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What Is Slalom Canoeing?
Slalom canoeing is a competitive sport where canoers navigate through a course of poles (called gates) in as little time as possible. The courses are set up so that the gates are always downstream of the canoeist, and the gate spacing becomes increasingly tight as the course progresses. Canoe slalom racing became an official Olympic sport in 1972.
Slalom canoeing can be performed in either a canoe or a kayak, but most slalom competitions are raced in a kayak. Canoes used in slalom racing are typically shorter and narrower than traditional canoes and are designed to be easier to maneuver through the gates. Kayaks used in slalom racing are also shorter and narrower than conventional kayaks, but they have a closed cockpit that the canoeist sits in.
What Does Slalom Canoeing Look Like?
The International Canoe Federation (ICF) is the international governing body for canoe slalom racing. The ICF sets the rules and regulations for slalom races and oversees all aspects of the professional variant of the game.
Slalom canoeing is a very technical sport that requires a great deal of skill and precision. Canoeists must be able to navigate their craft through the gates without touching them, as this incurs a penalty. Gates are typically made of plastic poles that are inflated with air to float in the water.
Canoe slalom races are typically held on whitewater rivers, but can also be held on artificial courses. Whitewater slalom canoeing is more popular in Europe, while man-made course slalom canoeing is more prevalent in the United States.
Slalom canoeing made its debut as an Olympic sport at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. At the time, only men were allowed to compete. Women’s slalom canoeing was not added to the Olympic program until the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
How Is Slalom Canoeing Scored?
Canoe slalom races are timed events. Canoe slalom races are typically divided into two runs, with each competitor’s best time being used to determine their final score. The canoeist with the fastest time is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the competitors’ second-best times are used to break the tie. The number of competitors that advance to the second run varies depending on the size of the field.
The slalom canoeing course is made up of gates that the canoeist must pass through. There are two types of gates in slalom canoeing: red and green. Red gates must be passed through in a downstream direction, while green gates can be passed through in either a downstream or upstream direction. Passing through a gate in the wrong direction incurs a penalty.
What Is Extreme Canoe Slalom?
Extreme canoe slalom is a variant of slalom canoeing that is characterized by its difficult and dangerous courses. Extreme slalom courses are typically set up on large rivers with fast-flowing water and many obstacles.
Extreme slalom canoeists must have a great deal of experience and skill to navigate the challenging courses. It is a sport that challenges all of the rider’s white water capabilities, with each competitor using the same stripped-down creek boats for the ride.
Courses are set up with a mix of natural and man-made features, such as rocks, trees, and gates. The goal of extreme slalom is to navigate the course as quickly as possible while avoiding obstacles and your opponents, who can hit your boat during the ride.