1. CANOE SLALOM BY: ERIC MOORE

2. Competition Dates! Sunday July 29- Thursday 2 August. Times may vary as competition continues.

3. How do you play? Canoe Slalom competitions consist of timed runs down a white water course, with up to 25 gates. The red gates must be navigated upstream. The green gates must be navigated down stream.

4. Medal Events! There are 4 medal events. Men’s canoe single. Canoe double. Kayak Single. Women’s kayak single.

5. What are some words used in canoeing? Eddy- a white water feature downstream from an obstacle. Drop- a fall of water creating a fast current and tough eddies. Hole(stopper)- a whitewater reversal of flow. PFD- a paddler’s buoyancy aid; short for personal flotation device. Spraydeck- a cover worn around the paddler’s waist and stretched over the cockpit entrance to keep water out of the boat. Upstream gate- a slalom gate with red poles that has to be negotiated against the water’s flow.

6. Fact Information: Events are held at the Lee Valley White Water Centre. There are a total of 82 competitors in this sport, 61 men, 21 women. Canoe Slalom made its debut at the Munich 1972 Olympic Games, but didn’t become a permanent part of the Olympic Programme until Barcelona 1992!

7. Athletes. Scott Parson. Male. 33 years old. Born 3-27-1979 in Toledo. 5’10” tall. 161 lbs. Caroline Queen. Female. 20 years old. Born 3-5-1992 in Knoxville. 5’2” tall. 146 lbs.