SLALOM

What’s a competition like?

You don’t have to be an Olympian to have a go at a slalom race! Competitions run through up to 25 gates strung out across a section of river, and you’ve got to dart between them as quickly and as cleanly as you can. 

The stopwatch runs from the top of the course to the finish, but you’ve also got to add in any penalties for touching poles or – worst of all – missing a gate completely. So while speed’s important, you’ve got to be precise at the same time. 

There are five categories in a slalom race: men’s and women’s single kayak (K1), single canoe (C1) and two-person canoe (C2). 

How do I get started?

The best way is through your local slalom club. Check out our club finder to help you find a club near you - just tick the Slalom box to narrow your search down to clubs with a slalom section. You can also find out more information below in the Slalom Clubs section. 

You can start off with any boat you’re happy in, and lots of clubs have permanent gates set up over easy rapids or flatwater to help paddlers practice. 

To try your first race, find a division 4 race and give it a go. As you get faster, you can work your way up through divisions 3, 2 and 1 – which is where you can try and earn a place in the top-level Premier division. 

What are the opportunities in Wales?

There are clubs that compete all over Wales, and we’ve also got some of Britain’s best slalom courses. More details can be found below in the club and venue sections. 

We also run a talent pathway programme for up-and-coming young slalom athletes. Athletes who have been selected for this programme receive extra coaching through our team of Performance programme coaches. 

What do I need?

To start with, you can enter a race in any boat you’re comfortable in. As you get into the sport, you’ll want to pick up one of the faster, more nimble fibreglass or carbon-fibre competition boats to give yourself a fighting chance. 

How do I find an event?

The UK Slalom racing season is from March until the end of October. To find an event suitable and near you use our Events finder page (https://www.canoewales.com/events-calendar) where you can find all the Welsh race happening. The racing league is across the whole of the UK, you can find more races over on the UK slalom website. (www.canoeslalom.co.uk) Remember if your just getting started in slalom you start at Division 4 and work your way up through the divisions. 

The 2024 Welsh Championships are happening at the following races: 

• J15 and below - Llandysul Div 1 - 12th October 2024 
  
• J16 and above - Cardiff Prem - 6th May 2024 
  
• 2024 Kayak Cross Welsh Champs are happening is happening at the following race: 
  
• Senior and J18 - CIWW Paddlefest – 5th May 2024 

Slalom Committee

Content, a section to introduce the slalom committee, how it operates, current committee and how people access funding. The Canoe Wales Slalom Committee are a volunteer group that meets regularly with the aim of increasing participation, oversee racing in Wales.

From race levies the slalom committee build a pot of money that can be used to fund projects to help slalom grow if they are in line with the constitution that can be read here in the funding application form. 

Previous funding applications from the slalom committee include, Llandysul Paddlers training gates rebuild post 2018 floods, race timing kit upgrade in 2016, Mile End Mill (Llangollen) permanent gates (2020), C1 slalom Kickstarter (South) funding for 5 paddles and 5 spray decks to help encourage paddlers into both disciplines (2018). 

Welsh Slalom Committee AGM 2024 – 12th October 8pm, Location Llandysul Paddlers (To increase attendance you will be able to join this AGM virtually via Teams, please contact the secretary to register an interest in joining) 

Chair - Mark Abbott 

Vice Chair - Russell Scaplehorn 

Secretary - Alix Bryant 

Treasurer  - Louisa Rogers 

Welsh Pan Celtic Team Manager - Jason Humpries 

Performance Programme Rep - Alistair Dickson 

Club Rep, Seren Dwr - Tavi Murray 

Club Rep, North Wales Slalom - John Elcock 

Club Rep, Mold CC - Matthew Kennan 

Club Rep, Llandysul Paddlers - Richard Sterry/ Betsan O’Connor 

Club Rep, Spring Valley - James Pigdon 

Performance Programme Rep (Non Voting) - Gareth Bryant 

Performance Programme Rep (Non Voting) - Jonathan Davies 

Welsh Rankings 

The racing league is across the whole of the UK, you can find the Welsh League here on the UK slalom website

Slalom Venues

As we said above we are incredibly lucky to have some of the best Canoe Slalom venues in Wales, here are a breakdown of them including useful information on how to access them. 

North: 

Mile End Mill Llangollen: This site is located at TNR outdoor centre, on arrival paddlers will need to pay for parking and water fees at the TNR office. There are 18 gates on the inside channel closest to the car park. Features can vary depending on water levels. low to medium water levels are good for both introductions to moving water and gate training for all levels. Medium to high water levels are best for the more experienced of paddlers. These gates are fully adjustable from the bank. TNR have a small Caffe offering hot drinks and Pizza. 

Columendy, Mold: Flat water training sight with 12 gates that are adjusted from being on the water, currently this site is not open to public use, to use this training site please contact Mold CC or North Wales Slalom and join their training sessions. 

