Background and Relevance
Urandén, a small town in Michoacán, Mexico, recently hosted a successful National Canoeing Regatta, attracting 400 competitors from across the country. This event marked a significant milestone, as it was postponed in 2024 due to severe drought and low water levels in the canals of the island. With the recent recovery of Lake Pátzcuaro, the regatta finally took place, symbolizing resilience and community effort.
Government and Community Involvement
The regatta’s success can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of the Michoacán state government and local communities. After three years of drought affecting the entire country, these stakeholders worked together to restore the canals and springs of Lake Pátzcuaro. Their combined efforts resulted in a canal with a current depth of two meters, now recognized as an exemplary community tourism project.
Commitment to the Sport and Future Generations
Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, the governor of Michoacán, emphasized his commitment to supporting this community, which has produced world champions in canoeing such as Everardo Cristóbal Quirino and Dimas Camilo Cortés. The governor pledged to ensure that local children, youth, and aspiring athletes continue training with top-level professionals.
Participants and Winners
The first National Canoeing Regatta brought together representatives from Jalisco, the UNAM, the Purépecha Association of Sport Fishing, and the municipality of Erongarícuaro, as well as athletes from Janitzio, Tecuén, Yunuén, La Pacanda, and Urandén islands.
- Guillermo Quirino Medrano: Won first place in the sub-23 category.
- Belén Cortés and Magali Cortés: Claimed victory in the women’s double tarasca category.
- Gael Verduzco: Secured the top spot in the pre-infantile boys’ category.
- Luisa Gabriel: Achieved first place in the pre-infantile girls’ category.
- Kevin Fonseca: Won the infantile major boys’ category, representing Jalisco.
- Víctor Camilo Cortés: Triumphed in the +48 years category.
- José Camilo and María Helena Camilo: Secured first place in the mixed doubles category.
- Bernardo Quirino: Won the tarasca single canoe category.
- Sergio Camilo and Mauricio Castillo: Achieved victory in various tarasca single canoe categories.
- Siete Remeros de Roque de Urandén: Claimed first place in the men’s category.
- Siete Remeras de Urandén: Won the women’s category.
- Diego Emanuel: Secured first place in the infantile boys’ category, representing Jalisco.
Attendees and Support
The event was attended by several key figures, including the Secretary of Tourism, Roberto Monroy García; the Secretary of the Environment, Alejandro Méndez López; the Director of the State Commission for Physical Culture and Sport, Raúl Morón Vidal; Pátzcuaro’s Mayor, Julio Arreola; the President of the Mexican Canoeing Federation, Juan Carlos Rovalo Sandoval; Urandén’s canoeing technical director, Juan Carlos Quirino León; local representative Antonio Mendoza Torres; and various community members.
