If the water level on the Passer is too low

The water level on the Passer River is still too low for the 69th International Canoe Slalom to take place on the World Championship course in the Gilf natural arena, even after the rainfall on Thursday.

15 May 2026

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Therefore, the organizing committee, led by Walter Weger, decided on Thursday evening, in consultation with the coaches, to relocate the 69th International Canoe Slalom in Merano to the training course on the Adige River above the Marling Bridge. "The last race held there was more than ten years ago. It was the Italian Canoe Slalom Championships for the youth and masters classes," Weger recalls.

The 69th International Canoe Slalom in Merano is once again being organized by SC Merano. Tomorrow, starting at 9:00 AM, the Italian U23 Canoe Slalom Championships will be held on the Adige River, featuring five boat classes, including qualifying rounds, finals, and subsequent team races. In the afternoon, starting at 2:30 PM, an open international ICF slalom (level 4), the "Forst Trophy," will take place, with qualifying rounds and finals for the twelve best slalom canoeists in each category. On Sunday, starting at 9:30 AM, the World Ranking Canoe Slalom, also the European Cup, will be held on the Adige River, featuring four boat classes, including qualifying rounds and finals.

Nearly 100 slalom canoeists have registered for the three races on the Adige River. Ten athletes are from SC Meran/Raika-Trorggler. They are led by Lars Aaron Senoner (17), who will compete in two boat classes, the K1 and the C1, and Sara Furlan (18), who will paddle the K1 with plenty of acrobatics and as fast as possible through the 19 to 21 slalom gates, five or six of them upstream, using as few gate touches as possible. Also competing is Carolin Schaller (28) from Augsburg, who aims to qualify for the final in the K1 at the international races. The remaining SC Meran/Raika-Torggler participants are Jacopo Vicentini, Jakob Tribus, Annika Zoe Senoner, Alice Gravino, and Eva Haller in the K1, as well as Jakob Luther and Martin Unterthurner, who have already ended their competitive careers and now only participate in home races.

“After the successful qualifying races in Tacen, I can now enjoy my home races without pressure and see what happens,” says Lars Aaron Senoner. “For the race, I’m hoping for clean runs without major mistakes as preparation for the final qualifying race in Valstagna,” says Sara Furlan. “I’m looking forward to this competition because it’s my first time participating. My goal is to have a good time, make as few mistakes as possible, and above all, be happy with my run. I’m also looking forward to experiencing the competition with my friends and simply having fun,” explains Jacopo Vicentini, who, at the age of 14, is competing in his first international canoe slalom in Merano. “I don’t have a specific goal for the canoe slalom in Merano, as I want to take it a bit easier after qualifying and therefore just enjoy this race. Of course, reaching the finals would be great so I can paddle for the medals,” says Carolin Schaller.

The schedule

Saturday, May 16
U23 Italian Championship
9 a.m.: Qualifying in five boat classes,
followed by the finals and team races
19:30 PM: Awards ceremony at the boathouse grounds
of SC Meran

Open ICF slalom (level 4)

14:30 a.m.: Qualifying in four boat classes
the general class
17:00 PM: Finals in four boat classes
the general class
19:30 PM: Awards ceremony at the boathouse grounds
of SC Meran

Sunday, May 17th
ICF World Ranking Canoe Slalom and European Cup
9:30 a.m.: Qualifying in four boat classes
the general class
13:00 PM: Finals in four boat classes
the general class
15:00 PM: Awards ceremony at the boathouse grounds
of SC Meran

Keywords Watersports kanu