Part of the general sport of
canoeing. Whitewater slalom is a racing
sport which involves maneuvering your
canoe down a
rapid and through a series of
gates.
Depending on the particular race, canoes may be open or decked, tandem or solo. Some gates may be run downstream while other must be maneuvered upstream. A time penalty is applied if a gate is touched or missed.
Events usually take place at natural sites like the Minden Wild Water Preserve in Canada, but artificial courses such as Penrith Whitewater, recently built in Australia for the 2000 Summer Olympics, are becoming popular.