After three intense days of competition sharing the river side-by-side with wildwater canoe athletes, sunday’s action brought this stage of the 2026 World Rafting Cup to a spectacular close in Mezzana, Val di Sole.
The Italian Alps provided a stunning backdrop, but it was the water that stole the show. The river levels were absolutely optimal throughout the weekend, largely thanks to a few short summer showers that kept the flow punchy and fast. Huge credit goes to the local organizers - managing a venue packed with different specialties and keeping the courses running smoothly across a massive three-day schedule is no small feat, but the execution was flawless!
Of course, the final Slalom races delivered the signature whitewater drama we all love. We saw a few crews flip and take a quick swim in the rapids, but that’s the reality of pushing limits on this kind of water. Thanks to the guiding skills and the river safety, everyone was pulled out safely and the energy on the banks remained electric.
When it came to the timing beams, the margins were razor-thin. In the Senior Men's division, Ivrea Canoa Club-Dream Team snatched the gold with a blazing 107.06, edging out Japan Rafting Team Teikei (107.29) by mere fractions of a second. M&N Movimento & Natura claimed the bronze with a 110.13.
The Senior Women's category saw Rafting Team Verona-Garfagnana dominate the gates, locking in first place with a solid 169.84. They were followed by ASD Canoe Rafting Pescantina (187.29) and Ivrea Canoa Club-Lanakila (205.97) in second and third.
In the Senior Mix, Rafting Team Verona-Ivrea set the standard with a winning score of 109.52, leaving Ivrea Canoa Club (120.87) to take silver and the Czech Republic's RK Troja (121.49) to take bronze. The Para class brought an inspiring finish, with Salamandre Parafting Belgium (136.67) putting down a highly technical run to take first place ahead of M&N Movimento e Natura (180.58).
With the European chapter wrapped, the World Rafting community is already packing its bags. Next up is Sagana, Africa. With more than 40 teams already officially registered, the stage is set for a massive showdown. Stay connected - we're just getting started!
