Lluis Rabaneda - Spanish

Member of the World Paddle Awards Academy

Lluis Rabaneda i Caselles was appointed as International Canoe Federation (ICF) Chair Canoe Freestyle Committee back in 2007, which incidentally was the year the first official ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championship took place; it did so on the Ottawa River in Canada.

His role was nonetheless important when organising the ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in 2013 held on the Nantahala River, USA. Lluis worked closely with fellow Academy member Sutton Bacon, CEO of the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) to deliver the event and the specially constructed competition wave.

During the London 2012 Olympics, canoe freestyle was a demonstration event at Lee Valley – Lluis was instrumental in bringing the spectacle to the World stage.

Alongside working for the ICF, Lluis is also CEO of ROCROI; a complete outdoor outfitter based in Llavorsi, Cataluna, Spain offering whitewater rafting, world-class paddling instruction, cross-country skiing, distribution of outdoor and paddling gear and much more.

In his career, Lluis has been Director of the annual Noguera Pallaresa River Festival, in Llavorsi as well, that features internationally-acclaimed classic downriver and freestyle competitions.

He is somewhat of a legend within the freestyle community as he has significantly helped to raise the profile of the sport globally, he is known as the 'man behind the magic'.

Lluis brings 20 years of experience in whitewater sports management to the Academy.