Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Extreme Canoe Slalom will make its European Championships debut in Ivrea


 

The 2021 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships is scheduled for 6 - 9 May 2021 in Ivrea, Italy. It will not be just Canoe Slalom European Championships, but it will also serve as European Olympic Qualifier and it will host the first Extreme Canoe Slalom European Championships in history.

European Canoe Association decided to add extreme canoe slalom events to European Championships programme after it was confirmed this discipline will be in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Programme. Ivrea will therefore become the historic venue and it will see the first Extreme Canoe Slalom European Champions.

However, there will be some changes in competition rules in comparison to extreme canoe slalom events at World Cups and World Championships.

ECA confirmed the proposal that the fastest 16 athletes from time trials will progress to the final elimination phase, regardless on the nationality of the competitors. Up to three athletes from each participating country can enter the time trials in men's extreme kayak and up to three athletes from each participating country can enter the time trials in women's extreme kayak.

There will also be some changes in the course setting. "The course must consist of four (4) to eight (8) downstream gates and may include up to four (4) upstream gates. If the course includes upstream gates, it must be set in pairs, symmetrically, allowing the athlete to choose to negotiate either up right or up left," ECA rules state.

Bulletin of the 2021 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships is available here: https://www.canoe-europe.org/preview-file/bullettin-1-def-4109.pdf

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