Aussies Ready and Raring to go ahead of 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 1

The Australian Canoe Slalom team are ready and raring to go ahead of the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 1 in Augsburg, Germany this week.

The eight-strong Australian team will be headlined by New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athletes, Olympic gold medalist Jessica Fox (pictured) and dual Olympian Lucien Delfour.

The first World Cup event of the season will kick off a busy six months for the Australian Canoe Slalom team, with the first Olympic quota positions up for grabs at the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in September.

Fox said she’s looking forward to kicking off the season at an iconic course in Augsburg.

“Augsburg is a historic course in our sport, it’s the beginning of our sport for many people,” Fox said.

“The 1972 Olympics were there, and 50 years on it’s still a venue that we go to and that we race at.

“It’s one of the most unique courses because it’s swirly…there’s no real artificial bollards, it’s got a natural course feel to it,” she said.

Delfour added that Augsburg has a special place in his heart, after racing there for the first time almost 13 years ago.

“I first raced in Augsburg in 2010, and we had the World Championships there last year,” Delfour said.

“Augsburg is a course that we tend to know quite well because it’s been there for 50 years, and Australians like to spend a bit of time there…it’s quite a beautiful course and it’s also a beautiful city so it’s definitely a nice place to be.

“The course there is quite special, it’s very different to any other courses in the world probably because it was built a long time ago,” he said.

2023 Paddle Australia Canoe Slalom Team – World Cup 1 Tim Anderson (Men’s Kayak) Kaylen Bassett (Men’s Canoe) Tristan Carter (Men’s Canoe) Brodie Crawford (Men’s Canoe) Lucien Delfour (Men’s Kayak) Jessica Fox (Women’s Kayak and Canoe) Noemie Fox (Women’s Kayak and Canoe) Ben Pope (Men’s Kayak)

The 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 1 gets underway with Kayak heats on Thursday 1 June at 10pm AEST. Canoe heats and Kayak finals will be held on Friday, Canoe finals on Saturday and Kayak Cross time trials, heats and finals on Sunday. For the full schedule – click here