SLALOM & KAYAK CROSS
SELECT YOUR PREFERED PADDLE DISCIPLINE...
Slalom
Imagine a water sport that combines the precision of skiing with the excitement of whitewater rafting - that's slalom paddling for you!
Slalom paddling is like an obstacle course on water. Paddlers race down a river, navigating through a series of gates hung above the water. Each gate comprises two hanging poles at a set distance apart. The goal? To be as fast and accurate as possible. It's a test of skill, stamina, and technique that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.
Time penalties are incurred by hitting the poles (2's) or by missing the gate (50's). The competitor must get enough of the boat and body across the gate-line between the poles to satisfy the judges.
At the Olympics and other major International events there are three rounds, qualification-semifinal-final, that athletes must progress through. Only the top 10 semifinalists get into the final.
Kayak Cross
In kayak cross, four paddlers race head-to-head down a course. They start by launching off a ramp and then it's a mad dash to the finish line.
The gates are big inflatable poles, and there are fewer of them than in slalom. Miss a gate and you're out. Throughout it all, your competitors are allowed to push you off course.
Get Involved
Slalom is organised on a divisional basis such that paddlers compete against others of similar ability with events being held between March and October.
There are a number of clubs that support young paddlers to develop in the slalom discipline - please contact the development group (below) to learn more.
Scottish Performance Programme
Thanks to investment from sportscotland, the Paddle Scotland Performance Programme operates programmes in Paracanoe, Sprint and Slalom to support athletes with the potential and commitment to achieve Olympic and Paralympic medals. Get in touch with us to learn more.
Slalom Development Group
You can contact the group at slalom@paddlescotland.org.uk
Slalom Venues
Grandtully
Grandtully slalom is held on the River Tay, as it passes between the villages of Grandtully and Strathtay. For many years Paddle Scotland have had a set of permanent training gates on the site.
At this point the River Tay is grade 3 water, about 30m wide and depending on water level can provide some very challenging whitewater. The water level significantly affects the whitewater skill required to compete at this site. At any level it is definitely not the place for your first Div 2 event on moving water, and you need to be confident on whitewater before tackling it. However, it is a great place to test and improve your slalom skills on interesting natural whitewater.
There are rules about the use of the Grandtully Slalom site and registration is required prior to use. Please read about them
here
Seaton Park, Aberdeen
Kayak Club, Seaton Park Slalom Site, Seaton Park, Aberdeen. Flat, moving water training/introductory competition site on the River Don, available all year round during daylight hours.
The slalom course is in a large city park, less than 10 minutes from the centre of Aberdeen on the River Don. The start of the course is a large pool above an old weir, and it then follows the channel down the near side of the island behind the weir. It offers fairly flat moving water with a few interesting eddies and flow patterns - ideal water for beginners, yet still interesting for Division 3 and a good training base for higher division paddlers.
Alva
The course is sited on the River Devon, about 1 mile east of Alva village. It is primarily slow moving, flat water, but there is a small “fall” in the centre of the course, and additional eddies have been constructed by the clubs to provide more options for courses. This site is operated by CR Cats club. Contact
secretary@crcats.org for further information.
Fairnilee
Situated on the River Tweed, Fairnilee is a stretch of grade 2 rapids suitable for division 2, 3 & 4 events. The course varies greatly with water level, from a scrape in summer to a washed out wave train after spring or autumn rain, but it does provide challenges at all levels. In terms of difficulty, the course sits midway between Alva and Grandtully, so is a good place for the improving paddler to try out their white water skills before moving on to harder courses.
Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow
Pinkston is Scotland’s first purpose built paddlesports facility and includes the first Scottish artificial white water course. As well as providing a training venue for several different paddlesport disciplines, the centre operates as a training and education venue as well as a community hub.
