Upcoming Events
Stafford & Stone Mini Slalom 1Stafford and Stone Canoe Club |
Stafford & Stone Mini Slalom 2Stafford and Stone Canoe Club |
Llandysul Welsh Championships & Kayak CrossLlandysul Paddlers |
Stafford & Stone Mini Slalom 3Stafford and Stone Canoe Club |
Llandysul 1/2 DoubleLlandysul Paddlers |
Llandysul Lake Div 4 DoubleLlandysul Paddlers |
Symonds Yat Div 2/Open DoubleSaturday Teams and Paddles Up |
Alva 3/4/Open/SUPPinkston Panthers |
Shepperton 1/2 DoubleShepperton Slalom Canoe Club |
2026 Calendar & Bibs
The 2026 calendar has been published. If the competition says ‘Event details not published‘ this means the organiser has yet to publish the full details. Please do not contact Dee for more information.
Bibs will be available from 18th Jan 2026.
2026 Slalom & Kayak Cross & Sprint and Paracanoe selection policies
The policies are published by the respective International panels and are the result of significant work behind the scenes, in particular the IP’s would like to thank everyone who contributed to the development of the policies through the public consultation process in the autumn of 2025.
The International Panel has also published an accompanying statement which announces the final slalom Div 1 Junior selection qualifiers and shares the key themes from the consultation process.
Please take the time to read the policies and familiarise yourself with the processes to be used for the 2026 season.
Andy Maddock
Head of Performance – Operations
Advanced Coaching Programme
Huw Swetnam and Jonathan Males are offering a new programme for experienced slalom coaches. It comprises a two-day practical workshop in Nottingham (31 Jan – 1 Feb, or 7 – 8 Feb) followed by 4 evening webinars. This can dovetail with the Performance Coach Award for those wanting a formal qualification. Will cover technical coaching, mental preparation, race-day, working with anxious athletes and more. Both courses are now full, but you can add your name to the wait list. You will be offered a place should anyone drop out and be first on the list for a new workshop later in the year. Cost is £450 and your club can apply for funding by contacting Daniel Thompson. For more information email Jonathan
Ed Ecclestone Award Winner
We were pleased to announce Jim Mc Pherson as the winner of this years Ed Ecclestone Award at Saturday’s Slalom ACM. Congratulations, a worthy winner!
Highlights from Jim’s nomination:
Jim became involved in paddling and slalom at Aberdeen university in the 1970s and continued competing for many many years after as he became involved in running Selkirk Canoe club, running Fairnilee Slalom events, and running Grandtully Slalom events. He is a judge, Section judge and International judge, and also ran Gate Judging exams to improve the knowledge and standard of judging in Scotland. He was an active member of the Scottish Slalom committee for many years, and he also wrote the software timing program which Scottish Slalom use instead of Tutti. He has continued to be involved in Canoe Slalom to this day.
We would also like to recognise the contributions to the sport of the other nominees: Paul Evans, Peter Curry, Stewart Pitt, Patrick O’Hara and Rick Moore.
And ‘thank you’ to all those that volunteer in our sport
National Trophy Co-ordinator – Volunteer(s) required
Fiona Pennie has stepped down as coordinator for the national trophies that are awarded at the end of season and championship events and we are looking to break this down into a few smaller roles.
We have one volunteer taking on looking after the Junior 16 & Vets Championship trophies. Therefore, we are seeking for volunteer(s) to take on the role for the British Open Trophies and for the UK Championship Trophies.
The role involves issuing trophies to the winners each year, ensuring winners are aware of their responsibility for their trophy, keep a record of winners, and arranging to collect them back in so they can be awarded for the following year. It may also involve arranging occasional maintenance of trophies or boxes. Fi has established a good system for managing these trophies and will provide a detailed handover and is happy to support volunteer(s) during their first year in the role.
We do really need someone willing to take this on so we can look after our trophies, so please consdier whether you are able to help.
Please contact the Slalom Secretary or Fiona Pennie for further information or to volunteer.
Slalom Evolution Proposals – Update
These proposals were adopted at the Slalom ACM on 29th November. The new structure will come into effect for the 2027 season.
About the Proposals:
As you know proposals for the proposals for the future structure of canoe slalom racing in the UK were presented in April. Based on feedback received at the event and the subsequent consultation surveys, work has been ongoing to revise the proposal. The key principles of the revised proposals are:
- Retain Divisions for Ranking, Results, Prizes and Promotion (this is the key change from the original proposal).
- Allow paddlers to have full choice of where they race; simplify the calendar; and describe courses and venues using the proposed Tier System.
- Provide compatible performance points across all Tiers as originally proposed.
Proposal details can be found here
We’d like to say a big thank you to the team of volunteers that have spent a lot of time pulling these documents and data illustrations together.
Return your bibs
With the racing season now finished it is time to return your bib.
Please post you bib back to your bib officer as soon as to help make things as easy as possible for our volunteers.
Paddle UK Volunteer Feedback Project
Volunteers play such an important part in the paddling community – everything you do helps paddling thrive. This project is our commitment to understanding your experience and building a stronger future for volunteering together.
What is the project aiming to do? You might spend your time on the water, on land, or online; at a local, national, or international level. You might give an hour or hundreds; work on your own or lead a team. However and wherever you help, we want your feedback! Fill out the online survey
New Paddler Representative
We’d like to welcome Steve Dixon as the new Paddler Representative on the Slalom Committee.
- Slalom School (Stone) – 24 Jan
- Stone Mini 1 – 25 Jan
- Stone Mini 2 – 08 Feb
- Stone Mini 3 – 22 Feb
- Lee Valley Div 1 – 1 March
The committee like to thank Zac Allin for his time and input while in this role.
How to Change Your Club on the Ranking List
Any paddler that wants to amend their Club on the ranking list needs to email the relevant Bib Officer with the details of the change needed, this needs to come from the paddler or their parent. You can also list a second club or sponsor on the ranking list – again please contact the relevant Bib Officer.
Paddle UK is receiving received an increasing in the number of incident reports submitted through the online incident reporting system in which paddlers have been ill and where the water quality was a possible cause. Whether you are paddling, organising paddling activities, running an event or supporting others during a challenge, it is important to consider what approaches we can take to minimise possible illness.
If you are organising a paddling activity, or running an event it is highly recommended that water quality is part of the risk assessment process, taking into account the activity, environment and those that could be at risk. Use the AI Risk Assessment Checker to support you in the development of your risk assessment.
Paddle UK has comprehensive advice and guidance which can be found here.
Slalom Progress Awards
Last year Canoe Wales and the England Slalom Talent Programme, in conjunction with the England Slalom Committee, presented the new Slalom Progress Awards. We have updated the Awards for this year.
Website Slider Images
We love to receive images for the slider. In an effort to speed up publishing please follow the conventions below.
The images should be named as per the example below including spaces and hyphens as it is automatically used for the description.
British Champs Oct 25 – Arina Kontchakov K1L – Copyright Richard Nutter.jpg
Images should be sized as close as possible to 1200 x 600.
If possible send a link for downloading rather than attaching them to an email.
UK Canoe Slalom Rules
2026 Paddle UK Canoe Slalom Rules
Minutes of Slalom Committee Meetings
13 December 2025
29 November 2025 (Slalom ACM)
8 November 2025
25 September 2025
26 August 2025
8 July 2025
Next meeting:
Sat 14th February 2026
England Slalom Talent Programme Squad
The England Slalom Talent Programme have published their Qualification Criteria for 2025/26. A link can be found HERE.
