Freestyle British Championship

Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham

We are looking to find Britons best freestyle paddlers and Britons best freestyle club. So alongside the main British Championship Freestyle competition we will be running a whole host events and coaching sessions. Every event you enter will give your club points towards the overall club championship. The more folk you bring along, the more points your club could get and the closer your club will be to winning a brand new Jackson kayak for your club.

2009 British Championships
These will be run in the feature formally known as “the twin waves” just below the first pool.

The prelims will take place on Saturday morning. They will also double as one of 3 team selection events and as such paddlers will have 3x 45 second runs, the best 2 count. If any category has more than 40 entrants the quarter finals will take place on the Saturday afternoon. If any class has less than 40 competitors the top 10 from the prelims will progress straight to the semi finals on Sunday morning. If a class has less than 10 competitors then the top 5 competitors will advance straight to the finals on Sunday afternoon. Sundays finals timetable will be published on Saturday afternoon once all paddlers have registered.
Squirt will take place in the cheese block pool on Saturday afternoon after the prelims have finished in Twin Wave hole.

Fun Freestyle Competition
We will be running a fun freestyle competition for all ages and abilities for those paddlers just starting out in the sport. If all goes to plan with this weeks course changes it will take place in the feature called “Tardis” below the Muncher. The heats will take place on Saturday morning and will be run as 15 minute jam sessions with all sexes, ages and abilities mixed together. Dads can compete in the same heat as their sons to give moral support if they wish. Anything goes all you need to do is enjoy yourself and impress the judges any way you can. The top 5 under 14’s, under 16’s, under 18 men, under 18 women, senior men and senior women will progress through to the fun freestyle finals on Sunday morning on the top wave.

Extreme Slalom
All paddlers will take it in turns to paddle down the course after their run in the freestyle heats. You’ll have to negotiate your way through slalom gates attempting the set freestyle moves, river running skills and touch boards in the fastest time possible. Paddlers are allowed to touch the slalom gates without penalty but will get a 20 second penalty for each failed task.
Old Dogs with New Tricks
One for the parents, guardians, organisers and those to old or lazy to compete in the main event. Don your gear, grab any old boat and take part in the jam sessions in the main feature. Running over lunch on Sunday you’ll entertain the crowd with your old style moves interspersed with the odd new trick or two.

Team Boto-X
For those people not in a Sunday final sign up your team for Sunday’s knock out team Boto-X.  4 teams of 3 paddlers (one of which must be female) will set off from the cheese block pool down the course as fast as possible. The course will be laid out with wide raft style slalom gates and all paddlers in the team must complete the course within 20 seconds of each other. The fastest 4 teams will advance to a final on Sunday afternoon. Watch out for the special tasks half way down!!

Coaching
We have several L3 freestyle coaches who will be running free sessions over the weekend in the Inlet Gate, Muncher and Tardis. They will be first come, first serve and you’ll be able to sign up to them at registration.

Party
The party will take place in the rugby club from 8.00pm. Run and Jump are taking care of the atmosphere so expect some mellow tunes and interesting beverages. There will a small selection of nibbles whilst stocks last as they say. The party is free and is open to competitors and spectators alike. Please note there is no meal provided but we can supply menu’s for local takeaways.

Registration
Registration will be open from 8.30am on Saturday morning at mid-course control. No paddlers are allowed on the course until you have registered and be given a bib.

Practice
The main Brit Champs feature will remain the same as it is now although we may try running it on different levels when we have free access to the course. The centre will be open until 8pm on Friday night. Paddlers will not get a practice run before their prelim runs. The hole will be very busy on Saturday morning so please be courteous and once you have got a feel for the hole, move on down the course to let others have a practice.