Four Australian Canoe Slalom athletes are currently in La Seu, Spain for the first World Cup event since the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Olympic gold medalist Jessica Fox is joined by sister Noemie Fox, fellow Tokyo Olympian Lucien Delfour and World Cup debutant Kaylen Bassett.
After completion of the heats on Friday, Jessica and Noemie qualified for both the canoe and kayak semi finals, Delfour also making his way through to the semis, and Bassett narrowly missing the semi finals in his first World Cup outing.
Delfour, who hasn’t competed since the Tokyo Olympic Games, was excited to return to the World Cup circuit in La Seu, the course which hosted the last World Championships.
“It’s great to be back in Seu, two years after the World Championships,” Delfour said.
“I do have a love/hate relationship with this course, and after a while I do miss paddling on it.
“I have really been looking forward to testing my new boat design here, since it’s highly specific, and I have really enjoyed it so far.
“With training and heats now done, it’s been going quite well. Myriam (Fox) has been kind enough to do some work with Kaylen and myself during the week – she is going a great job as team leader,” he said.
For youngster Bassett, it was his debut World Cup, and while disappointing to not make it through to the semi finals, he was able to take away some learnings.
“I was excited but nervous to be racing here this weekend,” Bassett said.
“But I knew as long as I focused on executing the basics well, and keeping clean, I could be fast because that’s what got me into the position to be able to race here,” he said.
Despite being his debut Slalom World Cup, Bassett had race experience in La Sue, having competed on the course in Wildwater.
“I’ve raced here in Wildwater, but we raced on the other top section – in saying that though the theme is very much the same,” Bassett said.
“There is a real need to feel relaxed and patient on the water, and to make the strokes you do take, count,” he said.
Women’s Kayak Semi Final – Saturday 4 September
Event starts – 5pm
Noemie Fox – 5.06pm
Jessica Fox – 5.58pm
Women’s Kayak Final – Saturday 4 September
Event starts – 8.03pm
Men’s Kayak Semi Final – Saturday 4 September
Event starts – 6.05pm
Lucien Delfour – 7.09pm
Men’s Kayak Final – Saturday 4 September
Event starts – 8.40pm
Women’s Canoe Semi Final – Sunday 5 September
Event starts – 5pm
Noemie Fox – 5.42pm
Jessica Fox – 5.58pm
Watch live via the Planet Canoe Youtube Channel – click here
**all times in AEST
