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Australian canoe slalom team back in action on world stage

NSW Institute of Sport

Newsroom

Paddle Australia’s Canoe Slalom team is set to begin its 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup campaign tonight in Tacen, Slovenia, with an exciting Australian squad ready to launch towards LA2028.

The world’s best paddlers will line up for the first time this international season from Friday 29 May through to Sunday 31 May, as the race to the 2026 ICF Slalom World Championships in Oklahoma, USA begin – the LA2028 venue for canoe slalom.

Olympic champion Jessica Fox – a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder and photographed above -returns to the international start line for the first time since World Cup 3 in Prague last year. Fox will be making her anticipated return in the women’s K1 while World Championship C1 bronze medalist Kaylen Bassett (NSWIS/main picture) headlines the Australian men’s canoe squad alongside Paris 2024 Olympian Tristan Carter and rising star Dominic Curtin.

Bassett said he is excited to return to international racing following a breakthrough 2025 season where he won the World Championships bronze medal on home soil in Penrith.

“Last year was obviously pretty special and I still have goosebumps thinking about racing in front of my friends and family at the World Championships,” said Bassett.

“This year is a very big year. It’s the start of the Olympic qualification period towards the 2028 Olympic Games, so there’s a lot to look forward to.

“Not only is there a little bit of pressure on these world cup races with the world championships at the Olympic venue, but personally, I’m very excited to have that opportunity to race in Oklahoma. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Australia’s team features a mix of experienced internationals and emerging talent across canoe, kayak and kayak cross disciplines.

The World Cup 1 program will start with the men’s and women’s Kayak Heats and Finals on Friday, before the men’s and women’s Canoe Heats and Finals on Saturday, and wrap up with the Kayak Cross on Sunday.

The 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 1 will be livestreamed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel. Find the schedule and results for the event here.

2026 ICF CANOE SLALOM WORLD CUP 1

Friday 29 May