He's going to the World Series without the man who's been by his side his whole career.

Peter Kauzer, a Slovenian wildwater canoeist with a storied career spanning two decades, will compete at the World Championships in the United States without his long-time trainer, his father, older brother, and former mentor. The decision marks a new chapter in his life, both personally and professionally. “I think I made the right choice,” Kauzer said before departing for the competition. “This change has eased my life quite a bit.” At 42 years old, he is stepping into uncharted territory, competing at the World Championships for the first time in the U.S., where he will face some of the world’s top athletes. The transition has been gradual, yet significant. After nearly two decades of competing with his signature yellow-black canoe, Kauzer has opted for a redesigned vessel, which he has named Black Mamba after the legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant. This shift reflects more than just a change in equipment, it symbolizes a personal evolution. Kauzer has chosen to compete with a modified design, one that he believes better suits his style and performance. He plans to use this new canoe primarily for upcoming competitions, including the World Cup and European Championships, while arriving at the World Championships with a test version that already has considerable mileage under its belt. In recent weeks, training conditions have posed challenges. Due to high temperatures and insufficient water levels in the rivers near Tacna, training sessions have been limited. These difficulties are part of a broader issue that has plagued Slovenian wildwater canoeists for years. Kauzer has emphasized the need for modern facilities, such as a state-of-the-art training center, where athletes would not be dependent on river flow conditions. “We’ve had to wait for rain, and that affects our training,” he explained. “It’s time Slovenia invested in proper infrastructure.” Despite these obstacles, Kauzer remains confident in his preparation. He acknowledges that adapting to artificial courses can be tricky, especially since they lack the unpredictable nature of natural rivers. “If you don’t master a course within a few days, you might not succeed even after three weeks,” he noted. His philosophy is rooted in traditional methods, where paddlers learned to navigate diverse conditions through experience rather than repetition. “On rivers, there’s always a thousand different combinations, and conditions never repeat themselves,” he said. “That’s how we learn to adapt.” The switch to a new canoe came after months of deliberation. Initially, Kauzer was uncertain whether to bring the new model to the championships or stick with a trial version. Eventually, he decided to hold off until later competitions, ensuring that the new design would be fully integrated into his routine. “I wanted everything to be set before the main part of the season,” he said. “I didn’t want to have any questions about gear anymore.” At the recent race in Augsburg, Kauzer tested the new canoe, making four training sessions before competing. Though he acknowledged the risks of introducing a new model so close to a major event, he felt it was necessary to ensure consistency. “I knew I was risking some mistakes, but I wanted everything ready before the big stage,” he said. While he did make some errors during the race, they did not derail his performance. “I still reacted instinctively, as I had with the old canoe,” he added. “Now I’ve corrected those mistakes, and my body has fully adapted.” For Kauzer, the color change of his canoe, from yellow-black to black, is more than aesthetic. It represents a bold step forward, both in terms of performance and symbolism. “I’m going to the U.S. with a black canoe,” he confirmed. “It’s called Black Mamba, after Kobe Bryant. I believe it brings more luck.” The name itself carries weight, reflecting his determination and drive. As he prepares for the World Championships, Kauzer knows the expectations remain high. Yet, he is ready to meet them head-on, armed with a new identity and a renewed sense of purpose.