The Czech Republic's Kateřina Kudějová triumphed in the women's K1 event at Vector Wero Whitewater Park, finishing ahead of Olympic medalists Jess Fox of Australia and Luuka Jones of New Zealand after both missed gates. 

Frenchman Kilian Foulon, meanwhile, also stayed out of trouble on the tricky artificial rapids to win the men's C1 crown, despite Australians Daniel Watkins and Brodie Crawford and American Casey Eichfeld all recording faster raw times.

"It wasn't necessary to go hard but it was best to paddle smooth, rather than try to go too fast," 28-year-old Kudějová, the 2015 world champion in the K1, said. 

"People say there are so many stoppers on the course but I like it - it's no problem for me."

Her time of 100.66sec was clear of touches, as was second-placed Australian Rosalyn Lawrence, who finished just 0.82 seconds behind Kudejova and nearly a second in front of France's Camille Prigent.

Fox posted the fastest time of the day, a raw time of 96.53 but missed gate six altogether and picked up two late touches as well. 

Jones was also quick but missed gate 13.

It was a similar story in the men's C1, where Foulon's conservative approach paid dividends, as he finished the only paddler in the final not to earn a penalty.

"I had a bad run in the semi-final with a couple of touches but I was really pleased with the final," he said. 

"It maybe wasn't the fastest time but it was clean. 

"The course isn't super-hard but the rapids can be hard to manage so not picking up penalties was the key."

His time of 97.86 was just 0.39 seconds in front of Watkins, who picked up two touches, as did Eichfeld who was just 0.01 seconds behind third-placed Crawford in 99.60.

The men’s K1 and the women’s C1 semi-finals and finals are due to be held tomorrow. 

They will take place alongside the first Oceania Extreme Slalom Championships featuring four boats racing down the course at once.