Water, Sun and Good Vibes: Paddleride Attracted Canoeing Fans

On Sunday, June 22, the popular Uniqa Paddleride returned once again to the Canoeing area in Troja. This annual event, open to both professional paddlers and the general public, traditionally serves as a prelude to the international Canoe Slalom World Cup. This year, around seventy paddlers took part.

The eight-kilometer route from Troja to Kampa welcomed not only slalom fans but also several top Czech athletes, including Olympic silver medalist Lukáš Rohan and the 2022 world champion Vít Přindiš.

The hot summer weather made the water especially inviting. “Everyone really enjoyed the roughly three-hour paddle. These days, more and more people from outside the paddling community are joining in. I’m glad I could take part this year and enjoy it without any competitive pressure,” said kayaker Vít Přindiš, one of the event's organizers.

Among the participants were the sons of Olympic champion Jiří Prskavec – little Jiři and Marek – who paddled together with their grandparents, Marcela and Jiří Prskavec Sr.

While waiting at the Štvanice locks, the crowd once again broke into the traditional canoeing anthem about a goat in a red shirt – this time led by canoeist Lukáš Rohan.

The sunny afternoon continued even after landing at Kampa, where paddlers gathered at a nearby kindergarten for refreshments and a traditional campfire with roasted sausages.

“I think the event was a great success. Everyone will go home with nice memories and experiences – and that’s exactly our goal,” said main organizer Lukáš Přinda.

Pádlojízda unofficially kicked off the Canoe Slalom World Cup, which will take place in Troja from Friday, June 27 to Sunday, June 29. Fans who can’t make it to Troja in person can follow the races live on ČT Sport. More updates and information are available on the Canoe Slalom Prague and Czech Canoe social media channels.