Versatile paddler Anze Urankar will add another string to his bow when he competes at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships.
Urankar is a Youth Olympic Games gold medallist in Canoe Slalom, a multiple world champion in Wildwater Canoeing and now a participant on the global stage in both Canoe Sprint and Canoe Ocean Racing.
His participation on the island of Madeira this weekend will put him in a unique position having raced in World Championships in three different disciplines this year.
Urankar represented Slovenia at both the ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships in Sabero, Spain and the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in a busy August and will now make his debut at the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships.
He even participated at last month’s ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Metkovic, Croatia, albeit as a coach.
“I will have to do Canoe Polo next,” said Urankar.
“I am joking but I really think it is good to do all the disciplines and take the most out of each of them.
“You have to enjoy it as well and not just focus on results.”
Canoe Slalom was the discipline where Urankar’s paddling journey began after getting into a kayak for the first time at the age of nine.
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Urankar showcased his qualities on the Youth Olympic stage when he triumphed in the men’s obstacle Canoe Slalom kayak single at Nanjing 2014.
That day, Urankar overcame Slovakia’s Jakub Grigar – a man who has since won Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020 – but the Slovenian opted not to take the same Canoe Slalom path.
“In Slovenia, we all start in Canoe Slalom,” said Urankar.
“In 2014, I became Youth Olympic champion in slalom but I didn’t want to stay there as I like more people in wildwater so that’s why I decided to move into that.”
Urankar has established himself as one of the best Wildwater Canoeing paddlers in the world over the past seven years.
He captured his first world title in K1 sprint in 2017 before triumphing in both 2023 and 2024.
Having defended his crown in Sabero, Urankar would have been forgiven for taking some time off to celebrate his latest victory.
Instead, Urankar was soon back in another boat, competing at another World Championships in another discipline.
Just a week later, Urankar made his first appearance at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Samarkand where he finished fifth in the men’s K1 200m final.
“It was my first time, so I was happy to make fifth place,” said Urankar.
“I think I can get even better in the next years so I will try my best.”
Having made his mark in Uzbekistan and featured at this year’s two ICF Canoe Sprint World Cups, Urankar clearly has ambitions to pursue his talent in flatwater.
But Urankar believes his improvements in Canoe Sprint has also raised his performance in Wildwater Canoeing.
“Flatwater really helps me with my physical preparations for wildwater and I also think that my technique improved because of it,” said Urankar.
“That’s why I chose to do flatwater.
“I prefer wildwater but I think that flatwater really helps to improve my results in wildwater.”
While some paddlers might struggle to make the adjustments to race across different disciplines, Urankar says he finds it “quite easy”.
“In the winter, I am paddling more flatwater but I am also doing some wildwater sessions,” said Urankar.
“In the summer, I am changing my boat two or three times per week and I am also doing some slalom sessions as well.
“So it’s not hard for me.
“I just need one training session and then I’m in.”
Having demonstrated his skills in Canoe Slalom, Wildwater Canoeing and Canoe Sprint, Urankar was keen to find another discipline to get his teeth into.
After hearing that the ICF was holding a Canoe Ocean Racing development camp alongside the World Championships in Madeira, Urankar quickly signed up with the support of the Slovenia Canoe Federation.
Urankar has arrived on the island along with compatriot Simon Oven, a two-time world champion in Wildwater Canoeing men’s K1 classic, as Slovenia makes its debut at the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships.
“It’s my first time at a World Championships in ocean racing,” said Urankar.
“It’s a lot different.
“The boat is different and the ocean is different but I have always wanted to try this type of racing.
“I asked the federation if they can send me to this event and I was invited to this development programme.
“In Slovenia, we don’t have these types of boats.
“We sometimes paddle on the sea but never with this boat so this is a first.
“It’s not a big change because it is similar to flatwater because it has rudder.
“The technique is different so I will have to adapt a little.”
Urankar will line-up in Friday’s men’s surfski single race where he will come up against the world’s best.
“We will see how it goes but the guys are really fast and it is too long for me,” said Urankar.
“It’s 21 kilometres so I will try to just enjoy it and do my best.”
Urankar added: “This is my third World Championships.
“It has been a really good season but also a hard one because I have been changing boats all the time.
“It has been stressful but I’m happy with it.
“I like doing this sport.
“That’s what keeps me here and having good times and good memories.
“I also like to train.
“The best feeling for me is when you are tired after a good training session.
“It’s like a drug to me.”
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