A strong crowd came out to support the competitors on the final day of this season's first ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup race in Tacen. Melanie Pfeifer (GER) was the fastest on the Sava River with a 0.52 seconds advantage over Dana Mann (SVK) who was second.

"The first eight gates were very difficult but I managed to paddle through. I was nervous at the last gates, but everything went well in the end," said Melanie Pfeifer. Bronze medallist from last year's European Championships and former Junior World Champion Urša Kragelj (SLO) finished third in Women's Kayak Final, while her team colleague and also former Junior World Champion Eva Terčelj finished the race just behind her, in fourth place.

There were a few suprises in the semi-finals, when reigning European Champion Claudia Baer, third placed from last year's World Championships in Tacen and Violetta Oblinger Peters (AUT) and former World Champion Jasmin Schornberg (GER) all failed to advance to the grand finale. Kragelj's progress from semi-final to final was endangered untill the last competitor in semi-final, Violetta Oblinger Peters, came through the finish line. But when it was clear that the medallist from Olympic Games in Beijing, Violetta Oblinger Peters was too slow for the final, it became apparent that the local crowd will be rewarded for their loyaly by having two Slovenia paddlers in the finals, with the other Slovenian Eva Terčelj being second after the semis.

In the second run Kragelj paddled even better and secured herself a first World Cup podium; she was really satisfied at the end:

This is fantastic! Before the race I did not believe something like this could happen. I managed to have a decent run so I was pleased. I managed to relax which is why I could show what I am capable of. I got some additional motivation from Eva (Terčelj) who had a great run today. I'm sorry that she thouched the gates otherwise she could be on the podium. But she would supersede me so I'm happy with the way things turned out. Incredible! I cannot believe it! I'm third in Tacen. Fantastic! I could not have wished even in my dreams for such a great start of the season.

In Men's C2 final Slovakian twins Pavol and Peter Hochschorner once again showed why they are considered one of the best C2 crews of all times, if not (now) the best team ever. The three times Olympic Champions were 2.69 seconds faster than Hugo Bisso and Pierre Picco (FRA), while another Slovakian duo Ladislav and Peter Škantar were third. "We are happy. This is our first World Cup win after a long time. Last year we did not have any victories in the World Cup. The course was difficult, because the water here in Tacen is changing all the time, so it is very hard to produce two good runs. We are very happy to start the season with two wins", said Peter Hochschorner.

The main goal of the season for these excellent Slovakian paddlers is without a doubt the World Championships at their home course in Bratislava. »The World Championships is at our home course this year, so it is going to be hard because of the pressure of all the spectators. But still we have a great opportunity to secure ourselves the Olympic nod,« said Pavol Hochschorner. Slovenians had high hopes also in this category, but all three boats finished this competition in semi-final. Luka Božič and Sašo Taljat were 11th and just missed out the final, but at the same time they repeated their result from last year's World Championships here at Sava River. "We hit the last gates, but did not come right in the one before already. Our tail got carried away, but the mistake was made even before that, when we had problems with the upstream gates. The run in the heats was good; today we would be in the finals if we had a clean run. L'Argentierre World Cup and U23 are ahead of us now", Luka Božič said.

The World Cup Series will continue next weekend in France with a race in L'Argentierre, while the third race will follow just after that in Markkleeberg, Germany. The World Cup series will end in August with a race in Prague.

For more updates and results visit www.sloka.si.