2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Pau: Schedule and Viewing Options

The 2025 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Slalom World Cup is set to take place from June 13 to June 15 in Pau, France, marking a significant event in the canoeing calendar. This competition will showcase the world’s best paddlers as they compete on the challenging whitewater course that has historically been a site of iconic performances.

After a thrilling season opener in La Seu d’Urgell, Spain, where surprises abounded, athletes will arrive in Pau eager to assert their dominance in the sport. This will be the first time the World Cup returns to this historic French city in three years, and paddlers are expected to be motivated by the legacy of local legends such as Tony Estanguet and Fabien Lefevre.

The competition will feature various formats, including heats and finals, where the new progression system demands precision and speed, allowing little room for error. This element of unpredictability adds to the excitement for both athletes and fans alike.

Among the local favorites is 20-year-old Titouan Castryck, who recently secured a silver medal in the men’s kayak event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. After winning the first World Cup event of the season, Castryck is poised to perform well on home soil. He will face stiff competition from fellow Olympians, including Pau Echaniz, Jiri Prskavec, and Lucien Delfour.

In the men's canoe category, Nicolas Gestin, the reigning Olympic champion, is also a potential medal contender. Gestin has consistently performed well, recently clinching podium finishes at the European Championships, and aims to add another victory to his impressive list of achievements, which includes multiple World Cup titles and a knighthood in the French Legion of Honour.

The women’s kayak cross event will feature current World Cup leader Angele Hug, who is also a silver medallist from the Paris 2024 Olympics. Hug’s strong form will be challenged by competitors such as Jessica Fox, Finn Butcher, and Kimberley Woods, all of whom are capable of shaking up the standings.

The event schedule is as follows (all times in local time, GMT +2): - **Friday, June 13**: 13:45 Women’s kayak - heats 14:58 Men’s kayak - heats 17:19 Women’s kayak - final 18:02 Men’s kayak - final

- **Saturday, June 14**: 11:15 Women’s canoe - heats 12:21 Men’s canoe - heats 15:04 Women’s canoe - final 15:47 Men’s canoe - final

- **Sunday, June 15**: 10:15 Women’s kayak cross individual 11:17 Men’s kayak cross individual 14:15 Women’s and men’s kayak cross - heats 15:15 Women’s and men’s kayak cross - finals

The event can be streamed live on the International Canoe Federation’s YouTube channel, with a subscription required for access. Fans can anticipate a weekend filled with intense competition as paddlers vie not only for World Cup points but also for the honor of competing on their home turf in Pau.