Slalom & Whitewater at MCC

Brief discussion on Canoe Slalom and Whitewater Kayaking at Manchester Canoe Club.

Transcript

1. Slalom & Whitewater What MCC has to offer
2. Overview • Slalom • Whitewater • Combining the two • Slideshow
3. Slalom
4. What is Canoe Slalom? • Negotiate a slalom course in the quickest time… • … without touching the gates • 18-25 gates, inc 4-6 ‘upstream’ gates • 2s penalty for touches • 50s penalty for missed gates • Fastest times usually around 90s
5. History • Started 1930s in Switzerland • Early boats were canvas then glass fibre - now carbon/kevlar • Olympic debut in 1972 • Returned to Olympics in 1992 • Previously called ‘Whitewater Slalom’
6. K1M & K1W • Sitting with double blade • K1M & K1W are Olympic sports • Largest class: • 1,100 ranked K1M • 510 ranked K1W Joe Clark © Richard Nutter (m-photo.com)
7. C1M & C1W • Kneeling with single blade • C1W will become an Olympic sport in 2020 • Popular as a second class: • 300 ranked C1M • 190 ranked C1W Elidh Gibson © Richard Nutter (m-photo.com)
8. C2 • Two paddlers, kneeling with single blade • Mixed men’s & lady’s divisions • Only two divisions: Prem/1 & 2/3 • Will be dropped from Olympics in 2020 • Smallest class: • 450 ‘ranked’ crews • 150 crews with points Mark Proctor & Etienne Stott © Richard Nutter (m-photo.com)
9. Division 4 • Entry division • Turn up and race • Typical courses: • Marple • Stone (R. Trent) • Matlock (R. Derwent) Gemma Killick & Charlotte Gill, Marple © Michael Stringer
10. Division 3 • Ranked paddlers only • Grade 2/3 rivers • Often held with Div 4 races • Typical courses: • Marple • Stone (R. Trent) • Matlock (R. Derwent) Alastair Kennedy, Stone © Andy Brookes
11. Division 2 • Grade 3 rivers • Courses start to use river features • Typical courses: • R. Washburn • Abbey Rapids (R. Tees) Matt Cooke & Alastair Gill, Howsham Weir © Ken Oliver
12. Division 1 • Grade 3/4 rivers • Challenging courses using river features (stoppers/waves) • Typical courses: • R. Washburn • HPP (Nottingham) • Grandtully (R. Tay) • Graveyard (R. Tryweryn) Dave Jones, Grandtully © Glenn Roberts
13. Prem • Extremely challenging courses • Grade 4 rivers & artificial sites • Typical courses: • Graveyard (R. Tryweryn) • HPP (Nottingham) • Lee Valley (Olympic course) Tom Raper, Serpents Tail © Andy Brookes
14. Why do slalom? • Fitness • Develop paddling skills • Competition • Regular sessions • Friendly atmosphere • Strong community
15. But… • … I’m too old to start • … it’s too complicated • … I’m not very good • … I don’t have the kit • … it’s too far to travel
16. But… • … I’m too old to start - there’s 2x M70 ranked paddlers • … it’s too complicated • … I’m not very good • … I don’t have the kit • … it’s too far to travel
17. But… • … I’m too old to start - there’s 2x M70 ranked paddlers • … it’s too complicated - just focus on the gates • … I’m not very good • … I don’t have the kit • … it’s too far to travel
18. But… • … I’m too old to start - there’s 2x M70 ranked paddlers • … it’s too complicated - just focus on the gates • … I’m not very good - everyone starts somewhere! • … I don’t have the kit • … it’s too far to travel
19. But… • … I’m too old to start - there’s 2x M70 ranked paddlers • … it’s too complicated - just focus on the gates • … I’m not very good - everyone starts somewhere! • … I don’t have the kit - MCC has boats & equipment • … it’s too far to travel
20. But… • … I’m too old to start - there’s 2x M70 ranked paddlers • … it’s too complicated - just focus on the gates • … I’m not very good - everyone starts somewhere! • … I don’t have the kit - MCC has boats & equipment • … it’s too far to travel - lots of people will offer to car pool
21. Slalom Sessions @ MCC • 7pm, Mondays - ‘Hard’ session • 6pm - 7pm, Tuesdays - Marlins junior squad • 7pm, Tuesdays - General session + slalom stragglers • 7pm, Thursdays - Open slalom • 10am, Sunday - General session
22. Marlins • Ages 8-14 • Weekly training sessions • Regular off-site training sessions • Support at races • £36 for 6 months (inc boat hire)
23. MCC Races • 2nd & 3rd July - Marple Div 3/4 • 7th & 8th May - HPP Div 1/2 • 17th & 18th September - Marple Div 3/4
24. What do I need to start? • Basic paddling kit (cag, wet kit, etc) • Basic paddling skills (2* level) • Determination • Everything else can be hired
25. Whitewater
26. Why Paddle Whitewater? • Challenging • Adventure • Wilderness • Fitness • Social
27. Why Paddle Whitewater? • Challenging • Adventure • Wilderness • Fitness • Social
28. Whitewater Trips • Spring - Scotland Trip (1 week, grades 3-4) • April - September - Friday night takeouts at Mile End Mill (grade 3) • November - Scotland Trip (4 days, grades 3-5) • December - Lune Trip (grade 3) • Boxing Day - Goyt ‘race’ & tour (grade 2)
29. MCC Courses & Sessions • Open sessions - 7pm, Tuesdays & 10am, Sundays • Wednesday evenings - Kayak improvers • 3* & 4* WW Kayak, First-Aid, WWS&R courses • Friday night sessions at Mile End Mill
30. Beyond Courses • Friday night sessions at Mile End Mill • Regular intermediate trips run by Andy Brookes • Groups running their own trips
31. What do I need to start? • Basic paddling kit (cag, wet kit, etc) • Basic paddling skills (2* level) • Determination • Everything else can be hired
32. Combining the Two
33. Slalom + Whitewater • Hone skills and paddling precision • Races are held during the summer • Focused sessions. • De-stress in a hard workout session • Develop river reading skills • River levels are best in winter • Time to play & relax • Relax on a gentle paddle down the river
34. –Emily Jackson, Freestyle World Champion "Slalom and Running Whitewater are so similar as far as the kayaking part goes. The best slalom paddlers aren’t looking at making the gates but getting on the right pieces of current, much like running a rapid.”
35. Questions?
36. Slideshow
37. River Lune
40. Scotland Trip
45. Friday Night Takeout Mile End Mill, River Dee
54. Other Trips River Trywern, River Leven