Italian Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross Championship

Italian canoe titles in Ivrea

The Ivrea Canoe Stadium, on the banks of the Dora Baltea, hosts the Italian Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross Championship, the event that awards the absolute national titles in both disciplines. For one day, the town of Ivrea, located in the Metropolitan City of Turin and in the heart of the Canavese, becomes the Italian capital of whitewater sports, drawing the country's best specialists to compete for the Italian Champion jersey.

The Dora Baltea canal

The races are held on the artificial canal of the Canoe Stadium, carved into the course of the Dora Baltea and considered one of the most technical and spectacular tracks in Europe. The banks allow the public to follow the athletes from just a few meters away, in a natural setting nestled within the Morainic Amphitheatre of Ivrea: a close-up, immersive experience that is rare for high-level sporting events.

Slalom and kayak cross

The program alternates between the two specialties that make up competitive river canoeing. In slalom, canoeists must navigate a series of gates suspended over the water in the shortest time possible, avoiding penalties: the Italian Senior C1 and K1 titles are awarded for both men and women. In the more spectacular kayak cross, a specialty now part of the Olympic program, four athletes start simultaneously with a jump from a ramp and compete in knockout heats, featuring contact and overtaking: titles are up for grabs for Senior, Under 23, and Junior categories.

Night-time finals

The most evocative moment is the final phase of the kayak cross, which is held at night thanks to the canal's lighting system. The lights on the water turn the final heats into a scenic spectacle, highly appreciated by the crowd that fills the banks of the Dora Baltea for the day's grand finale.

A city that is a canoeing capital

This national event is part of a very busy international season: throughout the year, the Ivrea Canoe Stadium also hosts a stage of the ICF World Ranking, the ECA Junior Cup, and other continental events. Ivrea, recognized by UNESCO for its 20th-century industrial heritage, thus combines whitewater sports with the charm of its historic center and the surrounding Canavese territory in Piedmont.

For the public

Access to the races is free: spectators can follow the competitions from the banks of the canal, just a short walk from the center of Ivrea. It is a great opportunity to discover two Olympic disciplines up close and, between heats, visit the city and the Canavese area.