Canoe Slalom athletes from across Australia and around the world will return to Penrith Whitewater Stadium this weekend for the 2024 AUS Open.
Sixteen nations competed at last weekend’s 2024 Canoe Slalom Oceania Championships, with a similar contingent expected this weekend.
Noemie Fox said after a few years of racing against Australians, it’s been great to have international athletes back competing at Australian events.
“In an Olympic year, you definitely feel the shift in the quality of paddlers, and there’s definitely been a big uplift in the competitions,” Noemie said.
“(Last weekend) it was a world class field, it felt like a World Championships field.
“I think this weekend the internationals would have warmed up a little bit more and had time to get used to our course and climate.
“There’s a few more teams that are arriving too, so it’s going to be another great weekend of racing.
“We showed them how fast and tough we are over here, and they’ll probably match that and push us a lot further this week.
“It’s a really incredible field and I feel really lucky to have this taste before the international season and have such a high quality race organised for us at home,” she said.
After winning three gold medals at last weekend’s Oceania Championships, Jess Fox is looking forward to another hit out on home soil.
“I think this weekend will be pretty much more of the same, just with a different event name!” Jess said.
“The course might be a little bit different this weekend too, last weekend we started near the bridge and used the bottom section of the course more. This weekend we’ll use the top section a bit more.
“That variety will be nice, it almost feels like you’ve got two courses at the one stadium.
“We’ll have a few more international athletes who will be starting – the Italians have just arrived. But for me, I just want to have another good weekend of racing and put down some good runs,” she said.
Racing will get underway on Friday at 8:30am AEDT. For the full schedule – click here
Friday and Saturday’s finals sessions will be live streamed via Paddle Australia Facebook page and YouTube channel.
