As the slalom season 2025 draws to a close the entry level race at Stone on October 4th is an ideal local one if you fancy trying your hand at slalom before the season is out.
This race takes place on Grade 1 moving water.
If you are happy with edging a boat in gentle flow and using your edges to break in & out of eddies & are up for the challenge of negotiating upstream and downstream slalom gates along the river then this event is for you!
A few SCC members are already booked into to race on the Saturday 4th using the following link:
http://www.canoeslalomentries.co.uk
Other club members welcome to join in!
This would not be a club led trip but this event created just to make all SCC Members aware of this local opportunity.
If you do intend racing at this event it would be great if you could register on this system and that helps the club to gain an idea of the level of interest in slalom racing currently. And also you MUST register on http://www.canoeslalomentries.co.uk to be entered into the event.
Club equipment can be borrowed for this race please make sure this is paid for using the SCC website and that if you require assistance obtaining the equipment from Frankwell get in contact well before the day
Anita who is a Level 1 Slalom Coach will be racing here and looking after her children but within those time constraints would be happy to give hints and tips on the day and before the day to guide people through the process of how to enter the race if needed.
Most people generally start off in Division 4 - plastic boats can be used to race or a limited number of slalom boats may be available to borrow from Stafford and Stone Canoe Club however the slalom event organiser should be contacted if you wish to do this.
Categories are: Kayak single, Canoe Single or Canoe Doubles (closed cockpit canoes).
In the early morning there will be chance to practice on the course followed by two timed and judged runs with a lunch break in between runs.
Briefly: the aim of slalom is to get down the set course as quickly and cleanly as possible - 2 seconds added for gates hit, 50 seconds added to your time for gates missed / gone through wrong way / deliberately displaced. Red gates are upstream, green are downstream.
Slalom can be fun for all the ages and can be a great way to enhance your boat control with great transferrable skills learned for river running and polo for example!
For further details of slalom rules or about slalom in general go to:
http://www.canoeslalom.co.uk
