Unofficial UK Slalom BBS

Duncan, Dave, Hannah, Jack?

I’m quite happy with your proposal, but then I’m quite happy with the current system. At the moment I’m in third. Am I the 3rd best vet in the country? No, but then it’s never a perfect system. In a few years time when (hopefully!) my daughter is in div 1, I know I’ll be scoring a lot less points an...

Joel, you were already 20 seconds clear of the div 2 men at Symonds Yat, you’re just being greedy now!

I’m saying the above as the parent of an 8 year old who will likely be on RTA this winter, I would quite happily swap that for more retention and the future of the sport!

A radical suggestion: scrap all TID and RTA etc until 16, and let the kids enjoy the journey. It used to be a case of enjoying slaloms and getting promoted when you were ready, now that doesn’t really happen with a lot of kids as they feel so much pressure to stay on schemes. Instead use the funding...

I’m in a similar position - level 3 coach and want to become a slalom coach. I do want to do the core coach training, as I think it could be worthwhile, but I’m picky about who I do it with and when I do it (reluctant to give up family time and slaloms, work and now potentially RTA will take up a lo...

OK, brain dump number 2 Things seem to be happening a lot younger than they used to. My wife tells me I can't compare the sport now to when I competed as a kid (1988-1996) as it's a completely different sport. But I'll try! I started paddling slalom at 12, and it took me 18 months (about 12 weekend ...

Brain dump number one (number 2 may follow once I've done the housework!): I know we've lost some girls who struggle with the move from div 3 to div 2 (I know that there are a lot of div 2/3, but still you can get promoted to div 2 just paddling at Stone, Wagon Lane, Oughtibridge etc) and getting sc...

Jo, you’re high on my list for awesomest paddler ever, you inspire at every event you are at! The sport needs more people like you. Not sure about the retention though, will have a think! Personally I stopped when I was 20 as I was finding it really hard to train over the summer months, and so after...

Just reread Duncan’s comment about vets starting at 45. That’s OK in principle, but I’m 43, and only racing at events I’m taking Chloe to. If I were ranked, I would be promoted to div 1 this year, not race next year, get demoted and race again in div 2, taking points off kids who need them to get pr...

I got them on Feb through seeing them on someone else’s feed. The direct link doesn’t work for me though. There’s some great shots there, thanks.

None of the links work for me?

i Understand it’s a long way from Scotland. However,the travelling time for one competition in London for a Scottish paddler is less than that of three competitions in Tully, Bala and Nottingham for a paddler based in the South of England. A one off at Tees would be more central, maybe move the Brit...

I like Dee’s suggestion. Alongside the British open for J16 and above, and the J14 and J12 alongside the div 2 on the Sunday?

As the parent of a potential J12 team member, then absolutely it should be a thing. I’m not sure of the format it should take, but I am not convinced by the venues for the current format, at least for J12. Chloe is currently the 4th highest ranked J11 in the rankings, 3rd in England. This would plac...