The 2024 Nordic Cup Latvian stage in canoe slalom welcomes athletes from all host countries in Valmiera.

This year’s competition program featured a full range of canoeing events, including a shortened slalom course (Slalom Sprint), allowing athletes to showcase all their speed and power in a slalom course approximately 40 seconds long. The Extreme Slalom, for those who have seen the leap from the start ramp, where athletes paddle in groups of four, needs no further explanation. And, of course, the 6th and 7th stages of the Nordic Cup in the classic canoe slalom disciplines. All of this took place right here in Latvia, in Valmiera!

Athletes from six countries were eager to test their strength and abilities in the swift waters of the Gauja River. The competition for the overall standings, and consequently the coveted Nordic Cups, is heating up. This year’s series has already visited Finland, Lithuania, and Estonia, and now it has arrived in Valmiera, with the final stage set to take place in Falun, Sweden, next month. It is there that the strongest and most successful athletes of the entire season will be determined.

Before the Latvian stages, Renārs Freijs and Krišs Ozols held the leading positions in the overall standings as the most successful Latvian athletes, respectively in the Men’s Single Kayak (MK1) and Men’s Single Canoe (MC1) categories. However, Renārs was unable to claim victory on his home track – on the first day, Finnish athlete Leo Janka outpaced him, with Linards Laidiņš taking third place. The following day, experienced Valmiera native Māris Bečers delivered a strong final run, surpassing both Renārs and Estonian family members Martin and Tarmo Peiker, who finished in 3rd and 4th places, respectively.

In contrast, Krišs Ozols found the challenging home waters to be favorable, securing two victories and earning the maximum points from these two Latvian stages, positioning him as the outright favorite heading into the final stage in Sweden. Aivars Eiduks, now a local crowd favorite and showman, solidified his third place in the overall standings, finishing third on both days. Double second – Saturday and Sunday for Lithuanian athlete – Visvaldas Pumputis.

The most successful Latvian female athlete, Dinija Ozola, just as in the overall standings, finished second on Saturday, conceding to Estonian athlete Maria Peiker, who displayed consistent performance in both the women’s kayak and canoe competitions over all three days of the event. In Sunday’s competition, Dinija had a strong showing in the qualifications, but a mistake in the final prevented her from reaching the finish.

In the Slalom Sprint, which took place on Friday as a warm-up discipline, Leo Janka from Finland remained unbeatable, achieving the top result in this discipline. The fastest among the women was Estonian athlete Maria Peiker.

The Extreme Slalom once again did not disappoint the spectators or Valmiera Sports School’s student, Mārtiņš Šteinbergs. In front of his fan club, he showcased both his tactical and technical skills, winning the decisive final run. He left behind athletes from Lithuania and Estonia, as well as last year’s champion, Leonard Pāvilsons from the Ozolnieki Sports School.

The most extreme among the women was Veronika Salacevičiute-Turbinova from Lithuania, who, in the international final, outpaced athletes from Estonia and Finland, as well as Valmiera Sports School’s student, Dinija Ozola, who had to settle for second place in the women’s competition.

We eagerly await the return of the Nordic Cup competition series to Valmiera in 2025. Thanks to the wonderful course and the support of the city of Valmiera, athletes will surely want to experience the swift waters of the Gauja River once again at our beloved “Krāces.”

Fhoto: Arvis Ermansons

Link to photos:

https://failiem.lv/LatvijasKanoeAsociacija#6qqtr365ww

Slalom sprint event photos:

https://failiem.lv/LatvijasKanoeAsociacija#yrwve6ag3y