jackson explains precautions to all contestants
The other contestants then cast their votes one by one. Among these familiar “teammates,” everyone joked around, creating a very relaxed atmosphere. Suddenly, an unexpected moment occurred—the cameraman filming nearby, perhaps caught up in the lively atmosphere, forgot he was standing on a rock, slipped, and fell into the water. Quick as lightning, the athletes jumped in to rescue him. Fortunately, he only got wet and was unharmed.
Wu Changlin, contestant No. 5 from Chongqing, successfully navigates the rapid in the first round of the Red Bull Whitewater Freestyle Kayaking Competition
In the end, Li Xiaoqing from Guangdong won the championship with 7 votes and received a specially made champion medal. “I never expected to win the championship today. I was actually worried about capsizing,” Li Xiaoqing admitted after the race. “Before getting in the water, I was a bit nervous—I was afraid of choosing the wrong line. A slight deviation could easily lead to a capsize.” Li Xiaoqing said he works in advertising design, and kayaking is just his hobby. “I’ve been playing with inflatable kayaks since 2000, but I only got into hardshell kayaking and freestyle in recent years. Although our overall level still lags far behind international top-tier standards, domestic development is progressing rapidly, and more and more friends around me are getting into the sport. If I get the chance, I’d love to go to Canada for more systematic training.”
At the award ceremony, two girls in traditional Lisu ethnic costumes caught the eye of world champion Dane Jackson (right)
After the waterfall descent race, the athletes headed to the Eight Flip Cave for freestyle performance previews and the preliminary round of the downstream speed race. On February 10, they will compete in the most important events of the competition here: the cave freestyle race and the downstream speed race.