Manfred Vogt (DEU)

In the opinion of slalom competitors who are aware of the skills of early competitors, Manfred is one of the best slalom and whitewater kayakers to ever exist. He was dominant as a canoe slalom racer in the 1950s and 1960s, when everyone paddled folding boats. In addition, Manfred developed slalom paddling techniques that helped advance the abilities of all racers at the time.  He was the first who started undercutting the gates in Slalom and used special sweep and Duffek-like strokes for the kayak to be faster in the gates and to reduce distances between the gates. In the old times, the paddler always made wide turns around the gates: Manfred’s new technique made it possible for them to finish with much faster times. Slalom kayakers from all over the world have learned Manfred Vogt’s and Milo Duffek’s slalom technique.  Manfred developed unique paddling techniques that he shared freely with others to help them build their paddling skills.  You may still meet Manfred Vogt today at the Eiskanal in Augsburg. His outstanding technique is still visible and continues to be a role model for young canoe slalom athletes

Accomplishments

World Championships:

• 1956 1st Place Team Slalom in Ljublajana, Slovenia
• 1957 1stPlace Single Slalom in Augsburg, Germany
• 1957 3rd Place Team Slalom in Augsburg, Germany
• 1963 1st Place Team Downriver in Spital, Austria
• 1963 4th Place Single Slalom and 3rd Place Team Downriver in Spital, Austria
• 1965 1st Place Team Slalom in Spital, Austria

He is also many-time German National Champion

Single Slalom

• 1st Place 1954 (Lippstadt), 1955 (Hanoversch-Munchen), 1957(Augsburg), 1959 (Lippstadt)
• 2nd Place 1958 (Munich), 1962 (Lippstadt)

Slalom Team – 1st Place 1954 (Lippstadt), 1968 (Augsburg)

Downriver Team – 1st Place Team 1968 (Garmish-Partenkirchen)

1957: Honorary member of the Ulmer Paddler and Silver Bay Leaf from B.Pr. Heuss

1972: Forerunner of the canoe slalom Olympics in Munich and Augsburg