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What is it?
Based on the Diamond figure formed by 4 slalom gates (see file below for setup), it is the ideal way to test your boat handling skills and to practice those strokes you know you'll need on moving water, whether taking part in a slalom or just paddling down a river. It has been designed to fit into a one-hour pool session and can be used as a goal setting and motivation tool for young paddlers and whilst aimed at 8-12 age group it has proved to be very popular with all age groups.
How does it work?
A paddler simply chooses the level that they think they are ready for, gains a score through completing the challenge and then over the following practice sessions concentrates on their boat handling skills such as Bow Rudder, Sweep Strokes and S turns. After a number of sessions, they can try the Diamond Challenge once again and try to improve on their time and negotiate more gates than the previous score. It's exciting for paddlers to compare their personal progress as well as see how others are doing. It is very easy to set up inter and intra club events based on the Diamond Challenge. This is a brilliant stepping stone for youngsters to move into Divisional Slalom events and indeed river racing.
The rules
From leaving the poolside, the paddler has 1 minute to negotiate as many gates as possible. The same gate cannot be taken in consecutive turns and a full circuit must be completed before returning to the first gate.
There are no penalties for hitting the poles in the blue and bronze events but in silver and gold events a 2 second penalty will be given for each pole touched.
Award Structure
It is split into 4 levels —Blue, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Blue and Bronze events can be run during club sessions and stickers awarded by any BCU L2 Coach. The silver and gold events will be run at regional slalom events or paddlesport events. So contact your Slalom representative or Paddlesport Development Officer for the next event ... but there s nothing to stop you practising in the club for them. |