George Snook claims extreme kayak world championship in Czech Republic

Rotorua champion kayaker George Snook. Photo / Rod Hill

Rotorua’s George Snook has won the Extreme Kayak World Championships.

The 2025 Hiko Devils Race in Lipno, Czech Republic, doubled as the AWP Extreme World Championships finals.

The best white-water kayakers on the planet raced through one of the most challenging white-water stretches of the Vltava River, battling for the world champion crowns, a press statement said today.

George Snook. Photo / Rod Hill

The 22-year-old from Okere Falls took first place in the open men’s category with a time of 1m.33.27 in the final.

Second place was defending world champion Eric Deguil from France, with countryman Paul Abuertin in third.

Rotorua’s Zack Mutton finished sixth, and recently crowned U23 slalom cross world champion Nick Collier was 10th.

River Mutton from Rotorua was third in the open women’s race, won by Coline Charel from France.

Snook is a member of the New Zealand Canoe Slalom U23 team and the Open Men’s Canoe Slalom and Slalom X team.

He will compete at the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium in Australia from September 29 to October 4.

The event will be presented by Paddle Australia and is expected to attract over 300 competitors from 50 nations.

Others in the team are Olympic gold medallist Finn Butcher and Olympic representative Callum Gilbert.