British Open K1M Sam Leaver
© Richard Nutter Photography
British Open K1L Lois Leaver
© Richard Nutter Photography
British Open K1L Joely Walling
© Richard Nutter Photography
British Open C1M Sid Griffith
© Richard Nutter Photography
British Open C1M Sam Maingay
© Richard Nutter Photography
| 01 Sep | Cardington |
| Abbey Rapids 1/2 | |
| Abbey Rapids 1/2 | |
| 31 Aug | Cardington |
| 10 Aug | Pinkston Div 2/3 |
| 11 Aug | Pinkston Div 2/3 |
| Llandysul Div 2/3 | |
| Llandysul Div 2/3 | |
| Pinkston Canal Div 4 | |
| Pinkston Canal Div 4 | |
| Llandysul Lake Div 4 | |
| Llandysul Lake Div 4 | |
| 28 Jul | Persley Div 2/3 |
| 27 Jul | Persley Div 2/3 |
| 21 Jul | Ironbridge Div 2 |
| 20 Jul | Ironbridge Div 2 |
England Slalom Talent Programme Squad
The England Slalom Talent Programme have published their Qualification Criteria for 2024/25. A link can be found HERE>
Training Opportunities at Lee Valley
There are regular training opportunities at Lee Valley Whitewater Centre on water pumped for our Southern-based squads during weekday evenings and over various weekends. Access costs £15 per session on the Olympic Course and £10 per session on the Legacy Course.
Sessions are un-coached and open only to paddlers ranked in Prem or Div 1. If your club wants to use these opportunities then please email jake.brown@paddleuk.org.uk Capacity in each slot is limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis.
Daniel Thompson
Slalom sessions are now on the LV website to book. Email LVWhitewater@gll.org to ask them to add the slalom waiver to your account and the sessions will then show on the booking app under Olympic Slalom.
Proteus Winter Slalom Cancelled – Fun day instead ! – Orton Mere – Jan 11th
As you know, our Winter Slalom is arranged for this Saturday, 11th January. Unfortunately, the levels have risen too much to guarantee a conventional slalom event.
You’ll also be aware that these high levels are a lot of fun. So that’s what we’re doing instead! Introducing the Proteus Canoe Club Fun Day!
From 10am until we’re exhausted! And that takes some doing!
Check out John Gregory’s ICF slalom podcasts
There are 95 episodes which can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Despite the name this is not an ICF product. John came up with the ICFslalom hashtag early in the 2015 season. The podcast started in 2019. This last year there were 58 guests across the 27 episodes. Series 4 were daily episodes through the Olympics and series 5 started this autumn. Lots of British guests and stories.
Proteus Winter Slalom – Orton Mere – Jan 11th
*** Rearranged from before Christmas ***
The Proteus Winter Slalom 2025 on the legendary Orton Mere slalom course! For the experienced or the novice, K1, C2, C1, open canoe, paddleboard – take your pick or try them all, there’s a place for you at our event.
Boats, boards, kit and paddles available to borrow. Toilets available, canteen open. Course going up first thing, then practice available all morning. Grab a lovely hot dog and a hot cuppa from the canteen then, after lunch………we race!
Online Entry is £6. Late entries accepted on the day at just £10.
IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ THE COMPETITOR INFORMATION CAREFULLY – THE SCHEDULE IS
DIFFERENT FOR EACH MINI SLALOM
The Mini Slalom Series is a series of 3 warm up races in preparation for the 2025 season. The series is handicapped
to allow to any competitor to win the overall race. Each class will have a handicap time in seconds that
will be deducted from your actual race time. Competitors can compete in 1, 2 or all 3 races. Those that compete
in all three races without winning a prize will be rewarded with race mug.
SSCC_2025_Mini1_Competitors_Information_v1
SSCC_2025_Mini2_Competitors_Information_v1
SSCC_2025_Mini3_Competitors_Information_v1
2025 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 2024.
Slalom & Kayak Cross Junior, U23 & Senior combined document
The International Panel has also published an accompanying statement which highlights the slalom registration process, 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 2025 season.
I have shared this widely with bcc recipients to distribute across your networks as required.
