Kayakers Jessica Fox and Vit Prindis finished the 2021 canoe slalom world cup season in style, both winning not only gold on Saturday in Pau, but also the overall world cup series titles.

Australia’s Fox continued her incredible form in the second part of the world cup season. She won last week in La Seu d'Urgell both in kayak and the canoe events, and continued her winning streak on Saturday with a win in the women's kayak final.

But it was a tighter final this time as the Australian finished the race 0.72 seconds ahead of Czech Katerina Minarik Kudejova, and 1.54 seconds ahead of Slovenian Ursa Kragelj.

Fox also won the overall world cup series in women's kayak, ahead of Luuka Jones from New Zealand and Eva Tercelj from Slovenia.

"It is an amazing feeling to come out here today, to have some spectators. We haven't had them all season, it was really special to be racing. And to win ... I am thrilled," Fox said.

"The whole bottom section was really challenging, it's where I made a mistake on that run, so I really gave everything I had. I had no arms left at the finish. I couldn't even see the time at the finish line."

Vit Prindis is another kayaker who has been unstoppable in the second part of the season. The 32-year-old Czech won his second world cup gold this season, after being the best last week in Spain.

In addition, he won the extreme world cup race in Prague and finished second in extreme slalom in Markkleeberg. He also won the European champion title in the first part of the season.

The win in Pau was the seventh canoe slalom world cup win for Prindis. He was half a second faster than Slovenian Peter Kauzer, who celebrated his 38th birthday in Pau. Joseph Clarke from Great Britain was third, 1.25 second behind Prindis.

Prindis won the overall world cup series with a total of 263 points. Kauzer was second in the overall standings with 39 points and Italian Giovanni De Gennaro was third with 220 points.

"I was a little bit worried in the first left up, because I was too long there. I lost a lot of time there. I said to myself I need to cut it more, so I cut the next few ups, which was really good. Then I slowed down, took it easier. I did not do many mistakes," Prindis said.

"I was in the flow, which was good and I am really happy with the result.

"It's a special feeling. I think it's a fourth year in a row that a Czech kayaker is the overall winner, so it is amazing. I am happy I proved again I am one of the best kayakers, which is important for me."

The World Cup season will end on Sunday with thewomen's and men's canoe semifinals and finals and extreme slalom races.

There will be no rest for the athletes as the ICF World Championships in Bratislava starts in ten days. Fox is heading to Slovakia early next week.

"We haven't had many opportunities to train in Slovakia. It is a very strict and peculiar situation, so we will leave on Tuesday,” Fox said.

“I am looking forward to discovering the course. We will see what the organisation is like. I think it is very challenging this year."

Words and pics by Nina Jelenc