Last race day in Konjic at the European Rafting Championships and the downriver awarded the key points of the competition, deciding the overall rankings. The 12 countries competing paddled for 6 kilometers in the blue waters of Neretva river.

With 290 points France 1 is officially the MEN European Rafting Champion: 40:25.09 secured xxx the downriver and overall gold with 290 points.

40:50.01 for Croatia who closes with a silver in Downriver and a third place overall with 231 points.

A 6h place today for Slovakia, the Slalom winners, secured them 262 points in total and the overall second place with 262 points.

France 1 - Men Overall Champions

WOMEN category won by Czech Republic 1 overall: 266 points granted by a golden downriver today closed in 44:13.60.

Their teammates from Czech Republic 2 got seconds in the downriver with 44:39.76 and third overall with 255 points. With a gap of 2 seconds Downriver bronze goes to Italy 2 (44:41.61) that was not enough to step on the general podium.

Overall silver to Italy 1 (4th position in downriver) with 260 points in total.

Czech Republic 1 - Women Overall Champions

PARARAFTING Champions with 3 golds and 300 points are Riccardo Novella, Rosario Sperandini, Carlo Benciolini and Riccardo Colombo from Italy: great time of 43:41.10 for them in today’s descent.

Second place in downriver and overall, with 270 points to Romania who stopped today chrono at 46:23.04.

Ukraine gets 240 points and closes the podium with the overall bronze, with another bronze in downriver with 58:00.89.

Italy - ParaRafting Overall Champions

Finally MIX’s downriver ruled by the Italians: Italy 1 gets the gold with 42:05.89 ahead of Italy 2 with 43:32.05. With todays points Italy 1 (Zeno Martini, Dario Morandi, Giada De Bon and Maria Martini) gets the overall gold with 288 points and Italy 2 makes it to the bronze overall with 258 points. Czech Republic 2 gets the third downriver place; thanks to their win in the RX yesterday they take home a silver overall with 264 points.

Italy 1 - Mix Overall Champions

The historical city of Konjic welcomes 30 rafting teams on Neretva river. The European Rafting Championships, that take place every two years, are ready to be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. The town, born on the shores of the clear blue waters of Neretva, is one of the oldest permanent settlements in Bosnia and Herzegovina, dating back almost 4,000 years.

This morning the 12 countries competing in the Champs paddled the first strokes during the official training, studying the lines and the water level of Neretva, surrounded by the green woods of Konjic.

Downriver section, official training

Tonight, in presence of the Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić and the Mayor Osman Ćatić, the Opening Ceremony officially started the event: 120 athletes paddled in the city center alongside the local rafters who carried the national flags; meanwhile Konjic people and tourists welcommed the teams who entered the stage directly from the river.

Teams paddling to the Opening Ceremony

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Türkiye and Ukraine are settled for three full days of competition for the title: Continental Champions.

Tomorrow at 14.00 the race will be on with the two manches of Slalom: stay tuned and enjoy the 2024 Euro Champs!

Opening ceremony in the heart of Konjic: Neretva

It’s RX day in Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina: the most dynamic and strategic discipline of the European Champs week. The RX qualification at midday selected the matches in Neretva river and tonight the lights were on for an intense knock out. 30 teams battled among the gates to make it to the 4 finals.

In the men category final A crowned France 1 (who scored also the best time in qualification) the RX champions; they got the better on the Slalom winners: Slovakia finishes with the RX silver. Czech Republic won the final B against Italy 2 and takes home the RX bronze. 

France 1 men - RX winners

Italy and Czech Republic gave everything in the women finals. Italy 1 leads the final A prevailing on Czech Republic 2 who gets the silver medal. Third step of the RX podium for their teammates from Czech Republic 1 who won the final B against Italy 2.

Italy 1 women - RX winners

ParaRafting RX podium confirms the Slalom results from the first day: gold to Italy, silver to Romania and bronze medal to Ukraine.

Italy ParaRafting - RX winners

Last but not least the gold in Mix category has been conquered by Czech Republic 2 who won the final A against Italy 1. Third place for Italy 2 who painted the best line in final B against Czech Republic 1.

Czech Republic 2 Mix - RX winners

On Friday the last key points will be decided in the Downriver: the show on Neretva is on and the last day of competition will decide the final 2024 Champions.