Plas Y Brenin, Capel-Curig: Based at the bottom of Play y Brenin this site has a small flow from the lake above making it a great venue to introducing paddlers to a moving water environment with gates. Water features can very according to water levels from flat in low water to fast flowing with small standing waves, and eddies. Access is open to all by arrangement with PYB reception. PYB also has a public bar and restaurant. 

Llyn Padarn, Llanberis: This is a flat-water training sight with 15 gates and is complemented by a large pontoon for coaches to operate from. Access is free and all gates are easily adjusted from the water. Snowdonia water sports is close by offering food during the day. 

Tryweryn, Bala: Tryweryn has something to offer for all levels of ability. From the Graveyard all the way down to Bala Mill there are different sections with gates for training on. 

Gates are a mixture of adjusting them from the bank or from on the water level, please move the gates out of the main flow and eddies once you have finished using them, 

All paddlers will need to pre-register with Canolfan Tryweryn before arrival. There is also a Cafe on site. 

Bala Mill is accessible down a small un surfiest road which is on your left-hand side when driving back into Bala from Canolfan Tryweryn. Access to this site must be with prior arrangement with Bala Canoe Club. There around 20 gates at Bala Mill, division two, three and four races are run from here several times through the summer. 

West

Llandysul: The venue in Llandysul has 50 permanent slalom gates and has training sessions each night of the week, access and parking is free for all river users, the slalom gates are all fully adjustable from the bank. The site has changing rooms, toilets and shower facilities. For more information on slalom in Llandysul get in contact the club on bpaddlers@aol.com. 

South

Spring Valley: The site is in the process of being upgraded. The aim is to have twenty permanent gates, fully adjustable from the bank and available for training during daylight hours. Access to the site is via the Spring Valley Lakes campsite. There is a charge payable to the campsite for access, toilets and parking plus a daily fee for using the slalom site. For regular users there are options for purchasing membership to both Spring Valley Lakes and Spring Valley Paddlers. Email springvalleypaddlers@gmail.co.uk for further details. The slalom site is on the river Neath which rises and falls very quickly. Using the Resolven NRW gauge it is possible to paddle the river from the campsite when the level is around 700. Below this level access is across the large lake followed by a short portage to the river. When the level is below 700 the flow is quite slow and ideal for teaching new paddlers. Above this level the river can flow very fast and safety cover will be required. 

Cardiff International White Water: Based in the heart of Cardiff International Sports village CIWW hosts the only pumped manmade white water course in Wales. The course is unique that it runs on different flow rates for different abilities to all access the facilities, from 4 cumecs to 10 cumecs there's something to challenge even the best kayakers. With 60 permanent fully adjustable gates and floodlights CIWW is a great training and racing venue for slalom in Wales. Canoe Wales performance programme regularly private hires slalom specific water time here, to access this please contact the head slalom coach. To private hire the facility please contact CIWW directly. There is a gates policy that can be found here on where and how slalom gates (including kayak cross gates) can be put out during public park and play sessions. The site also has 12 gates on the flat water lake available for all users to use freely once on the water, book water access through ciww.com. 

Symonds Yat: Although based just outside of Wales Symonds Yat has a lot of history in Canoe Slalom and a great training/ racing site for those living in the South/ Southeast of Wales. Parking and access is made from Symonds Yat east, there is a charge for parking and launching, please make sure you park in the correct car park to keep the river community happy. The slalom gates are free to use and are maintained by Wyedean Caneo Club, you can adjust the gates from the bank, please make sure after use these are returned to the island side of the river. The river Wye changes levels a lot the slalom course and eddies wash out above 1.2m on the Lydbrook river gauge. You will find the local canoe club using and training here most evenings in the summer. The site has public toilets located on site and there is a footpath along the riverbank for spectators to watch. 

Slalom Clubs

We have a whole host of amazing clubs in Wales, you can find your nearest club here but here are a few extra details from the Slalom Specific clubs that have representatives on the Slalom Committee. 

North Wales Slalom: 

North Wales Slalom is a canoe slalom club that enables young paddlers or non-paddlers from across North Wales to try the sport. Members are supported along a clear and supportive pathway from grassroots level and to a level of competition to which they desire to go to, the club has strong links with the Welsh Performance Programme with many current members on the programme. North Wales slalom has 5 training sights Mold, Llanberis, Capel Curig, Llangollen & Bala. Regular slalom training sessions are run most nights of the week and some weekends throughout the year. Boats & equipment can be provided for when you first start. For more details and information on how to join the club email or visit our website HERE 

Mold CC:

Llandysul Paddlers CC:

