2010 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in La Seu d'Urgell

25/06/2010

It's Round Two of the 2010 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup, this time the best Slalom paddlers in the world come together in La Seu d'Urgell; site of the 2009 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships and the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. The Parc Olimpic del Segre in La Seu d'Urgell is ready to accommodate the 267 athletes from 39 countries who will hit the water this weekend with demo runs and opening ceremony on Friday 25th.

Serious contenders
Among these athletes are some reigning World Champions. The Slovenian Peter Kauzar, ranked number one in the ICF World Ranking for the Men's K1, Frenchman Tony Estanguet, reigning C1 World Champion, the German Jasmin Schornberg in the Women's K1 and the Slovakians, Pavel and Peter Hochschorner in the Men's C2 are just some of the international names to compete in this weekend's World Cup. All of them share one common goal: to repeat their La Seu success of last year.

Competition to look out for
Olympic gold medallist Alexander Grim, who ranks fourth in the K1, is expected to use the opportunity to regain some glory. After disappointment in the World Cup in Prague, where he came fourth after strong performances in the heats and semis, this weekend could see some success for him. In the Men's C1 Tony Estanguet competes against the newer names of Michal Jane (CZE), last week's somewhat surprise winner, Benjamin Savsek (SLO) and Alexander Slafkovsky (SVK). In the Women's K1, more is to be expected of Jasmin Schornberg. Fiona Pennie (GBR) will also be there, hoping to improve on her silver from Prague. Jana Dukatova (SVK) will be back to prove she is a force to be reckoned with.

Maialen Chourraut (ESP)
Top Spanish athletes back in the fold
Those with experience of paddling down the whitewaters of the Segre Olympic channel will be assured, none more so than the 14 paddlers that make up the Spanish team. Bronze medal winner in the Men's K1 at the 2009 World Championships, Juanmartí Catalan Carles, will be in the team as will Maialen Chourraut, silver medal winner in the Women's K1 at last year's World Championships. But as last week proved, each race is a whole clean slate, Canoe Slalom is a sport full of surprises.

Source: canoeicf.com

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