Overview
- A free public opening ceremony took place Saturday night at RIVERSPORT’s McClendon Whitewater Center, and full competition begins Monday, July 20.
- The weeklong championships run through July 25 and feature three events: canoe slalom (C1), kayak slalom (K1) and kayak cross.
- Athletes from about 50 nations are on site, with reports varying between roughly 250 and more than 300 competitors on entry lists.
- The field includes Olympic medalists and top contenders such as Jessica Fox, Evy Leibfarth and Joseph Clarke, making the meet a preview of form ahead of 2028.
- Organizers say weeks of athlete training and visitor stays have driven hotel and restaurant demand, and hosts note this is only the third time the championships have been held in North America and that results will factor into Olympic selection and qualification processes.