CANOE/KAYAK - SLALOM |
There are four kinds of this event. They include men’s single canoe, men’s double canoe, men’s single kayak, and woman’s single kayak. Canoeing and Kayaking were placed on the Olympic Games in 1936, but this was only flat water. Whitewater Slalom racing became popular soon after World War 2. In this event you are to paddle through courses in manmade or natural courses going through numbered gates in order. If you miss a gate, you will get a 50 second penalty, which could really effect how you do. The course will be 250 meters in length to 400 meters in length. In this you can go either up stream or down stream to go through the gate combinations. If you ask me that would be pretty hard! |
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When you are participating in these types of events, your heart is pumping. It seems that your heart stops around every single corner, because you don’t know what to expect. Could it eddies or rapids. Or how about encountering some deadly waves that could sink your kayak or canoe? And you would be so nervous and tense do to this. I don’t think that I could do that with all the pressure being put on you. And when you finish you would be absolutely exhausted from all of the effort that it took to paddle your canoe.
So overall kayaking and canoeing is an intense sport. |
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| To become an Olympic athlete and compete in these events you have to undergo a series of training. You will need to practice regularly canoeing and paddling. Also, you will need to be in good physical shape because you need to use your arms to move the paddles which row the boat. If you are a kid and want to become in these events I suggest that you practice canoeing or kayaking. There are plenty of rivers you could try or you could go and try a manmade course if you are not comfortable with nature’s elements. You could also maybe even attend a camp where you could learn some skills and than who knows maybe one day you could get sponsored and you could be the next person in the Olympic bringing Canada a gold medal home. |
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There is a lot of equipment you need in order to participate in this event. You will need a paddle to row your canoe or kayak with, a canoe or kayak, and you will also need to have a helmet incase you fall out and hit your head on another object. Another essential piece of equipment that is required is a life jacket to ensure that you don’t fall out and drown. |
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| These events will be held in Beijing on August 11th to the 23rd in 2008. It will be located Shunyi Olympic Canoeing/Kayaking Park on the side of Chaobai River. |
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| Researched by Jesse Driver, 8E, 2007-2008 |
