WANT TO GET INTO SLALOM

[adrianleake79]

Hi guys,

I have just aquired a slalom kayak due to the ambition of wanting to eventually compete. Can someone point me in the right direction of what is the nearest club near Birmingham is that does slalom training. Also what else do I need to know about the sport etc. I have been on the canoe slalom website already, I would like other peoples thoughts, knowledge and info in it too please

Kind regards

Adrian

[davebrads]

You can find a list of slalom clubs on the Canoe Slalom website. The closest to you will depend upon which side of Birmingham you live, though they all seem to require a bit of travelling. Stafford and Stone have long been the best slalom club in the country, and they have a large new clubhouse which includes a gym. The only downside is that they might appear a bit intense to an outsider, after all they do have several of the best slalom paddlers in the country. However there is still a good spread of abilities and approaches to the sport represented within the club, it is just finding out who is operating at the level you want.

[ali]

I'm not aware of a slalom club in Birmingham but depending what side of Birmingham you are you've three options.

Stafford and Stone - an excpetional slalom club, new boat house lots of experience and knowledge, ability to paddle on flat water with slalom gates all year round. Sessions at HPP as well.

HPP - based at HPP weekly training sessions at HPP all year round. A number of paddlers join this club along with their home club inorder to get regular gate coaching on moving water.

Cheltenham - has a slalom section within the club. Does gate training in the summer months looking to develop winter training. Really a white water club who use slalom to keep the skills going during the summer.

What you need to know about the sport depends on what level you are as a paddler. If you've lots of experience you don't need to start at the bottom div 4, instead you can apply for ranking status which is worth doing. If you've not done much before it might be worth joing a canoe club closer to you and then once your paddling skills develop come along to a div 4 slalom where you'll be able to get help on how things work. The canoe slalom website is excellent and you will always find people willing to help on their chat board.

Hope to see you at a race next season.

Ali