Sutton Bingham & District Canoe Club

Slalom Page

What is slalom about!

Club members have for many years been competing at a national level in canoe slalom – racing against the clock whilst negotiating a course down a fast (or even slow) flowing river marked by up to 25 control gates in the form of poles suspended above the water. Like football, the sport operates in Divisions from Premier at the top to Division 4 for beginners.

The club has paddlers in all the divisions from Premier (the elite paddlers) to Div 4 (the novice paddlers).. You do not need anything to compete in Div 4 other than a canoe, paddle, buoyancy aid, helmet, an ability to stay upright and go roughly in the direction you intended.

In 2008 we acquired several club slalom boats which are stored in the boat shed. Try them out on the lake and then take one to a Div 4 slalom.

The best place to start is at Langham Farm, near to Frome (19th & 20th June 2010). We normally have a weekend camp and the ones who know give coaching to the ones giving it a try.Look on the calendar or speak to one of the slalom paddlers for other dates.

There is a Frome beginners slalom on July 17th/ 18th 2010 at Frome yard.

The two North Wall slaloms at Winchester on 22nd May 2010 and 2nd October 2010 are also good flat water starter slaloms.

Enter a Div 4 and finish in the top 20% means that you will get promoted to Div 3 and get sent a certificate by the BCU Slalom Committee. You can then progress though flat water Div 3 and moving water Div 3 increasing your ability and confidence all the time. Do well enough and get promoted to Div 2.

In 2008 Tristan Harper went from Div 4 to highly placed in Div 2 in just half a season.

In 2009 James Bell went from Div 4 to Div 3 at the Frome Slalom at Langham Farm

For more info either

• Speak to one of Hotties slalom team
• email Geoff Allen
• Or look on www.canoeslalom.co.uk