The answer, for whoever you are, is yes. Above all else, whitewater slalom is a way to have fun and to test the limits of what can be done on whitewater without pushing the envelope of survival. It can be a family sport, a way to meet people and a fun way to spend an afternoon on a low-water day, or a weekend on the best whitewater in the world. It is a way to improve skills and learn new ones. I've never done anything like that.
Slalom racers permeate the top ranks of just about any paddling discipline.
Eric Jackson and every other World Rodeo Championship Silver medallist since 1993 has been on a national slalom team. Nick Kimmet, the current World Extreme Champion, is training full time for a berth on the 1998 slalom team. Whether you think of slalom as training or cross-training, it can take an otherwise slow afternoon and turn it into a challenge. Washington D.C. The key to getting a racing program going in a club is to get as much of the grunt work done without missing any paddling time. Following are a few hints to keep your gate-hanging time to a minimum.