Physiological overview of

Canoe Slalom performance

By
Callum Bromley
 Introduction to Canoe Slalom
The primary objective of the
sport is to negotiate a series
of up to 25 suspended gates
on a white-water rapids
course of up to 500 meters.
Corresponding gates must be
passed through in the correct
order and in the correct
direction.
The overall winner of the
event will have negotiated
the course in the fastest time,
with the fewest penalties. British Canoe Union (2013)
 Canoe Slalom performance
Competition usually takes place over 80-120 seconds,
dependent upon water turbulence and course difficulty
(Bily, Balas, Martin, Cochrane, Couflaova & Suss, 2012).
Characterised by approximately 100+ strokes, with top
performers spending approximately 60% of the total run
time with the paddle blade submerged in the water
(Hunter, Cochrane & Sachlikidis, 2008).
Elite canoe slalom competitions are won in around 90
seconds. (Hunter, 2009).
Run to Run Performance variability at the top level ranges
from 0.8 3.2 % (Nibali, Hopkins & Drinkwater, 2011)
 Applied practitioner perspective
Perform Primary goal is therefore to achieve
maximum speed and technical efficiency
throughout the duration of the course
Analyse (Ridge, Broad, Kerr & Auckland, 2007).

Optimised conditioning programmes which

Plan are specific, periodized and individualistic in
nature are therefore required in order to
improve performance (Liow & Hopkins,
Implement 2003).
 Technical
excellence

Anaerobic
Muscular strength
conditioning

Key Physicality's of
Slalom Canoe
Performance
Flexibility Power

Speed

Michael, Smith & Rooney (2009)

 Performance continued
Arm strokes using a T-paddle grip, accompanied by
trunk and upper body actions create the necessary
velocity to navigate the canoe in and out of gates
(Hunter et al., 2008).

Lower limbs provide stability in order to execute

technical skills such as strokes, pivots and staggers.

Ancillary physicality's of performance therefore

potentially have the capacity to influence the overall
performance outcome (Michael et al., 2009).
 Sport-specific training programme
Significant type II muscle fibre recruitment during
intermittent periods of technical cyclic and acyclic
stroke performance (Baker & Hardy, 1989).
Efficiency of the anaerobic glycolysis pathway is
therefore fundamental to performance of key
technical slalom canoe skills.
Metabolic conditioning of the anaerobic glycolysis
pathway and specific type II muscle fibre
development should therefore formulate a
fundamental part of a canoe slalom athletes' training
regime. (Baker & Hardy, 1989).
Research based programme design
Intervals of and slalom runs.
Specific emphasis upon speed/power development
through technically demanding upstream gates,
requiring the athlete to counterbalance water
turbulence.
2-3 minute rest period between slalom runs.
4-6 slalom runs proposed per session.
1-2 sessions performed on a weekly basis.
Monitor training intensity through pre-post blood
lactate analysis, heart rate and RPE.
Research based programme design

Baker & Hardy (1989)

 Programme justification
Canoe based Interval training dually provides both
metabolic conditioning and skill proficiency development
within performance like conditions (McKean & Burkett,
2010).
However, interval training needs to be adequately
balance and supplemented based upon a number of
extrinsic factors including the individuals fitness, the level
of competition and period of training.
Previous research has shown that engagement in interval
training runs for a 9 week period constitutes to
preferential type II muscle fibre development and a
rightward shift in lactate threshold (Baker & Hardy, 1989).
 References
Baker, S.J., & Hardy, L. (1989). Effects of high intensity canoeing training on fibre area and fibre type in the
latissimus dorsi muscle. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 23(1), 23-26. Retrieved from:
http://www.bjsportmed.com/content
Bily, M., Balas, J., Martin, A.J., Cochrance, D., Coufalova, K., & Suss, V. (2012). Effect of paddle grip on
segmental fluid distribution in elite slalom paddlers. European Journal of Sports Science, e-pub ahead of
print. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2011.643926
British Canoe Union. (2013). Canoe Slalom rules and regulations. Retrieved from:
http://www.bcu.org.uk/canoe-slalom
Hunter, A. (2009). Canoe slalom boat trajectory while negotiating an upstream gate. Sports Biomechanics,
8(2), 105-113. doi: 10.1080/14763140902934837
Hunter, A., Cochrane, J., & Sachlikidis, A. (2008). Canoe slalom competition analysis. Sports Biomechanics,
7(1), 24-37. doi: 10.1080/14763140701683155
Liow, D.K., & Hopkins, W.G. (2003). Velocity specificity of weight training for kayak sprint performance.
Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 35(7), 1232-1237.
doi:10.1249/01.MSS.0000074450.97188.CF
McKean, M.R., & Burkett, B. (2010). The relationship between joint range of motion, muscular strength, and
race time for sub-elite flat water kayakers. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 13, 537-542. doi:
10.1016/j.jsams.2009.09.003
Michael, J.S., Smith, R., & Rooney, K.B. (2009). Determinants of kayak paddling performance. Sports
Biomechanics, 8(2), 167-179. doi:10.1080/14763140902745019
Nibali, M., Hopkins, W.G., & Drinkwater, E. (2011). Variability and predictability of elite competitive slalom
canoe-kayak performance. European Journal of Sport Science, 11(2), 125-130. doi:
10.1080/17461391.2010.487121
Ridge, B.R., Broad, E., Kerr, D.A., & Ackland, T.R. (2007). Morphological characteristics of Olympic slalom
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10.1080/17461390701478357
Questions ?