A competitive discipline of canoeing using either kayaks or canadian canoes. Competitors are classed by type of boat and gender. They are numbered within their class by their ranking in previous races and compete in reverse order (best paddler last) usually at one minute intervals.

In whitewater slalom racing, multiple (18-25) gates are hung over a river section about 200-400 yards long. The object of the race is to go through each of the gates in order, as fast as possible, without touching any of the hanging gate poles. Green and white gates signify gates which must be run going downstream of the current. Red and white gates signify gates which must be run going upstream of the current. Each missed gate costs the racer a 50 second penalty, and each touched gate costs the racer a 2 second penalty.

Slalom kayaks and canoes are long, made of composite material, with thin sterns to go fast, but turn easily. They must conform to rigid length and width requirements.

www.wikipedia.pl