Paddlers and Organisers Prepare for the Czech Debut of Short Slalom

The ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague - Troja kicks off tomorrow, 27 June 2025. Friday's program will feature the long-awaited debut of the short slalom event - a revived and dynamic discipline. The entire Czech national team is set to compete, including last year's home race winners Gabriela Satková and Jiří Prskavec. These long-time team leaders will take on both canoe and kayak events, giving the Czech team a medal opportunity on each day of competition.

At Thursday’s press conference held at the Jalta Hotel on Wenceslas Square, race organisers introduced the new discipline in the World Cup program - short slalom.

“We’ve had this idea for over 15 years. Now that a new Olympic cycle is beginning, it’s the perfect time to try something new. That’s what we’re aiming for - and our motivation is to show that the sport can continue to evolve. Of course, organising this is significantly more demanding, but it’s a challenge we’re happy to take on,” said Stanislav Ježek, Chairman of the Czech Canoe Union and one of the main organisers of the event, explaining why short slalom is being introduced into the World Cup program this year.

For athletes, the new event is a fresh opportunity to perform in front of the home crowd and to fight for medals in an additional final run.
“We’ll see what the short slalom course looks like - that will determine the tactics and the level of risk we’ll have to take,” commented Jiří Prskavec Jr.

The Czech athletes agree it’s hard to predict how well the new format will suit them specifically. However, their performance in April’s ranking race in Markkleeberg, Germany, where short slalom was also featured, was impressive. Kayaker Lucie Nesnídalová and canoeists Gabriela Satková and Vojtěch Heger all claimed victories, proving that the Czech team is more than capable in this shorter, faster format of slalom.

Saturday’s program will continue with the traditional canoe slalom events, and Sunday will wrap things up with a full day of kayak cross action. According to new rules, twelve boats will advance directly from single-run qualification rounds to the finals—this applies to all boat classes on both Friday and Saturday.

In addition to top-tier international slalom racing, spectators can look forward to energetic on-site commentary from Daniel Stach and Míra Lenc, an electrifying atmosphere just meters from the course, a Saturday freestyle bike show by Vašek Kolář, an evening concert by the band Island Mint, and a Sunday autograph session with Czech athletes.