WM - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 1977 - 4 Shilling

The canoe has a centuries-long tradition, as the canoes were already known on the Vikings' waterways. Around 1900, Heurich developed the collapsible folding boat with a linen skin. In the thirties of the 20th century, the canvas covering of the folding boat was replaced by the then newly developed rubber material, from 1965 canoes were predominantly made of polyester. The Austrian Kayak Association was founded on October 24, 1923. With its organizational development in the following decades, this competitive sport established itself in the field of whitewater on the one hand and with canoeing in stagnant waters on the other. In 1934, the first canoe slalom in Austria was held on the Mühltraisen near St. Georgen. Austria was already represented in the first International Canoe Slalom Commission of 1936. After the Second World War, the Austrian paddle sports association reservoir of all associations of the ÖKV. The year 1972 was a milestone for the International Canoe Slalom with the first registration at the Summer Olympics. With the World Championships of 1977 on the Lieser near Spittal the tradition of Austria in this sport was successfully continued.