2015 ICF World Championships Slalom
 
1
2
3
K1M
CZ J. PRSKAVEC
PL M. POLACZYK
US M. SMOLEN
K1W
CZ K. KUDEJOVA
DE R. FUNK
DE M. PFEIFER
C1M
GB D. FLORENCE
SI B. SAVSEK
GB R. WESTLEY
C1W
AU J. FOX
CZ K. HOSKOVA
ES N. VILARRUBLA
C2
DE ANTON/BENZIEN
FR PICCO/BISO
FR KLAUSS/PECHE

Extreme

University canoe club try out Olympic course at Lee Valley

university sussex canoe club great britain london whitewater katie president lee valley centre sportscene icf kayak canoe river

Nick Harding | @nickhdg | Sportscene - We have been in touch with Sussex University Canoe Club (UK) President, Katie Hedgecock, who took her squadron of 15 débutante, advanced and alumni paddlers to the London 2012 Olympic course on a gloomy November weekend. We uncover how easy it is for beginners to get into the sport, this is how they got on.

Lee Valley White Water Centre hosted the London 2012 slalom events where British Baillie and Stott won a valiant home-gold in C2s with the Florence-Hounslow duo taking silver. It boasts the 300m, 5.5m descent Olympic course and a 160m loop named Legacy.

university sussex canoe club great britain london whitewater katie president lee valley centre sportscene icf kayak canoe riverPublic paddling on the Legacy is affordable and accessible for all, providing you can pass the competency test which involves self-rescuing after a swim and examines your water confidence. Katie outlined that one of her highlights of the club's perfect day was watching her excitable and smiling members swim past during the assessment.

"We took several beginners who hadn't been on white water before and so they swam a lot, but most of them passed which was good."

Albeit many beginners swimming, which is an integral part of learning, immediate impressions of the Legacy course were positive, even though it was not as challenging as its sister.

Katie: “It was good for practising skills like eddie-hopping and a good way to introduce beginners to paddling as it's safer than real white water. There's also a nice play wave at the bottom to practise surfing and tricks.” 

The beginners were well-looked being rescued by throw-lines from staff. Basic paddling techniques could be learnt on the nearby 10,000 square metre static lake, then they would progress quickly on the Legacy course.

Katie paddled the more demanding grade-4 Olympic course with its boils and obstacles she admitted being challenged.

university sussex canoe club great britain london whitewater katie president lee valley centre sportscene icf kayak canoe riverAfter such an exciting day for her beginners and pros alike, President Katie affirms that she and her club will undoubtedly be returning to Lee Valley next year when it gets warmer.

The White Water Centre is well-organised as part of a multi-sport post-Games sustainability plan managed by Lee Valley Park. Canoeing schemes include providing training facilities for elite and amateur athletes. Other business ventures include team-building and leisure rafting descents.

Despite protests from local residents prior and during construction, 60,000 people turned up to  support Team GB during the Games. Questions do remain though whether the centre will live up to expectations, we do not wish to see a repeat of the once-so-elegant white water course at Beijing which has fallen into such tepid disuse. The 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championships will be held at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.

Katie: “It must cost a fortune in electricity to run the place but it's definitely worth it!”

Website Sussex University Canoe Club: www.sussexcanoe.com