THE opening two days of the 2025 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Slalom World Cup in La Seu d’Urgell, Spain were full of surprises, as the world’s best paddlers got a taste of the newly-introduced single heat format that will be implemented in the Kayak (K1) and Canoe (C1) events in this year’s World Cup Series.

Big names missed the cut for both the Men’s (MK1) and Women’s (WK1) Finals.

In the Men’s Kayak, Czechia’s Olympic and world champion Jiri Prskavec was among those who did not make the top 12, whilst in the women’s ranks, reigning Olympic WK1 champion Jess Fox OAM and fellow Paris medallists Evy Leibfarth (USA) and Kimberley Woods (GBR) all missed qualifying for the Women’s Final.

There was however still good news for Australia, with Lucien Delfour securing the Bronze medal in the MK1, his first World Cup medal since Markkleegerg in 2019.

Fellow Aussies Kate Eckhardt and Noemie Fox OAM both reached the Women’s (WK1) Final, before finishing 5th and 9th respectively.

Jess recovered emphatically on Day 2, winning the women’s canoe (WC1) title by over 4 seconds from Miren Lazkano of Spain, with Czechia’s Martina Satkova claiming bronze.

Jess’ victory was all the more impressive, considering she qualified ninth in the heats, where once again some big names in Canoe Slalom bowed out, including Paris Olympians Noemie Fox OAM, Kimberley Woods and Evy Leibfarth.

WK1 medallists from Day One, Monica Doria (Andorra) and Sona Stanoska (Slovakia), also crashed out in the WC1 heats.

However, as she has done in many international events, Jess took advantage of an earlier
starting position in the Final to set a blistering time down the course, then watched as the remaining eight competitors failed to match her sensational time. Consequently, another gold medal for
Australia’s and the world’s best paddler.

There would be no joy for the Australian contingent in the Kayak Cross on Day Three, with only Jess Fox reaching the semi-finals, where she finished in 3rd spot to miss out on a place in the Final.