As Canoe Slalom New Zealand prepares to host the 2023 Oceania Championships at the Vector Wero Water Park, Manukau over Auckland Anniversary weekend, several top 30 ranked female athletes will be in attendance as part of a summer training block in New Zealand.

Joining New Zealand’s own Olympian Luuka Jones currently ranked number 7 in the world in the women’s K1 starting blocks will be Camille Prigent (France) WR 6, Klaudia Zwonlinska (Poland) WR 18, Martina Wegman (Netherlands) WR 19 and number 8 in women’s C1 Marjorie Delassus (France).  Adding more international flavour to this event is Carmen Costa (Spain), Marisa Kaup (Germany) and Zita Lakner (Hungary) who together will provide some exciting racing in the women’s competition alongside NZ’s other top paddlers Hannah Thomas and Courtney Williams.

Local competition will be strong in the men’s categories between Callum Gilbert, Finn Butcher, Zack Mutton, George Snook, Oliver Puchner, Finn Anderson and others all vying for NZ team selection, whilst the young Na brothers make their racing debut for Korea.

With Paris 2024 Olympic qualification events on the horizon, it is set to be a great weekend of slalom and kayak cross racing.

There will be no livestreaming of the event this year, so anyone interested in a day out at a world class whitewater facility seeing the athletes in action are invited to come Saturday, Sunday or Monday (racing timetable available on www.canoeslalomnz.org.nz).  Entry to the Oceania Championships and parking is FREE, Vector Wero Waterpark, 770 Great South Road, Manukau (next to the Due Drop Events Centre).

Article added: Wednesday 25 January 2023