According to the competitors, the pumpkin shell is a surprisingly challenging water vehicle.
In the northern part of Belgium, in Kasterlee, over the weekend, hundreds of competitors took part in the annual competition, where teams of four paddle a race on hollowed-out pumpkins.
The goal is to go around the floating hut in the middle of the pond, scoop back to the shore and send the next team member on their way. The representative of the anchor section climbs onto the beach and runs across the finish line.
Many contestants wear fancy dress. There are, among other things, pirates and nuns.
Along the way, competitors can do small unsportsmanlike feats, i.e. splash water on the other’s pumpkin. Sinkings have also happened.
According to paddlers, a pumpkin is a surprisingly difficult tool to paddle.
– When you try to paddle, it doesn’t go forward, but starts spinning, says Jonas Verbruggen news agency Reuters.
Kasterlee is a well-known pumpkin growing area. The farmers of the region have tried to find more than food use for their products. The kayaking competition organized since 2008 has been a success.
The challenge for the competitors is to find a suitable sized vegetable to hollow out the boat. Those with a starting weight of around 400 kilos are suitable. If the plant is larger, its floating properties deteriorate. Pumpkins weighing over 1,000 kilograms have been produced in Kasterlee.
Spanish Oscar Guell describes sporting inside the food as “dirty, sticky and oily”. Despite the slight discomfort, he definitely plans to come again next year.