Slalom? - where to start

[sarajames]

Many a times I find myself in awe of fellow white water paddlers who clearly had slalom back grounds. I too want to paddle like a goddess and therefore am keen to get some experiance in a slalom boat. Any ideas where to start. I am based in Birmingham, I am guessing HPP would be the closest place or are there nearer places? Flat water training?

Any advice much appreciated.

[lennart]

I guess over here:
http://www.canoeslalom.co.uk/info/precision.htm
by chatter there is a forumplace that should know the answer. Some slalom Uk paddelrs come over here as well.
have fun it isa gereatway to improve your skills.

[TheKrikkitWars]

This, From a post to Paula in this thread might be useful

How do you suggest finding a slalom coach?

I just bought a slalom boat too.

As far as I know, the conventional and easiest way to access slalom coaching is to join a club that has a strong Slalom background... (Given you're [i think] london based, then Shepperton may well be your best bet.)

There probably are slalom coaches who could deliver intensive skills training in the way that people in freestyle and recreational paddling often purchase coaching, but you'd have to ask on the UKslalom forum to see who's interested in/available to do that [and what their experience and reputation is like]... The way slalom is coached, it might be better seeing if there's someone who'll deliver a series of paddler development sessions, including drawing up a development plan for you to essentially self-coach in large gaps between sessions.

I hope that helps (and didn't include too much stating of the obvious).

I can't think of a club that's a good analog for Shepperton that's central to Birmingham, but HPP-CC and Stafford and Stone CC both take their slalom pretty seriously and are around 35 miles to the Northeast and Northwest (respectively) of central birmingham.

[Scots_Charles_River]

All UKCC level 1s should have touched on Xstream challenge sessions so that's a start. Level 2 Trainees need to log hours so advertise for one ?
Sound's like you are a competent paddler so the coach could be bank based.

It's surprising what skills can be built around some simple flatwater bouys or poles. First thing I learnt was that a Bow rudder doesn't have to be at a full reach at the bow !

[slink]

Beware of any so called slalom coaches who haven't got slalom experience...as you'll find when you get involved, things like bow rudders in a slalom boat are very different than anything the UKCC will teach you, and most will not have touched on slalom techniques at all, unless they have suplemented their training with a slalom module, or are an active slalom paddler themselves. It would be like asking a UKCC L2 to teach you sprint - I am guessing (having tried their paddles and boats) that you wouldn't do well at your first event! I'd stick to a well established slalom club as they'll have the techniques, equipment and a suitable training site - as has already been suggested the slalom website www.canoeslalom.co.uk is a good place to look, and that site also has a calendar of all events, so if there's one local to you, go along and have a look.
Good luck!

[David Fairweather]

Pop over next time you are in Llangollen, I have a spare boat you can use.