Llandysul Paddlers is based in the heart of Llandysul if you would like to get involved in slalom just email the club, Gareth Bryant, on bpaddlers@aol.com Gareth is based at Llandysul and can help start your slalom journey. The club run slalom specific sessions most nights of the week for all ages and abilities. If you’re just getting started in slalom Llandysul have a whole host of equipment that can be lent to try the sport. The club hosts a whole load of success stories dating way back with multiple paddlers going on to represent team GB at the World Championships including bringing back some medals to show all their hard work pays off. You can find the club website HERE

Seren Dwr:

Seren Dŵr is a competitive paddlesports club based at Cardiff International Whitewater (CIWW) in the heart of Cardiff Bay: we specialise in slalom, kayak cross and freestyle – and have produced international medal winners in all three disciplines. We have weekly evening training session using slalom gates on both flat and whitewater for beginners and developing paddlers. The club has slalom boats and kit that can be borrowed. We also have a weekly winter pool session. We also enjoy whitewater river trips and have whitewater boats that can be borrowed. We have a large junior and family membership – and can’t wait to welcome you to your first session! Contact us on serendwrslalom@gmail.com or the club is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/serendwr/ and Instagram @serendwr https://www.instagram.com/serendwr/ 

Spring Valley:

A new club based at Spring Valley Lakes Glynneath in the Neath Valley. At Spring Valley you will have access to our brand new twenty gate slalom training course set on moving water. With two kilometres of river and two crystal clear lakes at your disposal, the possibilities for training are endless. The onsite camping includes pods with hot tubs and acres of space. The Club aims to support all paddlers through every step of British Canoeing’s What it Takes to Progress Programme. We offer support from absolute beginner through to squad level. The site is open every day and we offer coaching on Wednesday evenings and all day Sunday. Keep up to date via our Facebook page or drop us an email springvalleypaddlers@gmail.com 

Welsh Slalom Success 

The Welsh slalom racing and subsequently the performance programme ethos has been based around working hard, taking responsibility and enjoying the journey. Though training for Canoe Slalom only some paddlers get the chance to represent team GB at the World and European Championships and we have a long list of Welsh representatives over the years (see below). On top of that within Wales we are proud to have created a successful people model supporting paddlers through their academic studies and careers. Notably the whole Performance programme staff team have been a part of the Welsh slalom pathways at some point in their life, currently we also have ex squad paddler turned coach Ciaran Lee Edwards who now works for Paddle UK helping athletes all the way to senior international medals. 

As a Slalom paddler you gain an incredible set of skills and when paddlers transfer disciplines at the end of their slalom career it always puts a smile on the coaches faces. Weather that's coaching or paddling it doesn't matter, there have been multiple paddlers go onto the BUKE (British University Kayak Expedition) team including Cara Lee (Russia 2019) Aaron White (Borneo 2021) and Oli Cooper (Guatemala 2024) exploring uncharted parts of the world in the white-water kayaking scene. On top of those other stand out white water paddlers include Andy Kettlewell and Huw Butterworth with numerous white water kayaking achievements and descents. 

GB athletes and stand out athletes (Cara Lee (Buke + WW Paddler + GB Kayak Cross Team), Aaron White (Buke + WW Paddler + GB Kayak Cross Team), Huw Butterworth (WW Paddler), Andy Kettlewell(WW Paddler), Steffan Walker (GB Slalom Team), Ciaran Lee Edwards (GB Slalom Team), Lili Bryant (GB Slalom Team & GB Youth Olympic Team), Jonathan Abbott (GB Slalom Team), Sam Jones (GB Slalom Team), Rhys Davies (GB Slalom Team), Will Coney (GB Slalom Team), James Coney (GB Slalom Team), Gabi Ridge (GB Slalom Team), Jack Davies (GB Slalom Team), Izzy Bushrod (GB Slalom Team), Non Dingle (GB Slalom Team), Tom Abbott (GB Slalom Team), Roisin Lee Edwards (GB Slalom Team), Eti Chappell (GB Slalom & Kayak Cross Team), Megan Hamer Evans (GB Slalom Team), Emily Davies (GB Kayak Cross Team), Gareth Farrow (GB Kayak Cross Team), Aaron White (GB Kayak Cross Team). 

Slalom Progress Awards 

Developed in conjunction with coaches from across the national associations, the Slalom Progress Awards are a fun, supportive and engaging resource for coaches and clubs to access in order to help them introduce new participants into the sport of Canoe Slalom. 

The awards provide a systematic way to help shape and structure a series of sessions, motivating participants to progress through a range of technical competencies, fundamental behaviours, building water confidence and safety awareness. 

The award leaflet is waterproof and comes with stickers and a certificate for the coach to award to participants at the completion of each stage. 

These leaflets are freely available to clubs in both England and Wales and can be accessed via: 

• Any Welsh based Slalom club via Jonathan Davies - jonathan.davies@canoewales.com 
• Any English based Slalom club via Daniel Thompson - daniel.thompson@paddleuk.org.uk