More than 400 paddlers from across the globe are ready to showcase their talent and capture age-group crowns at the International Canoe Federation Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships in Foix, France.
Olympic medallists will be among some of the hottest talents poised to compete on French waters from July 8 to 13.
Click here for startlists and live results from Foix
Here’s our breakdown of all you need to know about this World Championships.
Where to Watch
All the action will be broadcast live on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
For €9.99 per month, members will be able to watch all the ICF’s major events, including the Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships, as well as enjoy bonus content throughout the season.
There will be over 30 hours of live coverage from Foix as paddlers battle it out for age-group world titles in kayak, canoe, kayak team, canoe team, kayak cross individual and kayak cross head-to-head.
Sign into YouTube, or create an account, and click JOIN to watch uninterrupted live coverage of the world’s best paddlers competing for top honours.
Unlocking all our member features is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
- Sign in to YouTube, or create an account
- Go to Planet Canoe’s channel
- Click ‘JOIN’ and fill out your payment details
After becoming a member, you will have access to the exclusive members tab and can watch members-only content.
For more information, click here.
Live Steaming Schedule
July 8
Kayak Jnr and U23 heats: 8:35 – 13:50
Kayak Team Jnr and U23 finals: 15:10 – 18:10
July 9
Canoe Jnr and U23 heats: 8:35 – 12:40
Canoe Team Jnr and U23 finals: 13:35 – 15:45
July 10
Kayak U23 semis and finals: 9:00 to 12:00
Kayak Jnr semis and finals: 13:35 to 16:35
July 11
Canoe U23 semis and finals: 9:00 to 12:00
Canoe Jnr semis and finals: 13:35 to 16:35
July 12
Kayak Cross Jnr and U23 Individual: 11:40 to 15:35
July 13
Kayak Cross Jnr and U23 heats: 11:00 to 12:50
Kayak Cross Jnr and U23 finals: 14:00 to 16:00
Ones to Watch
Titouan Castryck (FRA): Racing on home waters, Castryck will be a big favourite to top the podium in Foix. The 20-year-old Frenchman clinched Olympic silver in Paris in the men’s K1 last year and has got this season off to a flying start, with wins at the World Cups in La Seu and Prague. It looks like he will be hard to stop in K1 with the French fans behind him.
Evy Leibfarth (USA): Securing her first World Cup title has given Leibfarth a timely morale boost heading into these World Championships. Leibfarth emerged victorious in the women’s K1 in Prague and won Olympic bronze in Paris last year. She will challenge for medals across the C1, K1, K1 team, kayak cross individual and kayak cross head-to-head.
Ziga Lin Hocevar (SLO): A chance at making history beckons for the talented teenager. The 18-year-old will be aiming to become the first male paddler to win three successive junior world titles having triumphed in the men’s C1 in 2023 and 2024 and will also be trying to defend the men’s K1 crown as well as fight for titles in the team and kayak cross events.
Click here for the full preview
Trip Down Memory Lane
It’s been 15 years since Foix last staged the ICF Junior Canoe Slalom World Championships. That year saw Australia’s Jessica Fox breakthrough with junior world titles in both C1 and K1. Another Olympic champion in Giovanni De Gennaro of Italy also triumphed in the 2010 edition in Foix with success in the men’s K1. Adam Burgess and Ryan Westley formed part of the British trio along with Georga Tatchell that won the men’s C1 team title, while Germany’s Ricarda Funk, Czechia’s Jiri Prskavec and Slovenia’s Eva Terceji were among other notable names to pick up medals at the World Championships. The Foix edition was also the last to feature only junior events with the 2012 World Championships in Wausau, United States incorporating U23 categories for the first time.
