Heavy rain failed put a dampener on what was a spectacular day of kayaking in Tacen, Slovenia as Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods and France’s Titouan Castryck emerged victorious.
The fourth International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup of the season got off to a fantastic start, with Woods and Castryck winning the respective women’s and men’s kayak crowns and Slovenian siblings Eva Alina Hocevar and Ziga Lin Hocevar delivering medals on home waters.
Here’s what the medallists had to say after a thrilling Friday.
Click here for startlists and live results from Tacen
Kimberley Woods (GBR – gold)
Obviously when I came through the finish and I saw the touch, I was trying to work out where that happened. I thought I am pretty sure I didn’t (touch) but maybe gate one when a lot of water came off my blade. To be honest I did really well not to hit it. I am glad they gave it clean. I didn’t hit it and stayed really calm for the rest of the course. I heard Eva Alina’s time and thought I am going to really have to attack it. It’s a nice short course where you can attack it. I obviously won bronze in Paris last year. I wanted to try to back it up at the back end of last year but I didn’t make any finals. I’ve had a pretty good season considering I have felt that I haven’t had a great season in kayak but I just wanted to really attack this and be myself on the water. It’s been eight years since I have had a kayak medal at a World Cup so it’s a long time coming. I have never won a kayak race before which is mad. I have made quite a few finals but never been quite there. To come and finally get my first senior win in kayak and do it out there with those girls in this weather I am really proud of myself.
Eva Alina Hocevar (SLO – silver)
It feels amazing and I’m really happy that I delivered a really nice run. After qualifications it was really hard to refocus as it’s my home crowd and I wanted to say hello but I knew that I needed to focus on the finals and it was not the end. It was hard but I managed to get to the startline really focused and ready. I felt really well at the start, I was nervous but positive. After the start, I made a mistake at the first drop and I felt horrible as I should know this drop but I made a mistake. Luckily, I did the first upstream nicely, I refaced and continued with my un. In the end, it was a great feeling when I crossed the finish line and I was three seconds quicker. I’m really happy with a medal. It’s my first medal in K1. I was fourth in Prague. I have done some finals in the past years but it’s nice to have your first medal, especially at home. When I crossed the finish line I thought it might be good enough for the win as it was quicker than Ricarda’s in the qualification but I still need to be happy and I am happy. This is the goal for the next races.
Evy Leibfarth (USA – bronze)
I’m so happy. Kim is one of my best friends so to see her win the World Cup is spectacular. I feel like we are always finishing right next to each other and always wanting a podium together and we have never got it so I am super excited about that and I’m really pleased for Eva Alina as well. To get a medal on her home course is amazing. I’m just out here having fun with it. It’s really cool to see myself evolve and start getting it a little bit more.
Men’s Kayak
Titouan Castryck (FRA – gold)
It’s always quite stressful to come back after such a long period without racing, so I am still happy that I’ve still got it. I hope I can keep it like this for the rest of my life. The weather didn’t change that much with the rain as we are already on the water. I knew I had some time to make after my run in the heats. I focused on that, stayed composed from gate one to 21. I don’t think it’s down to confidence. I am not really an overconfident person. I just try not to be overconfident or underconfident at the starting block. I just try to be present so there is no real secret. I have good training this winter, I am feeling good and I am at a really good level right now and I have to show it at the right moment.
Ziga Lin Hocevar (SLO – silver)
It’s incredible. Last year, I was fourth twice in K1 and was never able to squeeze myself on the podium. Today, I did a very nice run at the top section which was perfect. When I pushed to ther finish, it’s crazy. I checked the times and I could see that Eva Alina did amazingly. When she crossed the finish line, I tohugnt that’s enough (to win). Then I checked again and she was silver. It’s very nice to get a medal, you gain some confidence. I was a little bit worried that am not good enough in K1 but now I showed that I can be very fast.
Mateusz Polaczyk (POL – bronze)
It was really nice. The qualification run is all about qualifying for the top 12 and the final you do your best and wait for the result of the other guys. It was a good day. It’s always a tricky course. The massive drop at the star.t You can’t win the race here but you can loose everything on the start. You haven’t even crossed the first gate and it’s over. You need to adapt your technique to the water, especially here.
