In November current European Champion Daniele Molmenti visited Ljubljana. Italian attended short training camp together with World Champion, Slovenian Peter Kauzer, and two times Olympic medalist Fabien Lefèvre. The camp was a start of winter season and it offered opportunity to share ideas and feelings. Daniele Molmenti pointed out that finding good feelings on River Sava should not be hard in Tacen, since course has been more or less the same over the last years. “It will be harder to beat Pero at his home course. But I did it a few times already and it will be harder for him to defend his title. Slalom race is like a lottery. You need good numbers to win and I’m feeling lucky for this season!” added Molmenti, who plans to intensify his trainings in Tacen in summer. “I’m going to take it easy until summer, then I’ll have more sessions in Tacen and prepare for the Worlds.” Italian, who is frequent guest in Slovenia, also hopes to have support of his fans at World Championships - after all, his home town is very close to Ljubljana.

Slovakian Jana Dukatova, former World Champion and one of the best female paddlers, also spent few days in Ljubljana. She already did two training camps in Tacen in October and November. 26­-year old Dukatova was satisfied with the conditions: “The conditions were good, I could paddle twice a day. The course in Tacen is really specific and I wanted to start my preparations for the 2010 World Championships as soon as possible. The distance between Bratislava and Ljubljana is not too long, so I plan to come to Tacen for training camp in spring again,” said Dukatova, who will take part in the competition in May as well. “I like venue in Tacen, people who manage the course and grand tribune full of people. Races there are always full of emotions,” also added Slovakian.

Molmenti, Lefèvre and Dukatova were not the only slalom stars who already visited Ljubljana and started preparations for World Championships. Two times Olympic champion (Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004) Tony Estanguet visited Slovenian capital with his brother and coach Patrice. Frenchman tested various boat models, including brand new (although not completely finished yet) model, made especially for Tacen course. During his stay in Ljubljana Tony Estanguet trained together with one of the most experienced Slovenian canoeists Simon Hočevar and the two exchanged several experiences. Tony Estanguet is supposed to return in spring, when he will also take part in slalom races in Tacen.

Nina Jelenc