The Czech Republic’s TR Hiko was among the standout teams at the Rafting World Cup Series. Despite fielding a lean squad of five athletes and one reserve, the team competed in all race categories—Sprint, RX (Raft Cross), and Slalom.
TR Hiko demonstrated exceptional teamwork and experience throughout the competition. Having paddled together for many years, the team showcased remarkable synchronization and technical skill on the water.
“This is a very traditional Czech team that has been participating in the R4 Championship since it began. Our first championship was about 20 years ago in Holland, and since then we have competed at the highest international level,” said team captain Jakub Vrzan.
The tournament also marked the team’s first visit to Africa.
“As a team, this is our very first time in Africa, and we are happy to be here,” Jakub added.
TR Hiko is regarded as one of the legends of international rafting, having won numerous medals at World Rafting Championships across different race categories. The team also comes from a country with a rich and deeply rooted rafting culture.
“Two of our paddlers are from the original team. I have been competing for 15 years, while one member is relatively new. To be honest, the course was not very difficult for us because we are used to more challenging rivers. However, we understand that the course has to suit everyone. Still, the river here is completely different from what we are accustomed to,” remarked Jakub.
Despite making their first trip to Africa, the Czech team relied on its vast experience while embracing the opportunity to compete and experience Kenya.
“We are trying our best. This was actually our first time racing together as this team on the water, so our expectations were not very high. The Italians are very strong, and the Japanese team is equally competitive. We had no idea about the African teams, so we wanted to see how things would unfold. Our main expectation was to enjoy the experience and see the real Africa. We were pleasantly surprised by how fast the Kenyan team was,” Jakub said.
The Czech team finished the Rafting World Cup Series with three medals, winning silver in the Sprint, gold in the RX (Raft Cross), and another silver medal in the Slalom.
