Regents Canoe Club Slalom

The club has a flat water slalom course set up on the canal basin. Many members find this a useful aid to practice and several members are active in slalom, taking part in regular competitions.

National slalom competitions take place up and down the country on most weekends from March through to October. There are separate classes for Mens Kayak(K1), Womens kayak, Canoe(C1) and 2 person canoe(C2) and 5 Divisions, starting in division 4 (although experienced paddlers can start higher) slalomists aspire to reach the Premier division.

Slalom events typically comprise a team event on saturday and an individual event on Sunday, the course itself comprises 20 or so slalom gates (2 poles) suspended above moving water (typically grade 2 in Division 4, up to grade 4 in div1 and prem)

Red gates must be negotiated upstream and are usually placed in eddies , Green gates must be negotiated down stream and are often placed in staggered sequences.

Touch a gate and 2 seconds are added to your time, Miss it altogether and a massive 50 seconds are added.

You get 2 runs and only your best one counts (except Premier division where both runs are aggregated)

In divisions 1 to 4 you can usually practise the course as much as you like.

All in all its a bit of a giggle and certainly helps you put your boat just where you want it on those river trips. Have a go.

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