The SCM's slalom canoeists won the bronze medal in the team competition.

Three slalom canoeists are delighted with their team bronze medal.

Sara Furlan, Annika Zoe Senoner, and Eva Haller excelled in the kayak single team event at the U23 Italian Championships on the Adige River. Lars Aaron Senoner also rewarded himself for a strong performance in the canoe single.

17 May 2026

From: pm

The 69th edition of the International Canoe Slalom in Merano saw a completely new development. Previously, the international canoe slalom was always held on the Passer River in the Gilf natural arena, but on Saturday, for the first time, it took place on the Adige River. The traditional race was held on the training course above the Marling Bridge after low water levels on the Passer River prevented racing on the World Championship course in the Gilf natural arena.

The Italian U23 Championships kicked off the race weekend on the Adige River. The wind played a trick on the slalom canoeists at times. The three SCM slalom canoeists, Sara Furlan, Annika Zoe Senoner, and Eva Haller, defied the wind and paddled their way to the bronze medal in the women's K1 team event.

Pignat wins silver medal

The slalom canoeists from SC Meran/Raika-Torggler also delivered strong performances in the K1 singles race. Furlan, finishing fourth, and Lars Aaron Senoner, both from SC Meran, finishing fifth, narrowly missed out on the bronze medal. "I'm very happy with my performance in the K1 singles race. It's a shame I didn't quite make it to the bronze," lamented 18-year-old Furlan. Caterina Pignat was able to repeat her final run, despite being severely hampered by the wind. She then secured the silver medal. In her first final run, Pignat had finished behind Furlan.

Lars Aaron Senoner was also on the podium at the Frost Trophy.

Lars Aaron Senoner was also very satisfied with his performance in the K1 final. "It went exactly as I had planned. I completed two flawless runs. The gap to the bronze medal isn't too big. In the C1, two gate touches, for which I received four penalty seconds, cost me a place in the final," said Lars Aaron Senoner. On Saturday afternoon, Lars Aaron Senoner demonstrated his true talent at the open ICF Canoe Slalom Forst Trophy. The 17-year-old from Merano paddled to third place in the men's C1 final. Carolin Schaller (28) from SC Meran narrowly missed the podium in the women's K1, finishing fourth. Furlan came in sixth. In the men's K1, the only 14-year-old Jacopo Vicentini delivered a brilliant performance, finishing a sensational fifth.

"A nail-biting match against the Ice Saints was won"

“The alternative course on the Adige River is our great fortune. We won the nail-biting race with the Ice Saints. The race wouldn't have been feasible on the Passer River this year due to the low water level. Therefore, the decision on Thursday evening to move the race to the training course on the Adige above the Marling Bridge was absolutely the right one,” explained organizing committee head Walter Weger. “The number of participants in the international canoe slalom in Merano is lower this year than in recent years because there are four races taking place at other locations on the same dates, including Germany's World and European Championship qualifiers. In the future, we will schedule our race as usual at the end of May or beginning of June,” the organizing committee head announced.

On Sunday, the World Ranking Canoe Slalom will take place on the Adige River in four boat classes. Qualifying starts at 9:30 a.m., with the finals beginning at 1:00 p.m. The awards ceremony will be held at 3:00 p.m. at the SC Merano boathouse. The canoe slalom can be easily viewed from the Marling Bridge.

Italian U23 Championship – the results

Kayak singles, men, final standings after the final run: 1. Michele Pistoni (Marine Sports Group) 81,44 seconds; 2. Daniele Romano (CC Brescia) 83,01; 3. Gabriele Grimandi (CC Bologna) 83,51; 5. Lars Aaron Senoner (SC Meran/Raika-Torggler) 87,91. Qualification: 13. Jacopo Vicentini 102,70/4; 18. Jakob Tribus (both SC Meran/Raika-Torggler) 111,32/8.

Women's kayak singles, final standings after the final race: 1. Lucia Pistoni (Marine-Sportgruppe) 95,31 seconds; 2. Caterina Pignat (Ivrea CC) 98,20; 3. Isabel Lovato (CCK Valstagna) 102,89; 4. Sara Furlan 104,72; 11. Annika Zoe Senoner (SC Meran/Raika-Torggler) 166,80. Qualifying: 14. Eva Haller 164,45; 15. Alice Gravino (both SC Meran/Raika-Torggler) 171,11.

Canoe singles, men, final standings after the final run: 1. Marino Spagnol (CC Sacile) 89,43 seconds; 2. Riccardo Pontarollo (CCK Valstagna) 90,94; 3. Elio Maiutto (Air Force) 92,30. Qualification: 7. Lars Aaron Senoner (SC Meran/Raika-Torggler) 103,39.

Canadian single sculls, women, final standings after the final run: 1. Elena Micozzi (Marine Sports Group) 102,38; 2. Vittoria Cuignon (Ivrea CC) 107,97; 3. 3. Amelie Fratton (CCK Valstagna) 120,60.

Canoe double, men, final standings after the final race: 1. D. Fina/O. Fina (Granada Canoa Club) 125,68 seconds.

Team runs:
Canadian one, men: 1. Granada Canoa Club 185,94 seconds.

Kayak one men: 1. CCK Valstagna 104,58 seconds; 2. Ivrea CC 117,95; 3. CC Florence 119,23.

Kayak One Women: 1. Ivrea Canoa Club A 120,97 seconds; 2. Ivrea Canoa Club B 139,88; 3. SC Meran/Raika (Sara Furlan, Annika Zoe Senoner, Eva Haller) 153,88.

Forest Trophy – the results

Kayak singles, final standings after the final run: 1. Michele Pistoni (Marine Sports Group) 74,28 seconds; 2. Gabriele Grimandi (CC Bologna) 75,01; 3. 3. Daniele Romano (CC Brescia) 75,91; 5. Jacopo Vicentini 84,63; 12. Lars Aaron Senoner (at SC Meran) 279,28. Qualification: 26. Jakob Tribus (SC Meran/Raika-Torggler) 142,18.

Women's kayak single, final standings after the final run: 1 Milena Marini (Polisportiva Montereale) 86,75; seconds; 2. Agata Spagnol (CC Sacile 87,83; 3. Lucia Pistoni (Marine Sports Group) 88,20; 4. Carolin Schaller 89,00; 6. Sara Furlan 95,27; 11. Alice Gravino 120,89; 12. Eva Haller (both SC Meran/Raika-Torggler) 134,38. Qualification: 16. Annika Zoe Senoner (SC Meran/Raika-Torggler) 165,05.

Men's Canadian Singles, final standings after the final race: 1.Elio Maiutto (Air Force) 79,68; 2. Marino Spagnol (CC Sacile) 87,12 seconds; 3. Lars Aaron Senoner (SC Meran/Raika-Torggler) 88,20.

Women's Canoe Single, final standings after the final race: 1. 1. Elena Micozzi (Marine Sports Group) 92,95 seconds; 2. Bianca Bagnani (CC Subiaco) 118,39; 3. Amelie Fratton (CCK Valystagna 168,06)