The International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup Series is hotting up as paddlers arrive in Prague, Czechia.
Prague’s Troja venue is the third stop on the five-leg series after thrilling races in La Seu, Spain and Pau, France.
Last weekend was a chance for athletes to recharge after the intensity of back-to-back World Cups as they aim to make an impact in the Czech capital.
It’s set to be another action-packed World Cup so let’s look at the five things to look out for.
Click here for startlists and live results from Prague
Short slalom showcase
Competition will begin on Friday – but with a twist. For the first time, short slalom will be trialed at a World Cup.
The shorter format is not an official ICF event but will demonstrated on the Troja course – and it looks set to provide plenty of thrills.
While 25 gates, including six upstream gates, will be used in classic slalom on the 250-metre course, paddlers will need to tackle 14 gates, including four upstream, over 150m in short slalom.
The format was demonstrated at last year’s first-ever ICF Hangzhou Super Cup where paddlers got their first taste of it.
The likes of France’s Camille Prigent and Slovenia’s Luka Bozic enjoyed success in the short slalom in Hangzhou and will be hoping to deliver again.
Jam-packed schedule
With the inclusion of short slalom on Friday, it will be a busy few days of competition for those doubling up in canoe and kayak.
After competing in canoe and kayak in short slalom, they will do the same in classic slalom on Saturday.
If they are also contesting kayak cross, they will have the individual and head-to-head formats to tackle on Sunday.
Although it is set to be both mentally and physically challenging, there are so many more opportunities to post good results, get on the podium and potentially come away with plenty of medals.
Third time lucky?
Sitting top of the overall standings in the men’s kayak category is Anatole Delassus.
The Frenchman has been superb, demonstrating all his great speed and technique to secure back-to-back podium places – but a gold medal still alludes him.
A silver medal in La Seu was followed by another on home waters in Pau but he will be desperate to end Prague with a gold medal around his neck.
It won’t be easy as Germany’s Noah Hegge will look to repeat his Pau success in Prague, while fellow Frenchman Titouan Castryck, who triumphed in La Seu, will be aiming to replace Delassus at the top of the leaderboard.
The Czech contingent is also expected to be strong with Jakub Krejci seeking to continue his fine start to the season and Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Jiri Prskavec determined to deliver victory on home waters.
Fox set for Satkova challenge
What an incredible start to the season it has been for Australia’s Jessica Fox in a canoe.
While she has yet to hit her best form in a kayak, Fox has been dominant in a canoe, winning in La Seu and Pau to collect maximum points.
The last time Fox did not win gold in an C1 when competing at a World Cup was in Prague last year.
On that day, Czech star Gabriela Satkova was triumphant.
With the home crowd behind her, Satkova will be going all out for glory again.
Satkova came second behind Fox in Pau and will believe she can go one better on her home course.
Another paddler that is set to provide a further challenge to Fox is Germany’s Elena Lilik.
The Olympic silver medallist will make her first appearance of the season after recovering from surgery.
Clarke returns as kayak cross intensity increases
A few weeks after the birth of his second child, Joseph Clarke is back in action and will be ready to challenge for medals.
The British paddler has only entered the kayak cross events in Prague as he looks to deliver gold in both the individual and head-to-head competitions.
Currently, Clarke’s teammate Sam Leaver leads the men’s kayak cross individual rankings, holding a six-point advantage over Switzerland’s Jan Rohrer.
The men’s kayak cross is also incredibly tight with Rohrer sharing top spot with Spain’s David Llorente on 80 points.
The Spanish team have won the first two World Cups in kayak cross, with Manuel Ochoa winning in La Seu and Pau Echaniz coming out on top in Pau and they will be keen to add another title.
In the women’s kayak cross, Fox is in front in the head-to-head and is third in the individual, 21 points behind Prigent.
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