The European Rafting Cup from June 7-9th in Užice, Serbia, concluded with an outstanding performance by team Koncar. Demonstrating exceptional skill and teamwork, Koncar secured first place by dominating all three disciplines: Downriver, Slalom, and RX. Their flawless performance earned them a perfect score of 300 points.

Following closely in second place was team Cetina Raft, who amassed a commendable 270 points. The competition for third place was intense, with SKRK Respect ultimately claiming the spot with 236 points.

As the European Rafting Cup wraps up, the focus now shifts to the European Rafting Championships, which kicked off today in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Teams and fans alike eagerly anticipate another thrilling display of rafting prowess. Stay tuned!

@worldrafting

The journey of the Olympic Flame began on dry land, but soon transitioned to a more adventurous mode of transport: rafting. Accompanied by members of the river community, some in canoes and others on hydrospeed boards, the flame made its descent down the canal. This extraordinary event was witnessed by packed stands of enthusiastic spectators.

Slalom day officially starts the competition at the European Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Earlier this afternoon, during the first manche, the 30 teams competing drew the first lines among 12 gates in Neretva river: 8 greens and 4 challenging reds. After a calmer first section, where rhythm and coordination were the key, the main rapid in the central part displayed 3 upstream gates in narrow eddies (gates 7 9 10) where the technique decided the final rankings.

The second manche tonight changed the provisional afternoon results, since the teams pushed everything under the stars.

Slovakia men - Slalom European Champions

The best line has been drawn by Slovakia who won the men category among 16 teams: with 2 clean runs and no touches they scored the best time overall of 158.54. Silver to France 1 with 161.22 (one touch) in the second manche and third place for Italy 2 who leaded the first round with their best time of 161.80.

Italy 2 women - Slalom European Champions 

Their teammates from Italy 2 prevailed in the women category with 185.25 secured in the first manche, one second ahead of Czech Republic 1 with 186.19 who steps on the second place of the slalom podium. Bronze to Italy 1 with 195.68 who again gave their best in the first round.

 Italy 1 ParaRafting - Slalom European Champions

Para-Rafting gold goes to Italy 1 with a great performance of 169.31 in the first manche, in great advantage over the Romanian team who stopped the chrono at 240.36 due to a missed red gate. Ukraine gets the bronze with 430.85 in total.

Italy 1 Mix - Slalom European Champions

Mix category dominated by Italy 1: 162.45 seconds guarantee the golden 100 points to Italy 1, with no touches in both manches, followed by Italy 2 with 171.33. With a gap of 3 seconds Czech Republic 2 takes home the bronze with 174.46.

The first 100 golden points have been awarded today, but 2 other disciplines are coming this week. Tomorrow is RX day: qualification at midday and tomorrow night, lights on for the knockout!

Stay tuned on #WorldRafting

On 25th and 26th May Prague hosted the WRF Euro Rafting Cup in the challenging venue of Troja, on the Vtlava river. Slalom and RX took place in the Prague Canoeing Centre, one of the most frequently used venues for international canoe slalom competition since its foundation in 1983, including the 2013 ICF World Championships.

More than 50 R4 teams competed among the Czech gates, but the fast lines and the narrow eddies favoured the hosts in most of the podiums.

On the first day of competition 12 gates decided the SLALOM podiums, where the touches, especially on the fast red gates, changed the rankings between the two manches.

