Aqua walking (French: Longe Côte ) is a rapidly growing sport and wellness discipline that combines cardio with natural water resistance. The 4th International Aqua Walking Championships took place in Mandelieu-La Napoule, southern France, from 25 to 27 September 2025. This event was a historic turning point, as teams from Latvia, Lithuania and Montenegro participated for the first time.
The scale of the competition and the strong competition
The Latvian delegation of eight people made its debut at the international competition. Our team competed alongside experienced and strong athletes from Germany (one of the competition favorites), San Marino, Tunisia, Algeria, Lithuania and Montenegro. Latvia presented itself convincingly, becoming the largest and strongest debut delegation from the Baltic region.
Challenging distances
The format of the games includes dynamic moves in water (up to the chest), testing the athletes' endurance, speed and technique. The competition program consisted of a variety of distances:
- Individual starts: 200m for women and 200m for men.
- Pair starts: 800m for women and 800m for men.
- Rowing distances: 50m sprint for men and women.
- Relay: 4x50m medley relay.
- Extreme challenge: Beach trail or beach run – the longest and most physically demanding 7500m test for men and women, covering the distance both by wading in the water and running along the beach.
Preparation and the first Baltic record
The foundations for the Latvian team's start were laid in Saulkrasti in August 2025. During intensive training led by French experts Sofija and Philippe Chiponi, the first four Latvian instructors – Evita Taupmane, Līga Neilande, Linda Kornete and Edgars Pīrants – obtained water walking mentor certificates issued by the European Hiking Federation. At the end of the training, the first Baltic "MEGA LONGE" record was set in Latvia, with 26 people walking in water in a single stride.
Latvian team achievements
The biggest victory of the Latvian athletes was not only overcoming the physically demanding distances (the competition took place over two days, and some team members competed in multiple disciplines), but also the awards they won, placing Latvia among the world's water walking elite. The team's endurance was praised by the European Water Walking Federation, and they brought home an excellent set of medals:
- League Neilande: Gold medal in the women's 200 meters.
- Edgars Pirants: Two-time gold medalist – triumph in the men's 200 meters and gold in the challenging 7500m Beach trail on the run.
- Ralph Pilainis: Silver medal in the 50-meter sprint distance with a paddle.
- Edgars Pirants and Ralfs Pilainis: Bronze medal in the men's 800-meter race.
Body recovery after challenging exercise
Intense exercise, overcoming water resistance and overcoming challenges such as a 7500m beach run, requires impeccable physical preparation and smart post-race recovery. Targeted nutritional support is crucial to maintaining high results:
- Joint and cartilage protection: Regular training in water creates a specific load. High-quality collagen and glucosamine maintain joint flexibility and prevent microtrauma.
- Preventing cramps and fatigue: To avoid muscle spasms in cold water and quickly recover energy after sprints, magnesium combined with the B vitamin complex is vital.
- Heart health and inflammation reduction: Extreme cardio demands a strong vascular system. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce natural post-exercise inflammation and promote faster recovery.
