French Canoe - Kayak Slalom and Kayak Cross Championships

THE BOURG SAINT MAURICE STADIUM

A world-renowned course: The competition takes place in Bourg Saint Maurice on the Upper Isère River, in a natural setting.

The Upper Isère course provides a stunning competition environment in the heart of nature, meeting all the organizational and logistical requirements for top-level Canoe-Kayak events. It is the only natural course to have hosted three World Championships (1969, 1987, and 2002). It is known for its technical difficulty and is considered the “most challenging in the world.”

SLALOM, AN OLYMPIC DISCIPLINE

It's a race against the clock where competitors must navigate a course with 18 to 25 gates, colored red or green. The goal is to pass between the gates without touching them — green gates in downstream direction, red gates in upstream. Each touch results in a 2-second penalty added to the run time (1 point = 1 second). Each race consists of 2 combined runs.

KAYAK CROSS, OLYMPIC DISCIPLINE PARIS 2024

Kayak cross combines all whitewater canoe disciplines. Four competitors in identical boats launch from a ramp over two meters above the water.
This dramatic start leads into a course where paddlers battle for position. Athletes must pass upstream and downstream gates, and contact is allowed — adding to the thrill for both athletes and spectators.
Most races last about a minute, but time is irrelevant — the first to cross the finish line wins.
During the course, competitors must perform a 360° spin maneuver in a designated area.

CANOE VS. KAYAK: HOW TO TELL THEM APART?

Kayak: The kayaker is seated on a low seat at the bottom of the boat with legs extended forward, using a double-bladed paddle.

Canoe: The canoeist kneels in the bottom of the boat on small supports, with their buttocks resting on a foam pad called a “pouf.” Legs are bent with feet behind. They use a single-bladed paddle.