The 2020 Paddle Australia Canoe Slalom Age Slalom Championships will be held at the Upper Mersey Whitewater course between 2 to 5 January 2020 and is hosted by Paddle Tasmania in partnership with Paddle Australia.
The event will feature the very best of Australia’s slalom paddlers with the competition offering entries for both juniors and masters events.
The 2020 Age Slalom Champs will be the first national slalom event to be held on the Upper Mersey River course since the 2016 floods and bushfires which wiped out huge sections of the road leading up to the course.
Race Director, Peter Eckhardt said that Paddle Tas is very grateful to Parks and Wildlife who have assisted us in rebuilding the slalom course.
“A total of 150 competitors aged from ten to 70 years is expected and although the 2020 event will not be used as a selection race for national teams, we are still expecting a very high level of competition and some healthy rivalry as competitors are expected to use the Mersey race as part of their preparation for the national selections.
Apart from the elite sportspeople like Tasmanian locals and members of the Australian senior team, Daniel Watkins and Kate Eckhardt, there will be other events for a wider range of paddlers and we will also be recognising the champion canoe slalom school and club at this event.
Paddle Tasmania aims to celebrate and acknowledge the best performing athletes in individual, pairs and team events in all age categories. We encourage friendship and fostering competition on a National level and the promotion of healthy competition between individual athletes. Our paddling events provide an environment where athletes can perform to the best of their abilities, be that at the elite, Masters, Junior or Development level.
Of course, these events could not take place without the support of our sponsors, and volunteers.
We are very grateful for the support offered by Hydro Tasmania, Tasmanian State Government, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Services and the Tasmanian Institute of Sport.
The 2020 event is organised in partnership with Paddle Australia (PA).
