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In men’s canoe, where competition is extremely strong in Slovakia, Marko Mirgorodsky produced the best heats run without any penalties. Alexander Slafkovsky picked up two penalty seconds after a touch on gate four. The 40-year-old canoeist from Liptovský Mikuláš was 4.44 seconds behind Mirgorodsky. Olympic medallist Matej Benuš was third, also with two penalty seconds, and four and a half seconds behind the winner of the heats. Legendary Michal Martikan was fourth on his home course.

 

Reigning European Champion in women’s kayak Eliška Mintalova, who won the title on the course in Liptovský Mikuláš, was once more the best on the rapids of Vah River. Despite a touch and two penalty seconds she still finished the first competition day on the top, ahead of her colleague from the Slovak team Zuzana Pankova (+2.46) and Ukrainian Viktoriia Us was third with six penalty seconds.

 

Zuzana Pankova, 18-year-old from Košice, paddled fast in women’s canoe heats too and took the win of the day. She was four seconds faster than her closest rival Emanuela Luknarova, and Simona Glejtekova was third for an all Slovak trio on the top of Saturday’s heats.

 

Swedish kayaker Isak Ohrstrom was the fastest paddler in men’s K1 heats. He had two penalty seconds but managed to be just below the 100 seconds mark. Slovak Tokyo Olympic medallist Jakub Grigar finished second in the heats. He was 1.43 seconds behind Ohrstrom. Grigar was actually faster on his home course, but four penalty seconds pushed him down to second position. Swiss representative Manuel Munsch was third in this event.

 

On Sunday, the 75^th Tatra Slalomand ECA Open Canoe Slalom European Cup will continue with semifinal and final in canoe slalom as well as kayak cross.