MEN

1 TR Hiko: Daněk Aleš, Havlíček Jan, Šťastný Jan, Vrzáň Jakub (02:03.76 )

2 TRZUBR: Hric Michal, Kabrhel Václav, Kristek Václav, Pospíšil Jaroslav (02:16.01)

3 RK Troja: Panenka Ondřej, Sehnal Štěpán, Tomek Lukáš, Urban Daniel (02:16.73)

WOMEN

1 RK Troja – Čoromoro: Bauerová Lenka, Fingrová Zdeňka, Kašparová Anna, Kocmanová Karolina (03:06.80)

2 Kočičky Letohrad: Pospíšilová Jitka, Šuttová Zita, Horová Klára, Valíková Radka (03:25.71)

3 MB Bohouš a jeho parta: Hajzlerová Petra, Háková Jitka, Irain Lernerová Terezi, Stonová Štěpánka (03:35.85)

MIX

1 Bohouš a jeho PRŠI: Hajzlerová Petra, Irain Jiří, Irain Lernerová Terezie, Šantora Jan (02:24.36 )

2 RK Troja Rumola: Fingrová Zdeňka, Kocmanová Karolina, Sehnal Štěpán, Tomek Lukáš (02:39.42)

3 Rafting team Verona ITA: Martini Maria, Schettino Giacomo, Liuzzo Luca, De Bon Giada (02:41.29)

U23 MEN

1 Youngster YES R4: Drastich Pavel, Raděj Tomáš, Ručka Vítězslav, Vyroubal Jakub (02:28.51)

2 TR HROM23: Němec Radek, Plášil Hynek, Šťastný Matěj, Veselý Ondřej (02:46.15)

3 RK Troja Junioři : Pátek Vítězslav, Pechač Jonáš, Rutar Martin, Urban Daniel (02:54.05)

U23 WOMEN

1 RK Troja Juniorky: Znamenáčková Kristýna, Hrdličková Sára, Machutová Iva, Žďárská Laura (03:57.94 )

2 Rafting Team Verona ITA: Becchelli Elisa, Martini Maria, Braggio Vittoria, De Bon Giada (05:09.33)

3 KV Viking Juniorky U23 A: Dlesková Kamila, Krejčíková Aneta, Lencová Natálie, Rampasová Evelin (06:17.53)

U19 MEN

1 RK Troja Junioři U19: Procházka Ondra, Malinský Petr, Slušný Vojtěch, Znamenáček Tomáš (02:26.63)

2 MOVIMENZO E NATURA A.S.D ITA: Lancellotti Matteo, Schettino Giacomo, Boscia Duccio, Liuzzo Luca (02:43.78)

3 LET-CI Letohrad: Fajt Tomáš, Chmelíček Antonín, Jakeš Jakub, Škarupa Šimon (02:55.36)

U19 WOMEN

1 ITALY 1 Femminile: Gazzola Alejandra, Liuzzo Giulia, Gambella Viola, Conti Alessandra (03:41.87)

2 KV Viking Juniorky: Dlesková Kamila, Krejčíková Aneta, Lencová Natálie, Rampasová Evelin (06:19.36)

3 LSGirls Letohrad: Bárnetová Žofie, Peteráčová Viola, Pomikálková Daniela, Stejskalová Johana (07:49.60)

RX on Sunday changed the dynamics in the venue. After a sprint in the RX qualification the knock out phase challenged the rafts with the strait flow that forced the teams to continuously study the lines of the opponents.

MEN

1 RK Troja: Panenka Ondřej, Sehnal Štěpán, Tomek Lukáš, Urban Daniel 

2  RaB klub Hodonín: Blanář Jindřich, Chrenka Vojtěch, Janošek Radek, Mar[nka Antonín 

3 LET-GUN Letohrad M: Marek Jan, Moravec Jakub, Pecháček Filip, Šlesingr Michael

WOMEN

1 RK Troja Juniorky: Znamenáčková Kristýna, Hrdličková Sára, Machutová Iva, Žďárská Laura 

2 RK Troja – Čoromoro: Auerová Lenka, Fingrová Zdeňka, Kašparová Anna, Kocmanová Karolina 

3 Kočičky Letohrad: Pospíšilová Jitka, Šuaová Zita, Horová Klára, Valíková Radka 

 MIX

1 RK Troja Rumola: Fingrová Zdeňka, Kocmanová Karolina, Sehnal Štěpán, Tomek Lukáš 

2 Italy 1 mix: Gazzola Alejandra, Morandi Dario, Liuzzo Giulia, Martini Zeno 

3 Rafting Team Verona (ITA) :  Martini Maria, Schettino Giacomo, Liuzzo Luca, De Bon Giada

In the men's category, the Petawawa Raft Team secured a decisive victory, claiming the top spot. They were followed by Canada Collectif in second place, and Haut-Canada rounding out the podium in third.

The women's category saw Bas Canada dominating the competition, taking first place. Mets ta bet à l'eau finished strong in second, with Kariboo capturing the third place.

The mixed teams displayed exceptional teamwork and skill, with Canada Collectif emerging victorious. Petawawa Raft Team added to their accolades with a second-place finish, while Equipe Jacques-Cartier took third.

These winning teams have earned the honor of representing Canada at the Pan American Rafting Championships in Pucon, Chile at the end of the year, where they will compete against the best teams from across the Americas.

The championships highlighted the dedication and prowess of Canadian rafters, setting a high standard for future competitions. Congratulations to all the teams for their outstanding performances and best of luck in Chile!

@worldrafting