Oceania Canoe Slalom Championships

Free spectator entry to the Oceania Canoe Slalom Championships.

See world class competition between the best Oceania athletes and those vying for Olympic selection in white water canoe slalom.

Programme
Saturday Feb 1: 9am-3pm Oceania qualifying rounds
Sunday Feb 2: 9am-midday Oceania semis and finals, 1-3pm Tamariki Challenge open to paddlers not in Oceania Champs
Monday Feb 3: 9am-midday Oceania semis and finals, 1-2.30pm Slalom Extreme

Oceania Canoe Slalom Championships will be the first hit out in 2020 between trans-Tasman rivals Luuka Jones, New Zealand and Jessica Fox from Australia.

As world number one in both the women’s K1 (K1W) and C1 (C1W), Jessica Fox will be hard to beat and it promises to be a great competition with exceptional international performances by both athletes.

In 2016, Luuka Jones placed second at the Rio Olympics followed by Jessica Fox and at the 2018 World Champs, Fox took second place and Jones third.

Other women who will compete at the Oceania Canoe Slalom Championships and have already qualified for Tokyo Olympics, include Jane Nicholas (Cook Islands) and Martina Wegman, (Netherlands) in K1W.

Luuka Jones met the New Zealand selection criteria for K1W after finishing 3rd at the 2019 World Champs in Spain and earned New Zealand a K1W quota.

The race for the men’s K1 (K1M) spot for New Zealand is intense.
Young Kiwi, Jack Dangen earnt the K1M quota at the 2019 World Champs in September.

Currently rankings have Jack Dangen ahead of Callum Gilbert, followed by Finn Butcher and all three made 2019 World Cup semis, with Gilbert breaking through with a 2019 World Cup top finish of 5th.
Also in contention is young Zac Mutton who has made two junior world champs finals and is returning from injury.

The only Olympic quota to be decided at the 2020 Oceania Champs in Auckland is the C1M as no Oceania nation was successful at the 2019 World Champs.

Australia, New Zealand and Cook Islands will contest for the quota and on paper the Australians look to have the edge, but the New Zealanders will have the home course advantage.

A large contingent of Australians are expected at Vector Wero Whitewater Park across all age groups as its also Australian selection for national teams.

Many internationals and some who have already qualified for Tokyo are expected at the 2020 Oceania Canoe Association’s Canoe Slalom Continental Championships.