CANOE SLALOM

BY: ERIC MOORE

Competition Dates!

• Sunday July 29- Thursday 2 August.• Times may vary as competition

continues.

How do you play?

• Canoe Slalom competitions consist of timed runs down a white water course, with up to 25 gates.

• The red gates must be navigated upstream.

• The green gates must be navigated down stream.

Medal Events!

• There are 4 medal events.• Men’s canoe single. • Canoe double. • Kayak Single. • Women’s kayak single.

What are some words used in canoeing?

• Eddy- a white water feature downstream from an obstacle.

• Drop- a fall of water creating a fast current and tough eddies.

• Hole(stopper)- a whitewater reversal of flow.

• PFD- a paddler’s buoyancy aid; short for personal flotation device.

• Spraydeck- a cover worn around the paddler’s waist and stretched over the cockpit entrance to keep water out of the boat.

• Upstream gate- a slalom gate with red poles that has to be negotiated against the water’s flow.

Fact Information:

• Events are held at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.

• There are a total of 82 competitors in this sport, 61 men, 21 women.

• Canoe Slalom made its debut at the Munich 1972 Olympic Games, but didn’t become a permanent part of the Olympic Programme until Barcelona 1992!

Athletes.

• Scott Parson.• Male.• 33 years old.• Born 3-27-1979 in

Toledo.• 5’10” tall.• 161 lbs.

• Caroline Queen.• Female.• 20 years old.• Born 3-5-1992 in

Knoxville.• 5’2” tall.• 146 lbs.