The Sharks have a thriving Canoe Slalom section, operating from our base in at Troy Lake near Harefield.

We use the facilities of Rickmansworth Sailing Club. Access is from the A412, Denham Road, alternatively you can park at the Coy Carp and walk along the canal, over the bridge at the cut and turn left and we are on the left as you go over the wooden bridge. We meet at 10:30am on Sundays all year (please not Sunday sessions are subject to cancelation if we are competing elsewhere, so please check.

For more information please contact us by email: slalom@thesharks.org.uk or by telephone on 07951 770241. We are always looking for new members, so please do get in touch.

What is Canoe Slalom?

Slalom Canoeing is an exciting sport which involves paddlers controlling a boat on rough though a course of gates (poles hanging above the water) as fast as you can. It is fun, exhilarating and challenging, you are competing, against the water conditions, against other paddlers, and challenging yourself! Visit canoeslalom.co.uk for more information and up to date news.

Entry level slaloms take place on gentle streams like Stone in Staffordshire.

But as you get better, so does the competition as you move up through the divisions and the higher up the divisions you go, the water also gets rougher and then one day you find yourself racing on the Olympic Course at Lee Valley.

There are three classes of events: K1 – Kayak singles, sitting down using a double bladed paddle in a boat on your own, C1, Canoe singles, kneeling down using a single bladed paddle in a boat on your own and C2 Canoe Doubles, like C1 but with two people.

The Sharks have an established slalom programme, you do not need any kit or any experience, it does not matter if you have never canoed or kayaked before, we will teach you all you need to know and we will supply you with all the kit you will need. Interested? Give us a call on 07951 770241, or email: slalom@thesharks.org.uk.

These are our 2023 paddlers, the one thing they all have in common, is that when they started they were novices, never been in a canoe or kayak, so there is no reason why you should not join them in 2022? Keep up to date with our paddlers on their profiles page.

Our current top ranked slalom paddler is Khaleel Ziauddin who is ranked in National Division 2, for Men’s K1 Slalom.

If you think it is just for youngsters, we currently have 4 paddlers racing at national events over the age of 60 and one, Richard Davis, who is in his 80s! It truly is a sport for all.

Our top ranked Lady is Jasmin Uhlhorn, who is in Ladies National Division 3.

Come along join us, for more information call us on 07951 770241 or email: slalom@thesharks.org.uk, or turn up to one of our sessions, you will always be welcome at The Sharks.

You can paddle for fun, you can take it seriously and race to the top, you can enjoy the sport at every level, your level, there are competitions at all levels, so you will always find something to suit you. We also travel to some interesting places.

There plenty of videos on our YouTube page.

Updated 15th August 2024