Some paddlers love it, others hate it. There is no doubt slalom at the beautiful village of Želiv is among the hardest artificial courses in the world, and will this year decide the Czech water slalom team. 

The male kayakers are fighting for only two representational places, as Olympic bronze medallist Jiří Prskavec has already secured a reservation. Always keen to spend as much time competing as he possibly can, the popular Prskavec still competed on the weekend, picking up a 50-point penalty on Saturday to finish tenth, and then finishing fourth in the second race on Sunday.

Saturday's opening K1 race went to an impressive Ondrej Tunku, who finished ahead of Vavrinek Hradilek and Lubos Hilgert. On Sunday, the order changed significantly, with Saturday's fifth-placed Vít Přindiš snatching the win, Michael Matejka taking second and Tunka third.

In the women's K1 Štěpánka Hilgertová, currently in her 30th season participating in the European and world championships, has withdrawn. In the early nomination races she ranked fifth and eighth place. Among the best performers on the weekend was reigning world champion Kateřina Kudějová, who finished with a first and second.

The second qualifying race was won by Amálie Hilgertová , niece of the double Olympic champion. In total, Saturday's fourth place puts her in second place among the kayakers. Third is currently Karolína Galušková following a second and fifth.

In the C1 Vitezslav Gebas was the success story of the weekend in the men's competition. The fourth man at last year's Olympics in Rio followed Saturday's win with a second place on Sunday behind the junior European champion and world runner-up last year, Matthias Lhota.

In the women's C1 Tereza Fišerová was the dominant paddler, winning both Saturday's and Sunday's races, with Jana Matulkova second on Saturday, and Eva Rihova finishing runner-up on Sunday.

In the men's C2, Saturday's race went to Jonah Kaspar and Marek Šindler ahead of  Ondrej Karlovský and Jakub Jane, with the result reversed on the Sunday . Behind them on both days were Tomas and Vojtech Heger.

And in the historic first mixed C2 crew races of the CEZ Cup it was Tereza Fišerová Jakub Jane who took the honours. On this difficult course their time would have given them fourth place in the men's C2.

Sunday's race was won by the pairing of Foltysová and Vrzan, who had finished third on Saturday.

Photo on https://www.zonerama.com/Kanoe/Album/2999218 
Results : http://live.results.cz/schedule.php?event=201723CPStrnavka 
condition nomination to the national team after two races: http: // www. slalom-world.com/index.php?act=10&idz=53

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