Andre Santos - The World Paddle Awards helps paddlesports moving forward

Writer: Tom Collings - Nelo CEO Andre Santos believes that the World Paddle Awards is helping paddlesports move forward but there is still plenty of work to be done to get the sport heading in the right direction.

As the Chief Executive of one of the world’s largest and leading canoe/kayak manufacturing brands, Nelo International, and as a key supporter of the WPA from its outset, Andre was invited to present the Academy award to Sebastian Brendel.

“Once again it is an honour to be apart of such a big event and being hand to hand with such a good group of people that wants to keep paddlesports always moving forward,” Andre said.

“It is a great opportunity to recognise our athletes and the people involved in our sport, and of course giving the academy award that is chosen by such an honourable academy it is a great opportunity.”

As one of the most respected individuals in the manufacturing sphere because of his unparalleled work ethic and integrity, Andre is pleased to be affiliated with the WPA which he believes is taking the sport forwards.

“I know this moving forward is used by other institutions but here we are also doing it for real and making all of our sport proud”, Andre said.

But while the WPA is a step in the right direction, Andre is of the belief that the paddlesports industry still needs to be simplified in light of the potential changes to the 2020 Olympic Games programme.

“It is very confusing times, I think there has to be an easier approach to all the challenges that come from canoeing and the sport the way it is with the scandals and all the pressures on the disciplines and on the Olympic Committees and organisers,” Andre said.

Interestingly, against his own professional interests, Andre is of the belief that the industry needs to become easier and not harder and at this point paddlesports is not heading in the right direction.

“We are heading into a direction in where our sport is becoming too complex for the public to understand, and I think we all work on the same environment where we all want the sport to be diverse and have different disciplines and that is where we should aim but in keeping every discipline easy for the public to understand what going on and I think the steps must be done in that direction.”

For now, his focus is on ensuring everything is ready for the Rio Olympics.

“Everything is lined up. The athletes know what they can expect from us and we kind of get to know their ways as well and we have been focusing mostly from removing from the athletes any hassle of logistics or boats.”

“Just giving them a strong solid support so that they can focus on their training and on doing their best on the day.”