
Naturarena Gilf is the venue for a unique canoe event.
Naturarena Gilf is the venue for a unique canoe event
On Saturday and Sunday, the Gilf Natural Arena in Merano will once again be dedicated to canoeists. Once a year people paddle through the slalom gates, including again this coming weekend.
21 Maj 2024
From: pm
SC Meran is organizing the international canoe slalom for the 68th time. The Passer city has already hosted a canoe world championship three times, in 3, 1953 and 1971. This year, the highlight of the program is the “Forest Trophy”, a world ranking canoe slalom and a European Cup race.
“The water level of the Passer is currently almost at the limit for our canoe event. We hope that the water level will go down a little by Saturday and that we will get a perfect water level in order to ensure a spectacular competition weekend,” says OC boss Walter Weger. Around 80 helpers, most of them volunteers, will ensure that the canoe competition runs smoothly. On Saturday morning there will be a national race for the U18 and U16 age groups. At the start are from SC Meran/Raika-Torggler with good chances of medal positions: Annika Zoe Senoner, Sara Furlan, Marian Drescher and Lars Aaron Senoner. Eva Haller, Philipp Kröss, Christian Stocker, Jakob Tribus and Liam Kaplan are also there from SC Meran. The better one of two rounds counts. On Saturday afternoon we continue internationally with an international canoe slalom. Here too, running faster counts. There is only the senior category, although younger slalom canoeists up to those born in 2009 are also allowed to start. The above athletes from SC Meran will also be joined by Tamara Drescher, Carolin Schaller, Alice Gravino, Elina Schlechtleitner, Martin Unterthurner and Jakob Luther, who will also be competing in the world ranking canoe slalom “Forst Trophy” on Sunday. Also taking part again are the brothers Matthias and Jakob Weger from Schenna, who ended their professional careers a few years ago. Jakob Weger took an excellent second place in the open race on Saturday last year. The brothers Manuel and Matthias Ulpmer from Mauls have also registered for the 2th international canoe slalom in Meran. In total there will be around 68 South Tyroleans taking part in the canoe slalom in Meran.
As in previous years, the world ranking canoe slalom will be held on Sunday in the form of a qualification and a final run. This canoe slalom also counts as a European Cup race. It starts at 9 a.m. and 13.30:12.30 p.m. on both days with a short lunch break from 13.30:XNUMX p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. “During the lunch break there will be delicious food for athletes, helpers and spectators in the boathouse,” explains the OC boss.
“After the positive experiences of the last two years, we are once again organizing our competition weekend in the spirit of sustainability. The aim is to hold the entire event while saving resources as much as possible. This is achieved through the primary use of ecologically sustainable means and materials, through targeted waste avoidance and through strict waste separation. For example, in the catering area we were able to reduce garbage and waste to 20%. Instead of plastic cups and plastic plates, there were dishes that were washed,” says Walter Weger. “We have a little problem with the lifeguards this time. Originally we had a commitment from the Red Cross of 10 people. Now we only have 2 lifeguards available from the Red Cross. There are trained water rescue teams in South Tyrol, but for legal reasons they are not allowed to take part in such sporting events,” regrets the OC boss.
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