Canoe slalom

Canoe slalom (previously known as whitewater slalom) is a competitive sport with the aim to navigate a decked canoe or kayak through a course of hanging downstream or upstream gates on river rapids in the fastest time possible.

Canoe slalom racing started in Switzerland in 1933, initially on a flatwater course.

Depending on the level of competition, difficulty of the course, degree of water turbulence, and ability of the other paddlers, times can go up to 200 seconds.

Depending on the number of participants in the event, 10 to 40 boats make it through to the semi-final; this consists of one run on a different course.

If the competitor's boat, paddle or body touches either pole of the gate, a time penalty of two seconds is added.

A minimum boat weight was introduced to equalize competition when super light materials began to affect race results.

Usually boats are made with carbon fiber, Kevlar and fiberglass cloth, using epoxy or polyester resin to hold the layers together.

Foam sandwich construction in between layers of carbon, Kevlar, or Aramid is another technique in use to increase the stiffness of slalom boats.

The shorter length also allows for easier navigation and less boat damage in the smaller manmade river beds that are prevalent in current elite competitions.

The competitors drop into the water from a starting ramp, must pass through gates, and must perform a kayak roll during the run.

[10] Slalom canoeing made its Olympic debut in 1972 in Augsburg, West Germany, for the Munich Games.

Artificial river creation has evolved and new courses have fewer issues than some of the initial designs.