Canoe Slalom elite again in Ljubljana

The rapids of the Sava River are once again hosting the Canoe Slalom elite at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup race, which will take place between 15^th and 18^th June 2023 in the Kayak Centre Tacen.

Ljubljana is the third stop in this year’s series, the competitors have already competed in Augsburg, and this weekend they will compete in Prague. Representatives of 32 countries from Europe, North and South America, Oceania, Asia and Africa will paddle in Slovenia.

The World Cup serves as a warm-up before the European Games, which will be held in Krakow at the end of June and will also be European Olympic qualifiers for Paris 2024.

Slovenian competitors traditionally achieve top successes and record places right at the top on their home course in Tacen. Since 1989, when Ljubljana hosted the World Cup for the first time, our representatives have won 37 medals, including 14 gold, 15 silver and eight bronze.

Last season, when the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Ljubljana was also held in June, kayaker Martin Srabotnik and canoeist Luka Božič won silver medals, while Olympic champion Benjamin Savšek received a bronze medal in men’s canoe.

This year’s team on the Sava is somewhat rejuvenated, especially in men’s kayak. Peter Kauzer, our most successful paddler at the World Cups on the Sava River with six medals in his pocket, will be accompanied by the youngsters Lan Tominc and Žiga Lin Hočevar, who have already proven themselves in the junior age group. Last year, 15-year-old Žiga Lin Hočevar won two individual silver medals at the Junior European Championships (in kayak and canoe), and Lan Tominc from Celje is the Youth Olympic champion from Buenos Aires (2018). In men’s canoe Benjamin Savšek and Luka Božič, are first and second respectively in the World Ranking, and will be accompanied by young Nejc Polenčič.

On the other hand, the women’s part of the team is unchanged compared to last season, as Eva Terčelj, Eva Alina Hočevar and Ajda Novak will compete in kayak event, and Eva Alina Hočevar, Alja Kozorog and Lea Novak will seek top results in canoe event.

Tine Kancler, Vid Kuder Marušič, Peter Kauzer, Žiga Lin Hočevar, Eva Terčelj, Ajda Novak, Eva Alina Hočevar and Naja Pinterič will compete in the newest of wildwater disciplines – Kayak Cross, which will be part of the Olympic programme for the first time in Paris next year.

The Slovenians will attack the highest places, but the task will not be an easy one. The best kayaker and canoeist of all times, Jessica Fox from Australia, Olympic champion Ricarda Funk, Olympic champions in men’s kayak Jiri Prskavec and Joseph Clarke, legendary Slovak Michal Martikan, who has two gold, two silver and bronze Olympic medals in his collection, are all coming to Ljubljana, as well as silver and bronze Olympic medallists Matej Benuš, Hannes Aigner and Luuka Jones, with current and former World Champions Vit Prindiš, Elena Lilik, Andrea Herzog, Corinna Kuhnle and many others also on the start line.

The competition will begin on Thursday, June 15, with the heats in women’s and men’s canoe. On Friday, women’s and men’s kayak heats are scheduled in the morning, and the first medals will be awarded in the afternoon, when canoeists will first race in the semi-final, and then in the finals. On Saturday, the semi-finals and finals in kayak will follow, and on Sunday the ICF World Cup will conclude with Kayak Cross event.

For ticket holders, which can be purchased at Eventim and Petrol, transportation to the venue by Ljubljana City Transport is free of charge, and on the day of the competitions, tickets can also be purchased at the entrance to the venue. Entry is free on Thursday.

Before the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup kicks off on Sava River, the best canoe slalom paddlers will show their skill in the Ljubljana City Centre (next to the Cobbler’s Bridge). The Parallel Canoe Slalom on Ljubljanica River will be organised on Tuesday, June 13, starting at 18.45.

COMPETITION PROGRAMME

Thursday, June 15, 2023

14:00 Heats – women’s and men’s canoe – 1st run

16:00 Heats – women’s and men’s canoe – 2nd run

Friday, June 16, 2023

08:15 Heats – women’s and men’s kayak – 1st run

10:35 Heats – women’s and men’s kayak – 2nd run

13:45 Semi-final women’s and men’s canoe

16:45 Final women’s and men’s canoe

18:05 Medals ceremony

Saturday, June 17, 2023

09:30 Semi-final women’s and men’s kayak