There will be extra pressure on the shoulders of paddlers from several nations competing in Czechia over the next few weeks.
Germany, Slovenia and Switzerland have chosen Czechia as the location for their national selection races this year.
Nominations will be determined at two ECA Cup events in Czechia, with the first of those taking place in Spindleruv Mlyn this weekend followed by Ceske Budejovice in early May.
Germany’s team for the Wildwater Canoeing European Championships in Mezzana, Italy will be decided in Spindleruv Mlyn where sprint and classic races will be held.
“We were searching for a high-class event to host our selections after our initial hopes on competing and training in Mezzana could not be realized,” said Germany’s Moritz Lipperheide.
“Our federation always keeps close contact with the other federations over the winter and so we knew about this opportunity in Czech Republic.
“We are very excited about this weekend because we want to expose ourselves to an international competition early in the year and we bring a lot of young people who will not only take this race as a selection race for the Europeans but also grow in the sport of wildwater racing.”
Slovenia and Switzerland has also turned to Czechia to provide the location for their nomination races with Ceske Budejovice staged an ECA Cup from May 10 to 11.
It will also be an ideal opportunity for paddlers to get used to the venue for this year’s International Canoe Federation Wildwater Canoeing World Championships.
“Czechia offers a high-level international racing environment with strong competition and a well-organised event, making it an ideal setting for assessing our athletes’ performance,” said Switzerland’s Mona Clavadetscher.
“The course conditions and timing also align well with our preparation calendar, giving us a great benchmark early in the season.
“We’re definitely excited for the weekend.
“It’s always inspiring to see the athletes give their all, and having the race in such a competitive atmosphere brings out the best in everyone.
“It’s also a great opportunity to connect with the paddling community and kick off the season with some great racing.”
Photos by Ales Berka
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