European Canoe Association

Hradilek wins Czech title but stays outside the team

16.5.2018

The fourth CEZ Czech Cup in Prague on 13 May closed the Czech selection races for the season 2018. At the same time the Czech titles have been awarded to the fastest athletes. Vavřinec Hradilek got a revenge for his unsuccessful selection races as he won the title in men´s kayak beating Prskavec and others.

Former world champion from Prague 2013 managed to beat all the favourites including the recent world champion Ondřej Tunka, ICF World Cup winner Vít Přindiš as well as his main rival in the Czech selection races this year Jiří Prskavec last Sunday in Prague. Vavřinec Hradilek hypnotized the crowds attending the Czech championships last Sunday and managed to win national champion title. Prskavec, who already qualified to the Czech team on Saturday, after Hradilek got 50 seconds penalisation and was out of the battle, got bronze. Silver went to Vít Přindiš.

“It is beautiful. Yesterday, it was very emotional and I was even thinking about giving up my canoe slalom career but it feels so great to paddle on the water,” said the fresh Czech champion Vavřinec Hradilek. “The Czech selection is not a topic for me now but I will continue paddling in a different type of the boat now. I am also planning one race back in Prague in August, when there is a ICF ranking competition. I also want to start at the toughest extreme race in the USA. One never knows you’re your last season comes. I do not want to comfort myself that the next year will be better. Now, I want to travel a bit, I am curious about Greenland. I have been on the water since 23 years ago but I have never built my own boat myself. Maybe, now is the time…,” added Hradilek, who is a reigning extreme slalom world champion from Pau.

Already selected Jiří Prskavec planned to defend his national title on Sunday but won bronze at the end. “I have to work to avoid the touches in the future. My shape was 100 % tuned for this championships and selections. Now, I am starting the full training in a couple of days again before the European championships,” said Jiří Prskavec.

The elimination of Kateřina Kudějová and Amálie Hilgertova already in qualification was a shock. Good form of Barbora Valíková, who got her team spot for the first time in her career, was shown also on Sunday while winning the gold medal. Silver went to Karolína Galušková. The Czech team for the ICF World Cups and the ECA European Championships will consist of Kudějova, Valíkova and Veronika Vojtová.

“I am speechless. I still cannot believe it goes so well this year. I feel more relaxed comparing to the last seasons because I finished my university studies and can focus on the sport much better,” celebrated Valíková.

Experienced C1 representative Tereza Fišerová got the Czech title beating silver Monika Jančová and talented junior Tereza Kneblova. However, in Czech selection for the season is Fišerova together with Gabriela Satkova and former world champion Katerina Havlíčková.

“I feel so relieved but I am sad I did not show a better performance at home in Prague - Troja,” said selected athlete Havlíčková.

Olympian Vítězslav Gebas joined the Czech team with Lukáš Rohan and Tomáš Rak. Rak received the equal amount of points in selections as Jane but got silver in Troja to secure his team spot.

“For some reason, I did not feel very comfortable on Trnavka and was thinking: OK, it is going to be 50:50 this season. But I did not allow any pressure to affect me in Prague so I am glad I managed to win,” said Gebas.

Ondřej Karlovský and Jakub Jáně managed to defend the C2 men title. Silver was won by Tomaš Koplík - Jakub Vrzáň and bronze surprisingly by Vavrinec Hradilek´s brother Václav Hradilek and Jan Vlček.

Czech selection after Czech Cup in Prague (13 May):

K1m

Ondřej Tunka, Vít Přindiš, Jiří Prskavec

K1w

Kateřina Kudějová, Barbora Valíková, Veronika Vojtová

C1m

Vítězslav Gebas, Lukáš Rohan, Tomáš Rak

C1w

Tereza Fišerová, Gabriela Satková, Kateřina Havlíčková

C2m

Kašpar-Šindler, Karlovský-Jáně, Koplík-Vrzáň

ECA CANOE SLALOM EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS - PRAGUE 2018