Background, European Championships, World Championships

Cunovo is under reconstruction

By CSNFebruary 3, 2010

Middle section of the course number 1 (left side) in Cunovo, although there rarely flows water, is known by many competitors from all around the world. Last time when it flew on big race it was during European Championships in 2002. Wild water in this section is dangerous and unstable. By its nature, provides only limited possibilities for the position of different combinations of gates. Already by its first run in 1995 it was criticized by Olympic winner in C1 Lukáš Polert. Many competitors tried hardness of rocks and shallow bottom. Few boats finished their journey exactly at this place. Despite two subsequent reconstructions of the course it failed to remodel it to operate daily for slalom needs.

World Championships are a big challenge also for organizers, who decided to adjust the problematic course for upcoming World Championships 2011 to meet the highest criteria of Canoe Slalom.

Works began in November 2009. In the first stage will be removed almost all current obstacles and holes will be filled with concrete. Afterwards, moveable obstacles will help to test the configuration of new position of obstacles. After the final decision how the obstacles will be placed, this section will be filled with concrete in its original design as rest of the course.

“Works started two month later than we originally planned. It was necessary to get some permission and mostly to convince owners of the facilities, that the final position of obstacles is not possible to draw to current project. Where and how big are obstacles going to be we will see after long testing during the full training for the European Championship. That’s why we would like to test it over the night with artificial lights. Our people worked on demolition works also in temperature bellow zero in snow.

Because of the time lost since the beginning we don’t have enough time. Course must be ready for Slovak Open, which is also Pre-World Championships. We are still optimistic,” said one of the main organizers Róbert Orokocký.

And what nature of water in this section expects constructors after completion of works? “Considering width and slope, parameters are good. But we have some limitations in the amount of water flow. We are limited by maximum flow rate at the entrance water gate, which is 22m3. The project should not only correct course number 1 but also adjust water flow causing in the future that both courses will flow simultaneously. Usage of the area will be doubled and water slalom will not have to be restricted by commercial rafting.”