Crossing the ditch, New Zealand joins 15 other nations at the 2025 Canoe Slalom Oceania Championships in Penrith this weekend.

We caught up with Paris Olympic champion Finn Butcher and rising junior Oli Puchner who will be lining up this weekend…

Raised in central Otago, New Zealand, Butcher found his love for slalom racing and has now been involved with the sport for 20 years, winning Olympic Gold in Paris 2024 in Kayak Cross.

“I really love the community around the sport,” Butcher said.

“That’s why I started and why I continue to compete. I also love the aspect of figuring problems out and trying to get better in different ways.

“It’s like a puzzle that’s constantly evolving and you’re always chasing perfection.”

Having competed at the Oceania Champs almost every year since he was 14, Butcher always looks forward to competing in Penrith.

“I don’t know that I could count how many times I’ve competed here,” he said.

“Probably close to 15, I first came here when I was 14, and have been basically every year since I think!

“Last year’s Oceania Champs were pretty special to me. It was a big part of our Olympic selection series, and even though I had a bit of a lead already coming into the race, I performed well and my result here almost sealed the deal for my selection to Paris!

“It’s just going to be fantastic to get back on the start line and test myself again.

“It’s also special to be back in Penrith and connect with international friends again.

“Especially my ANZmates that I shared some special times in Paris with last year!”

Just like many athletes taking on the course this weekend, Butcher is looking to use his time in Penrith to prepare for the Canoe Slalom World Championships later in the year.

“I will be looking to compete in the World Champs later this year,” he said.

“I’ll be in and out of Penrith for lots of training camps – trying to become as local as I can!

“I do not have any big goals this weekend, I just want to have fun and try to take every run down the course as best I can.

“I’m looking forward to it, it’s the closest we have to a home world for us.”

Since being recruited for his high school kayak team in 2016, 22-year-old Oli Puchner has been racing in the Oceania Championships since 2018.

“I first started racing the Oceania Champs here in Australia in 2018,” Puchner said.

“My favourite memory was my first international podium in the U18 category in 2018, which sparked my love and opened my eyes to international racing.

“I love the way paddling makes me feel when I do a nice upstream, or execute a good stagger and the pursuit of a better run always leaves me striving for more.

“The connections and friends I’ve made have made the sport that much more enjoyable too.”

As Puchner prepares to spend a few weeks in Australia competing, he is excited to learn from this year’s season while hunting an Oceania title.

“I’m looking forward to getting on the start line and bettering myself and learning ahead of this year’s season,” he said.

“I’ll be spending another 3 weeks here for the Aus Open, and then coming back ahead of the world in September after the World Cups.

“My goal this weekend is to be in the final and fight for the Oceania title, especially the U23 category.”

For more information on the 2025 Canoe Slalom Oceania Championships – click here

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