French canoe & kayak slalom Championships

The « Claude Peschier » international basin in Bourg Saint Maurice will be the new arena for a large-scale canoeing event, more specifically slalom and kayak cross, both of them Olympic sports. Come and see these young athletes demonstrating the technicity required to pass through the slalom gates on this legendary river to pass through the slalom gates on this legendary river.

+ French Slalom and Kayak Cross Championships Opening Ceremony: Monday 24 July at 7.00 pm –Bourg Saint Maurice town centre.

+ French Canoe & Kayak Slalom Championships U15, U18, U23, C2 and veterans : from Tuesday 25 to Friday 28 July 2023.
+ French Championships individual prize-giving: Friday 28 July at 6.00 pm: place de la Mairie in Bourg Saint Maurice. 

+ French Team Canoe & Kayak Slalom Championships: Saturday 29 July 2023.
+ French Team Championships prize-giving: Saturday 29 July at 6.00 pm: Claude Peschier international centre.

+ Kayak Cross Championships:  Sunday 30 July from 8.00 am to 3.30 pm
+ French Kayak-Cross Championships prize-giving: Sunday 30 July at 4.00 pm: Claude Peschier international centre.

THE BOURG SAINT MAURICE STADIUM

An internationally renowned basin: The competition will take place in Bourg Saint Maurice on the Upper-Isère, in a natural location.

The Upper-Isère basin makes a magnificent setting for a competition in open-air surroundings which meet all the organisational and logistic requirements for top level canoe  and kayak events (the only basin to have hosted 3 World Championships: 1969- 1987 - 2002). It is recognised for its technical nature and is classified as «the most difficult in the world ».

SLALOM, AN OLYMPIC SPORT

It is a race against the clock where competitors have to follow a course consisting of 18 to 25 gates, coloured red or green. The aim is to pass through the gates without touching them, passing through the green gates going downstream and the red going upstream. Every touch earns a 2-point penalty added to the time achieved which is converted into points (1 point = 1 second). Each race is run over 2 legs which are added together.

Kayak Cross, an OLYMPIC SPORT AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS IN 2024

Kayak cross is a combination of all white-water canoeing sports. Four contestants in four identical boats slide off a ramp more than two metres above the water.
This spectacular start foreshadows a race where each paddler tries to gain the advantage over their adversaries. The athletes must negotiate the gates going both downstream and upstream and contact is allowed, adding to the thrills and excitement for both spectators and canoeists.
Most races last about a minute, but the time is not important. The first to cross the finish line wins.
On the course, contestants must perform a 360° turn in a specified area.

CANOE AND KAYAK, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

+ 2 different types of vessel:

The Kayak: the kayaker sits on a low seat at the bottom of the boat with their legs in front of them.
The Canoe: the canoeist kneels at the bottom of the boat (on little wedges), buttocks pressed against a «bench». Legs folded; feet behind.

+ 2 different types of paddle:

Single or Double Canoe: Single paddle 
Single-seater Kayak:  double paddle.

FOLLOWING THE RACE RESULTS:

Click HERE to follow the race results live.