How does canoe slalom work

We hypothesize that: straight-line paddling at the same work rate will trigger smaller physiological response and thus appear more efficient. The simulated race energy distribution will involve maximal demand from both anaerobic during the early stages and aerobic during the latter half but intermittent periods of anaerobic respiration will occur.

The ability to generate force and thus work done will decline with time but is dependent on the aim of the stroke. As such, turning strokes will involve greater application of force over prolonged periods resulting in high impulse but low power outputs while propulsive strokes will have low impulse and high power outputs.

Prior to their involvement, all participants provided written consent in accordance with the requirements of the University Human Ethics Committee and the Declaration of Helsinki. On arrival at the venue Centennial Lagoon, Palmerston North, New Zealand all participants were weighed with and without kayaking clothing and measured cm.

Participants were instructed on the course of gates to be negotiated Figures 1A,B in order to mentally plan their route as is typical within competition and training MacIntyre and Moran, Figure 1. The courses for the A incremental step-test and B race duration test.

Blade angles in the shaft were adjusted to that preferred and normally used by the participant under normal training and racing conditions. The course included four upstream gates, 11 downstream gates, inclusive of eight major turning maneuvres. Supplementary material — time line video of the protocol used doi: After a 15 min active break which involved 10—12 min of flatwater paddling at an overall intensity deemed light but inclusive of non-monitored short duration high-intensity efforts, followed by a period of rest as per competition race procedures, participants performed one simulated race run Figure 1B.

Throughout, participants wore the automated, portable gas analyzer breath-by-breath analysis and used the kayak power meter data logging 50 Hz. The sequence of gates used was the same as the incremental test previously described Figure 1A , but differing in the start and finish position.

Participants were instructed to approach the start as per a normal slalom race where athletes work at supra-maximal intensities whilst accelerating to their preferred speed Zamparo et al. The kayak power meter logs force and power data for both left and right shafts separately at 50 Hz. This can be transferred to a standard personal computer as a csv.

Subsequently, the data for the left and right shafts were combined and analyzed for total power output at a sample rate of 50 Hz and averaged over 1 s epochs to coincide with gas analysis data. Additional analysis separated data based on forward propulsive paddling or a turning stroke.

Data recorded throughout the trials were transmitted to a conventional PC and processed with the Garmin Training Centre, One Giant Leap analysis application 1 and Cosmed Omnia software provided with the relevant hardware.

Descriptive data [mean, standard deviation SD ] were calculated for all dependant variables. Strokes were categorized as forward propulsive or turning via frequency distribution based of stroke length duration.

All comparison used a paired t -test GraphPad Prism, Version 7. Participant characteristics obtained from the submaximal and maximal components of the testing are presented in Table 1. Table 1. Figure 2. Stroke rate was Physiological variables associated with these work characteristics for the flatwater slalom equated to rate of oxygen consumption of 2. Absolute power output, relative power output, O 2 deficit and the reliance of anaerobic metabolism decreased over time Figures 3A—C , while aerobic metabolisms contribution increased Figure 3D.

Figure 3. Tests to determine whether the slopes and intercepts i. Figure 4. Linear regression for variables of force per left and right stroke [ A impulse, B peak force per stroke, C time to peak force, D rate of peak force development] in relation to stroke number during the flatwater race simulation. Figure 5. Relationship between stroke length and A impulse, B peak force, C time to peak force, and D rate of peak force development.

This investigation set out to describe the work requirement of a simulated flatwater slalom in the field with reference to physical and physiological demand. The introduction of a kayak paddle shaft enabling real time work rate monitoring Macdermid and Fink, and subsequently its use in the field, enables valuable monitoring opportunities for athletes, coaches and sports scientist alike.

The data presented within Figure 2 and Table 1 display athlete characteristics traditionally gained from a laboratory Zamparo et al. The participants used for this study were all part of the New Zealand development squad from which two members qualified for world cup semi-finals during the year of testing. A red slash on one side of the number indicates not to enter from this direction. Eddy — the calm pool of water where a paddler can rest. This is usually on the side of the river or sheltered by a rock or solid structure upstream.

Edging — slalom athletes use their lower body to roll the boat. Forerunner boats go down to demonstrate the course so athletes can watch and strategize with their coaches. PAT — Power, angle, tilt. The technique for crossing an eddy line involves powerful strokes, angling the boat upstream and titling the boat to raise high side toward the oncoming current. Punt — a move where an athlete will use his or her paddle to push off a rock or the side of the course.

A punt can be a planned strategy for turning the boat quickly or an on-the-fly tactic if an athlete gets too close to the side. Roll — the skill of flipping the overturned boat back upright while staying in the boat using the paddle and lower body. Skip to Content. Canoe Slalom. From strokes and techniques, to equipment and lessons, here's how you can get a piece of one of the coolest paddlesports on the planet. Written by Lucy Grewcock. What is canoe slalom? Canoe slalom involves paddling as fast as you can along a stretch of water up to metres long , passing through numbered gates two hanging poles as you navigate the course.

You can either choose to canoe alone C1 , kayak alone K1 or canoe with a partner C2. Gates can be placed upstream or downstream and must be completed in the right order and direction. Athletes also have choices to make, including which side of the course they should take.

One of the major attractions of extreme slalom is the diversity of countries taking part. Athletes from regions where canoe slalom is still in its infancy are embracing extreme events, and the results have been very exciting. Write to us at info canoeicf.

Technical support webmaster canoeicf. Design by LAB. Skip to main content. Event organisers. Open menu Close menu. Canoe Slalom ICFslalom. The Olympic discipline of canoe slalom is contested on a whitewater course with athletes navigating through a combination of up and downstream gates. The sport was introduced to the Games in What is Canoe Slalom? Things you need to know Canoe slalom is a race against the clock through a combination of up and downstream gates on a whitewater course.

The course length and number of gates varies with a maximum of 25 gates and length of meters.