Friday, 07 August 2015
Parc Olímpic del Segre, the iconic mountain top home for Spanish slalom paddlers provided exciting action as the world’s best whitewater paddlers returned to competition after a few week break and fought for a spot in the semifinals.
Located in the Catalan Pyrenees on the outskirts of the small mountain town, the del Segre course has been the focal point of sporting success since its construction in 1990.
Boasting two world championships and 15 world cups – including this one - the venue has played host to some of the most defining moments of canoe slalom history over the past 24 years; top of these was undoubtedly the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. It will also host the 2019 Olympic qualifying World Championships.
At 300 meters in length and with a 6.5 meter drop from start to finish, the combination of natural flow from the River Segre and four 300-kilowatt recirculation pumps create near-perfect canoe slalom conditions that demand a precise and attacking style of canoeing to ensure success.
C1 men specialists were the first on the water Friday morning and 2013 World Champion David Florence hit it hard, delivering a world class performance. The British did a clean run and left a big impression to his peers. “I feel good”, he said after the race. “I know it’s only the heats and it’s better to win the final but everyone is trying to put on a good run so I’m really pleased to get it right and win the race this morning. I don’t really take as many risks on the lines as in the final but the plan I plan to do, I attack it really hard always”.
Florence seems to be in great shape and certainly hopes to keep it up until the World Championships at home in Lee valley.
It’s a big year with London coming and Rio next year but in World Cups you race against the best guys in the world so to get results at any world cup for me is a huge honour. - David Florence
“If you paddle well here you will feel good moving forward and you see how anyone else is paddling and you can show to others that you’re doing well.” He sure did.
Second of the heats is C2 reigning world champion Luka Bozic. The Slovene will surely find comfort in this result as he hasn’t taken part to any world cup final yet and needs reassurance. Florence’s training partner, the young and promising Brit Ryan Westley is in third position. The two Slovaks Slafkovski and Martikan, both on the podium last year, Czech Jezek and French Gargaud-Chanut all went through the heats.
Fox did the job, Vilarrubla at ease
Crowned C1 world champion in the Under 23 category earlier this year in Foz, Brazil, Nuria Vilarrubla certainly confirmed her status of local hero here in La Seu. She did not disappoint this morning and showed good intentions despite a 2 second penalty received in gate 7. It was still enough to finish with the fastest time of the heats.
It’s great to be here and race at home, the atmosphere is the best I can hope for. - Nuria Vilarrubla
“I am happy about my result but I did some mistakes in my run. I didn’t manage to keep the line as I wanted on the top of the course, and at the bottom, on gates 17-18-19, I was a bit too slow. However it’s good enough for today, I have good feeling on the water before the semi-finals”, continued the Spaniard.
Reigning European champion Kimberley Woods (GBR) finished 4 seconds behind her. In the absence of the British Mallory Franklin, Ana Stila (BRA) and Katerina Hoskova (CZE) will also represent a threat to Vilarrubla in the semifinal.
Australian superstar Jessica Fox finished fourth in the C1 heats and although she does not seems as dominating as last season, the young Aussie still counts among the best paddlers in the world. A few hours later she also posted the 4th time in the K1 Women event, which was dominated by the Spanish paddlers Maialen Chourraut and Marta Martinez.
“The new system of qualification is interesting, said the 2014 double world champion. “I really want to get through on the first run because it gives me more rest. In C1 I have a margin and I can decide to not go flat out and use the water a lot more. But today I made a mistake at gate 11 and I had to pull hard the rest of the course because in la Seu the times are always really close. In K1, you never know, if you get a touch, you’re in danger. So today I think it was solid. At the last world cups I’ve been in the middle of the pack in the heats. So I am happy.”
Fox knows the Spanish paddlers will offer a tough challenge. “It’s noticeable in a lot of courses that the paddlers who are in their home course know it so well and they do race well there, but in La Seu, it’s really obvious I think. They know every little movements, how to keep the boat running, especially in the top section. But I like it, it’s a good challenge, adapting to the course quickly and getting close to them.”
Young polish crew impresses
In K1 Men, 2007 World Champion Sébastien Combot (FRA) didn’t have much time to taste the waters of La Seu as he arrived on Thursday, but it was enough to secure a first place in the heats. He did a clean run and wasn’t quite surprised. “I like La Seu very much”, said the Frenchman.
“I came here last month to prepare this world cup. The heats were satisfying; it’s a good run, I know I am fast on this course.” With so much competition on the national level, competing on the international circuit is almost a relief for the French K1 specialists.
I am very happy to be part of the French national team again. - Sébastien Combot
“Last year was fantastic; I enjoyed my first world cup podiums and a silver medal at the world championships. My main goal now is to have fun in London and win a medal there. There is way more pressure on a national race, it’s not comparable. But that’s how it is. Of course there is pressure here too but the level of stress at home is something else.”
All the usual suspects went through the heats and will make sure to put enough pressure on him. Contenders to the podium include Hradilek (CZE), Hernanz (ESP), Neveu (FRA), Boeckelmann (GER), Kauzer (SLO), Biazzizo (FRA) and Delfour (AUS). In the absence of Jiri Prskavec, Lubos Hilgert posted the second fastest time on Friday and will try and show what he’s capable of.
Michal Wiercioch and Grzegorz Marjerczak (POL) are the reigning Under 23 C2 World Champions and proved that they intend to occupy the top of the rankings in the next few years. They did not seem impressed to compete against C2 legends as the Hochschorner brothers (SVK, 5th) or the pairs Florence/Hounslow (GBR, 9th), Skantar/Skantar (SVK, 8th), and Klauss/Peche (FRA, 6th). The world will be watching their progress and see if they can sustainably be a threat to the well established pack of C2 specialists.
Saturday’s action starts at 09:00 CET with the C1 Men semifinal followed by the C1 Women and K1 Men. Finals commence at 12:30 CET.
Watch the replay on Youtube
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