Descent of the Xúquer
The Xúquer Descent celebrates its 60th edition on June 4 and 5.
The sporting event expects to bring together more than 300 paddlers from all over Spain, tripling last year’s participation.
The organizers are planning two popular descents open to the public, exploring the Xúquer River by canoe or SUP.
The legendary Júcar Descent, which revives the historic Júcar River Descent, will celebrate its 60th edition on June 4 and 5, 2022. After the Consorci de la Ribera (Ribera River Consortium) revived this iconic event in September 2021, the event has moved to spring to take advantage of the river’s flow and return to its original date. It also includes an additional day for its popular event.
Three stages, a total distance of 35.5 kilometers for the competitive event, and two popular descents of 5 and 6 kilometers, divided into two days, will be the main features of this river crossing, which this year hopes to double the number of participants.
The event was presented this morning at the headquarters of the Ribera Alta Association (Mancomunidad de la Ribera Alta), with the presence of the president of the Ribera Alta Association, Txema Peláez; The Mayor of Alzira, Diego Gómez i Garcia; the Mayor of Sumacàrcer, David Pons; the Mayor of Antella, Eugenia García; and the Sports Councilor of Algemesí, Rafa Lluch, as well as representatives of the town councils and canoeing clubs participating in the event.
Two-stage popular descent
One of the main new features this year is the expansion of the popular descent to two stages, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, June 4, participants will travel between Sumacàrcer and Antella, and on Sunday, the popular descent will be held between the territories of Alzira and Algemesí.
Those interested in participating in the popular Júcar River Descent can do so using their own means—kayak and SUP in the Sumacàrcer stage and only a kayak at the Alzira exit—for a fee of 5 euros, or using the means provided by the organizers. The fee is 10 euros for non-members, 8.50 euros for members, and 5 euros for children between 12 and 15 years old accompanied by an adult. Registration can be made until May 30 through the Mychip platform.
The municipalities of Sumacàrcer and Antella are joining the event this year, hosting the popular route on Saturday, which can be done by kayak or paddleboard. “At Sumacàrcer and Antella, we want to make a commitment to attract tourists, and we want people to value and care for the river,” stated Sumacàrcer Mayor David Pons. On Sunday, Alzira and Algemesí will repeat the route on the second day of the popular descent.
Last year, the popular descent brought together more than a hundred fans who enjoyed a sunny and unique morning practicing outdoor sports and enjoying the typical landscape of the Ribera del Duero.
More than 300 canoeists from all over Spain
The change of dates to June and the success of the 2021 edition of this competition mean that more than 300 canoeists from all over Spain will be able to participate in the 60th anniversary of the event. The paddlers will compete in the K1 and K2, C1 and C2 categories, completing a 35.5-kilometer course divided into three stages.
The first stage, which will take place on Saturday morning, will connect the towns of Sumacàrcer and Antella over a 9-kilometer course. That same afternoon, participants will complete the longest route of the race, 13.5 km long, between Algemesí and Polinyà, and back again in Algemesí. The final stage coincides with the Valencian Community Canoe Federation’s Eastern Marathon League Championship and will depart on Sunday from Sueca, covering a 13-kilometer route that passes through Riola and ends in Sueca.
“This is a sporting activity, but also a cultural and economic one, and it has significant value in uniting the entire Ribera de Júcar region, as many towns participate in the event,” recalled Algemesí’s Sports Councilor, Rafael Lluch. “With the popular descent, we want people to participate in the river and be aware of the importance of caring for it,” he noted.
Recovering the Historic Júcar Descent
In 2021, the Ribera Consortium revived the historic Júcar Descent, a rowing competition founded in 1961 and held over 40 times, one of the most important sporting events in Spain in its category.
The event, renamed the Júcar Descent, is held annually, and in 2022, its dates have been changed to spring to take advantage of the river’s increased flow, restore its original date, and become part of the Royal Spanish Canoe Federation’s calendar of major events. Furthermore, the event provides an opportunity for participants in both disciplines and their families to learn about the region’s tourist attractions, with the Júcar River as its main axis.
“At the Ribera Consortium, we have not given up on our interest in recovering this event and placing it on the sports calendar. Furthermore, the popular descent allows many residents to recover the Júcar and enjoy it. We want to
“We want people to begin to get to know the Júcar River from the inside, by sailing,” commented Txema Pelàez, president of the Ribera Alta Association.
The Júcar River Descent is organized by the Ribera Consortium, the Canoe Federation of the Valencian Community, the Scooter Club of Algemesí, the Sueca Canoe Club, the Antella Canoe Club, and the Almenara Canoe Club of Sumacàrcer, along with the municipalities of Alzira, Algemesí, Sueca, Albalat de la Ribera, Polinyà, Riola, Antella, and Sumacàrcer, with the collaboration of the Generalitat Valenciana and València Tourism.
