ICF Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross World Ranking

World-class canoeing comes to Ivrea

Every spring, the Ivrea Canoe Stadium, set on the banks of the Dora Baltea, hosts a leg of the World Ranking circuit of the International Canoe Federation (ICF), which awards points for the world rankings in canoe slalom and kayak cross. For three days, the town of Ivrea, located in the Metropolitan City of Turin and in the heart of the Piedmontese Canavese, becomes the go-to destination for whitewater sports enthusiasts.

The Dora Baltea canal

The races take place on the Canoe Stadium canal, a technical facility carved into the course of the Dora Baltea. It has been renovated in recent years to adjust its gradient and length, making it particularly well-suited for slalom. The course, nestled within the Ivrea Morainic Amphitheatre, allows spectators to follow the athletes from just a few meters away along the canal banks: an intimate and immersive experience that is rare in the world of international sports events.

Slalom and kayak cross

The program alternates between the classic slalom discipline—where canoeists must navigate a series of suspended gates in the fastest time possible without penalties—and the more spectacular kayak cross, an Olympic specialty where four athletes start simultaneously and face off in knockout heats, featuring contact, overtaking, and a diving start from a ramp. Competition categories include men's and women's K1 and C1.

A city that is a capital of canoeing

The May event kicks off a packed international season: throughout the year, Ivrea also hosts stages of the ECA Junior Cup, the Italian Championships, and, most notably, the European Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross Championships. The city, recognized by UNESCO for its 20th-century industrial heritage, thus blends the thrill of whitewater sports with the charm of its historic center and the surrounding Canavese territory.

For the public

Access to the races is free: the public can watch the competitions from the banks of the canal, in a natural setting just a stone's throw from the center of Ivrea. It is a perfect opportunity to discover an Olympic discipline up close and, between heats, explore the city and the Canavese region.