The 75th edition of the international Tatra Slalom in Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia, did not bring many surprises in the heats of the race which also counts for the 2023 ECA Open Canoe Slalom European Cup series. Marko Mirgorodsky, Eliška Mintalova, Isak Ohrstrom and Zuzana Pankova were the fastest paddlers of the day in their respective events.
In men’s canoe, where competition is
extremely strong in Slovakia, Marko Mirgorodsky produced the best heats run
without any penalties. Alexander Slafkovsky picked up two penalty seconds after
a touch on gate four. The 40-year-old canoeist from Liptovský Mikuláš was 4.44
seconds behind Mirgorodsky. Olympic medallist Matej Benuš was third, also with
two penalty seconds, and four and a half seconds behind the winner of the
heats. Legendary Michal Martikan was fourth on his home course.
Reigning European Champion in women’s
kayak Eliška Mintalova, who won the title on the course in Liptovský Mikuláš,
was once more the best on the rapids of Vah River. Despite a touch and two
penalty seconds she still finished the first competition day on the top, ahead
of her colleague from the Slovak team Zuzana Pankova (+2.46) and Ukrainian
Viktoriia Us was third with six penalty seconds.
Zuzana Pankova, 18-year-old from
Košice, paddled fast in women’s canoe heats too and took the win of the day.
She was four seconds faster than her closest rival Emanuela Luknarova, and
Simona Glejtekova was third for an all Slovak trio on the top of Saturday’s
heats.
Swedish kayaker Isak Ohrstrom was the
fastest paddler in men’s K1 heats. He had two penalty seconds but managed to be
just below the 100 seconds mark. Slovak Tokyo Olympic medallist Jakub Grigar
finished second in the heats. He was 1.43 seconds behind Ohrstrom. Grigar was
actually faster on his home course, but four penalty seconds pushed him down to
second position. Swiss representative Manuel Munsch was third in this event.
On Sunday, the 75th Tatra Slalom and
ECA Open Canoe Slalom European Cup will continue with semifinal and final in
canoe slalom as well as kayak cross.
Photo: KTKLM Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/ktklm
LIVE STREAMING:
https://www.youtube.com/@canoeslalomsk
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