Happy Christmas to everyone and many thanks to everyone who makes our sport so great.
Introducing the Slalom Start Box
As announced in October, Paddle UK is excited to introduce the Slalom Start Box, a comprehensive toolkit designed to support paddler recruitment within clubs to increase the number of children and young people engaged in canoe slalom across the UK.
Slalom Start builds on the incredible work that all clubs and volunteers do to introduce children and young people to the amazing sport of canoe slalom. It is intended to help share this knowledge and empower others to engage more people in canoe slalom.
Supporting the recruitment of new participants and volunteers into the sport is a key component of the Slalom Development Plan.
The digital toolkit is now available and supporting webinars are taking place during the winter, sign up to the first webinar.
Applications are open for clubs across the UK to apply for coach qualification costs, free T-shirts for delivering coaches along with flutter flags and banners.
To apply for the support please complete the application form before the 3rd February 2025.
If you have any queries please contact slalom start
Slalom Coach, Alberta, Canada
Alberta Whitewater Slalom is searching for a new Provincial Head Coach, to be based in Alberta, Canada.
A full description of the role and the application process can be found at albertawhitewaterslalom.com. Additional questions can be sent to Mike Roberts .
Bib Returns – Time to return your bib
Now that the season has finished, it is time to return your bib please. It would really help our volunteer Bib Officers if you can do this as soon as possible please.
When posting bibs, they can be posted as a “large letter” for £2.70 (first class) or £2.40 (2nd Class) BUT the envelope must not be bigger than 353mm x 250mm and it must (easily) go through a 25mm slot. If you are unsure please go to a post office to ensure it has sufficient postage on it.
You can see who to send your bib to on this link
WATER QUALITY – Recommendations for the paddling community
With the recent high water levels and the risk of more and more rain, we would like to remind all paddlers, volunteers and anyone spending time by the rivers to consider the water quality and the risk of infection caused by microorganisms in the natural environment.
Please remember the following precautions:
cover any cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters
avoid swallowing river water
clean any wounds as soon as possible
wash your hands with soap and water after any contact with water, and shower as soon as possible if you’ve been in potentially infected water.
If you become sick, contact your GP and let them know you are a paddler, with details of when or where you paddled.
Slalom Coach Development Programme
Jonathan Males will be running a 6 month programme to take a cohort of aspiring coaches through core coach, slalom discipline specific, and assessment. Cost is £450.
Dates:
Core Coach
16-17 November, Lee Valley
Slalom Coach Discipline Specific
13 – 15 December, Lee Valley and Shepperton
Plus, from October to April:
Complete online modules and self-study.
Shadow experienced coaches at Lee Valley or other clubs.
Lead club sessions under supervision of experienced coaches.
Support coaches at Slalom Schools, Lee Valley
18/19th January 2025
15/16th February 2025
Slalom Coach Assessment:
Half day, April 2025, Lee Valley or Shepperton
For more information contact malesjr@gmail.com
England Slalom Club Support Scheme
The England Slalom Club Support Scheme fund is open for new applications from eligible England slalom clubs.
The scheme is joint funded and supported by the England Talent Programme and the England Canoe Slalom Committee with money invested by the England Canoe Slalom Committee from the levies paid by Canoe Slalom events hosted in England.
Click here to read more about this scheme, the impact to date, and how to apply.
Daniel Thompson
Canoe and Kayak Combined Prize
The England Slalom Talent Programme and Peak PS are establishing a new award to encourage young paddlers who improve their combined ranking in canoe and kayak disciplines. Prizes will be on offer to the male and female paddlers aged under 16 who accumulate the greatest combined points total in kayak and canoe. This combined ranking table will enable paddlers to track their progress.
More detail and rules 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.
Please Volunteer – Your sport needs you!
We are in desperate need of volunteers. Please contact Sally Atkinson or Matt Crowhurst if you are interested in helping out at Canoe Slalom Div 1 and/or Prem events. It doesn’t have to be for the whole day – even an hour can be really helpful.
New C2 pairings
Apply direct to the C2 Bib Officer – you do not need to go through reinstatement. Ranked C2 pairs may enter races at any level.