Canoe slalom is one of the most spectacular
watersports, demanding skill, stamina and courage. The aim is to run a
rapid river course marked by "gates" fast, and without touching.
A "gate" is two poles, suspended over the water. Green
and white gates are negotiated in a downstream direction, red and white
gates upstream. The gates are placed so that you must make tricky
cross-current moves and use the eddies and waves.
A touch is penalised with 2 seconds added to the
competitor's time. Missing a gate costs 50 seconds - a wipeout in
serious competition. Each competitor takes two runs, and the times are
added together*
Four classes compete: Men's and Ladies' Kayak, Canadian Singles and Canadian Doubles.
This is a sport in which Britain excels. Richard Fox
was 5 times World Champion; Lynn Simpson was Ladies World Champion; and
Paul Ratcliffe has held the World Cup and took the silver medal at the
Sydney Olympic Games.
* At international and British Premier Division levels. In the lower divisions, the best run of two counts.
If you touch a pole with anything - paddle, boat,
buoyancy aid, helmet or yourself - a 2 second penalty is added to your
time. If you miss a gate out, or go through in the wrong direction, the
penalty is 50 seconds! The aim is fast and clean.
In
Division 4, where you start, it won't be too hard - a rush of water
from a weir, or moving water in a stream. When you get to Division 1 it
will be big and tricky! More about Divisions
The gates are positioned to test your
skill in using, and coping with, the water. This is perfect training
for running big whitewater rivers.
There will be an upstream gate to test your ability to
break out into the eddy behind a rock; then a downstream gate the far
side so that you must ferry glide or surf a wave to reach it before the
river pushes you past. It takes skill, as well as speed.
You must pick, and paddle, a line that turns the current to advantage. You must learn to read the water.
In Division 4, where you start, it won't
be too hard - a rush of water from a weir, or moving water in a stream.
When you get to Division 1 it will be big and tricky! (More about
Divisions further on.)
