The slalom canoeist races against the clock. In this discipline, the challenge is to pass through approximately twenty five gates suspended above the water, avoiding a touch with any part of the boat, paddle or body. The competitor must pass through the gates in the correct order and direction. Green and white striped poles must be passed in a downstream direction and double red poles in an upstream direction.
The object is to negotiate the course as quickly as possible without incurring any penalty points. Penalty seconds are added on to the overall time to produce a total score. Each competitor has two timed runs, which are added together at elite level, while the best run counts for introductory and intermediate level. Within canoe slalom there are four categories - Men’s and Women’s kayak and Canoe singles and Doubles.
Picture © Keith Williams
