History of Prague Troja course

Here you can find some articles from Prague Troja course history.

 

History of the slalom venue in Troja

The artificial slalom course in Prague-Troja was originally a log chute constructed as a part of Troja – Podbaba weir in years 1899 to 1902. In the 1970s thanks to the effort of Professor Jaroslav Pollert the chute was redesigned to the artificial slalom course. It has been used as a main training centre for the canoe slalom athletes. However thanks to its various stages of difficulty the course is also used by the general public, rodeo or rafting racers or Czech police and fire-fighter departments for their trainings.

The very first time was the course put in the operation in the autumn of 1980. First national race was held just a year later, and in 1982 the venue welcomed athletes from all over the world for the race called „The Trojan Horse Prize”. The race of this name has been organized traditionally since then every year as the race of the World Cup series or an international race. We’ve hosted eleven World Cup races so far - 1992, 1996, 2000 – 2002, 2004, 2007 – 2008, 2010 – 2012.

In 1994 the historically first World University Canoe Slalom Championship was held in Troja. Thanks to Mr Květoslav Jech this race has later spread internationally.

Czech Cups are held in Troja regularly almost every year: 1993–6, 1999, 2000, 2004–8, 2010 a 2011. Czech National Championship was organized in Troja in 2003, 2012 and this year in August.

In 2006 after a long, 39 years pause, the Canoe Slalom World Championships was held again in the Czech Republic. It was the fourth major event here. The first was Canoe Slalom World Championships in 1967 at Lipno and Whitewater Canoeing World Championships in Špindlerův Mlýn. In 1996 Junior Canoe Slalom World Championships was organized in Lipno and in 1998 the European Championships was held in Roudnice nad Labem.

In 2013, the Czech canoeing celebrates its hundredthanniversary, WhiteWater Centre in Prague Troja is proud to host ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships 2013. In case of Prague's candidacy for the Olympic Games, Prague Troja is tentatively chosen to be an Olympic venue for canoe Slalom.