Italian Wildwater Canoeing Championships

The Italian Wildwater Canoeing Championships in Gaiola

The Italian Wildwater Canoeing Championships are one of the most anticipated sporting events on the calendar of the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation. For over a decade, their natural stage has been the Stura di Demonte river, which flows through the town of Gaiola, in the province of Cuneo, in the heart of the Stura Valley, in Piedmont. The lively waters of the Stura, regulated by the Roccasparvera hydroelectric plant, offer a technical and fascinating race course, nestled among the alpine mountains just a few kilometers from the French border.

A tradition begun in 2014

Gaiola has hosted the Italian Canoeing Championships since 2014, thanks to the commitment of Paolo Camurati and the ASD Stiera - Canoa & Rafting, which manages the rafting base in the Stiera area. Since then, the small Cuneo town has become a reference point for the wildwater discipline, welcoming dozens of sports clubs from all over Italy every year. The event has helped establish the Stura Valley as a destination for river sports, so much so that the municipal administration is now aiming to bid for Gaiola to host a World Cup stage in the future.

The two disciplines: sprint and classic

The race program is divided into two disciplines that test different skills of the athletes:

• Sprint race: a short, fast test held in the spectacular gorge section, with the finish line in front of the Stiera rafting base. It is the most adrenaline-fueled discipline, where power and speed of execution are key.
• Classic race: a long-distance test starting from Stiera and ending at the lake of Roccasparvera, along a scenic river route that requires endurance, current reading, and technical precision.

Categories and protagonists

The Championships award national titles in numerous categories, from youth to masters: Youth, Junior, Under 23, Senior, and Master, in both kayak (K1) and canoe (C1 and C2), with individual and team events for both men and women. Each edition attracts dozens of crews and athletes, accompanied by coaches, families, and fans who bring the banks of the Stura to life throughout the weekend.

Sport and territory

Beyond the competitive aspect, the event is an important showcase for the Stura Valley and the town of Gaiola, which leverages river sports to promote its natural heritage. The collaboration between the federation, the organizing club, the Unione Montana Valle Stura, and local authorities makes the Championships an event capable of combining high-level competition with the tourism promotion of the Piedmont region.