Videographer: Alessandro Leonori | Copy: Nick Harding | @nickhdg | Sportscene - Whitewater meets sprint this weekend at the European Downriver Championships on the Soča River. This year is special for Slovenians – an event has not taken place here for over two decades! 

The 'European Destination of Excellence' famous for its pristine nature, does the honours for Europe's senior downriver competitors, most fresh from last month's Ilz Wildwater race in Germany.

The aim of wildwater or downriver is to get from A to B, usually a four-mile course, as quickly as possible through tricky rapids – strength, power and tactical skill; all required.

Location

Named the 'Emerald River', the Soča meanders past the villages of Srpenica and Trnovo ob Soči where the event will be held, athletes and local entertainment are based in host town Bovec.

Some say the 'world's most beautiful' others say 'one of the most technical', the 138km-long river negotiates 96km of territory in Western Slovenia and a further 43km in North East Italy. In any case the Julian Alpes make a picturesque setting for both competitors and riverbank-cheerers alike.

Ones to watch out for

European competitors dominated last year's world rankings in downriver, as a team France look strong, very strong and set to take many wins.

Slovenia are proud of their own Nejc Znidarcic who was ranked K1 world number 1 in 2012, France's Paul Graton and Germany's Tobias Bong were numbers two and three respectively. In C1M fellow Slovenian Blaz Cof was ranked 8th overall in the series, the top slot went to France's Guillaume Alzingre, third also to Frenchman Yann Claudepierre.

As for K1W two French and three German women were in the world top 5 – Sixteen Malatarre nabbed first place. As for C1W there was a tight scrap for first between neighbouring Italy's Andrea Merola and, only non-European last year, Australia's Katie Watkins.

As for the last European Downriver Championships two years ago in 2011 in Kraljevo, Serbia, the French were omnipotent;

• 1st: Pété Remi K1 classic (Slovenia's Nejc finished 4th)
• 1st: K1M classic team, 2nd in the K1W
• 3rd: Guillaume in C1M and 2nd C1M classic team
• 1st: Laetita Parage won the K1W sprint and team sprint
• 1st: K1W team with Sixtine and Cecile Vallaeys
• 2nd: K1M sprint team
• 1st: C1M sprint team
• 2nd: C2M classic team

Watch out for the Czechs, Germans and Italians too, hot on the French's tails. There could be a few surprise wins too like from the Swiss; Sabine Eichenberger won the K1W classic.

We're all in for a great weekend of racing at the Soča.

Event website: www.soca2013.si/ep_eng/eng/