Photo Credit: Eric Francis
The second weekend of the USA Canoe Slalom Team Trials and ICF World Ranking Race took place March 27–29 at RIVERSPORT OKC in Oklahoma City, delivering an exciting weekend of racing at a venue that will host the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
With a World Cup-caliber international field in attendance, the event provided U.S. athletes with a valuable opportunity to test themselves against top global competition on a world championship course. U.S. athletes rose to the challenge, delivering strong performances across multiple events.
In the ICF World Ranking Race, USA women led the way with an impressive 4th-place finish in Women’s C1 by Evy Leibfarth and 7th place in Women’s Kayak secured by Ria Sribar. For the USA Men, Michal Smolen and Casey Eichfeld both advanced to the B-finals in their respective events, each finishing 6th in Men’s Kayak and Men’s Canoe.
View full ICF World Ranking Race results
In addition to international racing, the weekend’s results also finalized selections for the 2026 USA Canoe Slalom National Team nominations. The following athletes have earned the right to represent the United States at upcoming World Cups and the World Championships:
Men’s Kayak (MK1): Michal Smolen, Kaelin Friedenson, Tyler Westfall
Women’s Kayak (WK1): Evy Leibfarth, Ria Sribar, Marcella Altman
Men’s Canoe (MC1): Casey Eichfeld, Zach Lokken, Nathaniel Francis
Women’s Canoe (WC1): Evy Leibfarth, Marcella Altman, Carden Oetting
Men’s Kayak Cross (MX1): Kaelin Friedenson, Michal Smolen, Kyler Long
Women’s Kayak Cross (WX1): Evy Leibfarth, Isabella Altman, Marcella Altman
The event not only showcased the depth and strength of U.S. canoe slalom but also served as an early preview of the level of competition expected at the 2026 World Championships. Racing on a future world championship course against a deep international field, U.S. athletes demonstrated both resilience and readiness as they prepare for the season ahead.
As the team looks toward World Cups and the World Championships, the momentum from Oklahoma City sets a strong foundation for continued success on the global stage.