Oklahoma City to Host U.S. 2024 Canoe Slalom and Kayak Olympic Team Trials
Riversport OKC to host quadrennial event
Posted On: December 22, 2023 By :Riversport OKC in Oklahoma City will host the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials for kayak cross and canoe slalom from April 26-28, 2024.
Riversport is a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site with a pumped artificial competition channel, which is now the standard for Olympic Slalom and Kayak Cross events. The non-profit organization has hosted numerous national and international canoe/kayak race events including 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Canoe Slalom, 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint Super Cup and 2022 Stand Up Paddling World Cup.
It will host several upcoming international events including the 2025 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup and 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom and Sprint Super Cups plus the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
“We are honored to be hosting U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Canoe Slalom and also qualifying athletes for the first time for the new Kayak Cross discipline making its debut in Paris,” said Mike Knopp, executive director of Riversport OKC. “We welcome the opportunity to showcase the sport and encourage everyone to come out and enjoy this exciting weekend of racing.”
Canoe slalom is contested by canoe and kayak and events are timed where competitors navigate a whitewater course by passing through a combination of upstream and downstream gates. Kayak cross will debut in Paris with four kayakers in a head-to-head format, racing down a section of whitewater while negotiating several inflatable gates.
The Olympic Team Trials at Riversport will be the second and final event for Olympic team selection. The first event will be announced in the near future.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Riversport to select our Team USA athletes for Paris,” said Beth Spilman, executive director for the American Canoe Association. “The Olympic Trials are always a great opportunity to showcase our amazing sport and athletes, many of whom are among the best in the world.”
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