NSWIS Trio on Podium at Canoe Slalom Nationals

Lucien Delfour has won the 2024 Canoe Slalom Australia Open men’s kayak final, while Jess and Noemie Fox have won silver and bronze in the women’s kayak final.

For the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) trio it was a great day of racing at Penrith’s Whitewater Stadium, on the penultimate day of the 2024 Australian Open competition.

The win was a great result for Delfour, who narrowly missed out on last weekend’s Kayak final.

“It’s always good to get a win, especially at home with a pretty good field out there…the French and Jiri (Prskavec) was there as well,” Delfour said.

“It’s such a great thing for us to get those international paddlers, they really show us where the level is,” he said.

Jess Fox said it’s been awesome to have so much racing at home, with back-to-back weekends in preparation for the international season.

“Yeah it’s been a good couple weeks of racing. It’s always tough to be on the start line and put your best out there. 

“I raced pretty well in the final and I had two touches which meant I just got beaten by Martina (Wegman). It happens, she raced really well and it’s awesome to be on the podium with Noemie.

“I’m super proud of her and also great to see Kate (Eckhardt) in the final. It’s a stacked field. 

“We’ve got some really strong international top ten paddlers out here, so for us to be in the final was awesome,” she said.

Noemie Fox said she was proud to have won another medal, and looking forward to Kayak Cross tomorrow as well.

“I’m super happy to have finished with another bronze. It was a really tough race and a tough field. 

“There were a lot of top ten competitors and a world class field so to finish on the podium again, two weeks in a row is really great and to back it up after a good semi final feels really good. 

“I have to remind myself that the Kayak Cross is on because I’m a bit wrecked but I think it’s going to be another really great event. 

“Again, it’s such a world class field and it was pretty rough out there last week and to finish on the podium at the Oceania Champs was great. I’m looking to do the double again and to get that race experience is invaluable ahead of June, ahead of the World Cup, ahead of the Quota Global Qualification events,” she said.

Article and image courtesy of Paddle Australia