The opening round of the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in La Seu d’Urgell delivered high pressure, bold performances, and a taste of the new Olympic cycle. With only one heat run and no second chances — a dramatic shift in format — athletes had to be near-perfect to crack the top 12 and qualify straight into the final.

New Zealand’s top performer was Finn Butcher, who showed strong form in the K1 Men’s heats, qualifying 5th fastest and holding that same spot in the final, finishing 5th overall.

In the K1 Women’s event, Courtney Williams placed 30th, while Kahlia Cullwick — making her senior international debut — finished 44th in her first outing at this level.  

Reflecting on her performance, Kahlia shared:

“Wasn’t perfect, but I had good feelings on the water so I was happy. And am excited today to try the course in Canoe with some different switches. Nervous too!”

The revised format proved brutal: with no second runs and no semifinals, a single mistake meant elimination. It’s a high-stakes change that demands precision under pressure.

Meanwhile, George Snook made a welcome return to international competition after a two-year break, stepping back onto the start line after competing in the Extreme Kayaking World Championships. He shared:

“Stoked to be back on a start after a few years out and look forward to building back into slalom racing and learning how to lay down fast runs in this boat again.”

Our C1 athletes start their World Cup campaigns today.

Photo Planet Canoe