Info

Date & Locations 2008

Washburn 17th – 18th May 2008
Tryweryn 14th-15th June 2008
Nottingham 6th-7th September 2008
Northampton 20th-21st September 2008
Llangollen 1st-2nd November 2008

The Events

FREESTYLE:We are going to run just 2 categories, Mens & Ladies. As far as we know everyone will fit into these. We’ll then split the classes into the following leagues.

The Incubator: this is open to paddlers of all ages who are new to the competitive sport of plastic boating. The main focus of this league is to have fun and enjoy the paddling. Before a very light hearted competition paddlers will receive a coaching session from a coaching team including the Alpkit Team Paddlers

Sport: this is the league for everyone who is just into boating. If you enjoy spending time on the water with like-minded paddlers you’ll enjoy this league. Don’t get too complacent though, the top paddlers in this league will progress into the Expert league at the end of the year.

Expert: the competition really heats up in this league. There’ll be no room for errors with some of the best boaters in the UK competing in this league. National team, sponsored or just damn good paddlers all go head to head to find out who is the UK’s best.

Each class will compete separately, meaning you will only compete against paddlers of a similar skill level to yourself. Where possible we’ll change the location of the feature we use for the freestyle to ensure all leagues get the most out of the venue.

All paddlers take three 45 second rides in a suitable play hole or wave (Depending on time this may be reduced to 2 rides). The two highest runs scores are added together and the top performers progress through to the semis and on to the exciting knockout finals. The Expert class will run to current ECA rules. The Sport league will run to adapted ECA rules to help paddlers progress into the sport and learn the harder moves of freestyle. The Incubator league rules will encourage paddlers into the sport of freestyle without the pressure of limited timed runs.

A National League for each class will be compiled.

THE OLD GITS THROWDOWN!:Heats of 5-10 paddlers will take it turns in a jam session on the main feature of the river trying to tick off the moves listed on the Incubator Variety sheet. Old skool rules here, you need to impress the judges with style, flair and just plain cheesiness, there's no place here for new skool. Although aimed primarily at those paddlers who remember the good old days of Rodeo, this fun competition is open to anyone.

BOATER-X: Paddlers will race head-to-head, four at a time, down a section of the challenge location. If you win, you'll continue in the competition until you're knocked out. Due to many of our rivers being narrow, with little or no overtaking spots, each paddler will have to negotiate a different upstream slalom gate. As this won't be a single boat event modern creek boats can be used in the Boater X, up to a maximum length of 250cm.

You may have noticed there are no classes for C1 or OC1, yep you'll be competing head to head with everyone else. If you want to enter the Boater-X in kayak and the Freestyle in C1, be our guest.

DAGGER GREEN CHALLENGE!More info coming soon

Prices

£25 per event. This fee covers entry into both the Freestyle and Boater X events, an evening meal and the evenings entertainment. You’ll also have access to paddle throughout the weekend on any section of the river that isn’t being used for competition. (If you are not a member of the BCU, WCA or SCA or covered by being a member of a club registered with the BCU, WCA or SCA you’ll have to purchase BCU weekend membership for £2.50 on the weekend of the competition.)