Next year's European Championship will be in Pau and the Olympic World Championship will be in La Seu

The Olympic champion Maialen Chourraut (K1M) and the international Joan Crespo (K1H), Nuria Vilarubla (C1M) and Miquél Travé (C1H) are best known to lead the national slalom team after the first phase of the selection tests that have taken place these days on the Olympic Canal of Parc del Segre in the Leridana town of Seu d'Urgell, where the combined participates with France in transnational selection tests.

The technical director of the Spanish Piragüismo Federation, Ekaitz Saies, has stated: "This is the first time we have organized transnational selection tests of this scale. France has historically been one of the dominant countries in the slalom and we aspire to be in the medium term... we are very good placed on the international scene but we want to continue to improve... so we have agreed to celebrate these selectives together with them."

These selection tests have given rise to a great international interest, and one example of this is that Olympic medalists like the Australian Jessica Fox have asked to be able to participate as competition openers.

The second phase of selection will be held on 2, 3 and 4 May on the Pau channel and finally on Friday 4 the team will be known to participate in the next international meetings.