2021 ECA Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe European Championships

The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler. The cockpit is sometimes covered by a spray deck that prevents the entry of water from waves or spray, differentiating the craft from a canoe. The spray deck makes it possible for suitably skilled kayakers to roll the kayak: that is, to capsize and right it without it filling with water or ejecting the paddler.

Some modern boats vary considerably from a traditional design but still claim the title "kayak", for instance in eliminating the cockpit by seating the paddler on top of the boat ("sit-on-top" kayaks); having inflated air chambers surrounding the boat; replacing the single hull by twin hulls, and replacing paddles with other human-powered propulsion methods, such as foot-powered rotational propellers and "flippers". Kayaks are also being sailed, as well as propelled by means of small electric motors, and even by outboard gas engines.

One of Europe’s most beautiful and picturesque rivers, the Soča River, will once again become the centre of attention in canoeing. The course between Srpenica and Trnovo ob Soči, which hosted the ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships in 1991 and Wildwater Canoeing European Championships in 2013, is well known in canoeing. I proudly invite you to the competition we organise in cooperation with Bovec and Kobarid Municipalities between 14th and 18th May 2019.