Wild Water Racing

Registered Company No 2612775

What's Involved? You have to race down the river from top to bottom, unlike slalom there are no gates to go through, it just a simple matter of who fast you can do it!

Ok its not quite that straight forward, there is considerable skill involved in picking and putting you boat on the right line so that you stay in the fastest water, avoid rock and avoid braking out. And if you paddle a white water racing boat, turning takes a bit of getting used to!

As a beginners you start racing in Division B, with lots of races on easy water, usually with opportunity to practice before you race. As you improve there are also Division b races alongside Division A races so you can get used to racing on harder water and go for promotion.

There are two types of race a ‘classic’ - a longer race where one run down the course decides the winner, and a ‘sprint’ on a much shorter course (up to 2 minutes) where you have two runs and these added together decide the winner.

Wild Water Racing website

Wavehopper Series information

Why do it?

Fun - its enjoyable and satisfying to be able do the course, its social chatting and making friends with people from other clubs. And its another excuse to go paddling!

Challenge - of working out where to put your boat to stay in the fastest water and trying to get it there.

Skills - it will definitely improve your paddling skills, and your ability to read white water.

Fitness - ok you don't have to be super fit to race, but racing and practicing will make you fitter.

Look Cool - by being much more confident of white water.

Where can I try it? Beginners start in Division B, and there are races at this level in the region throughout the year. These are on easy water like Waggon Lane at Bingley, the Burrs at Bury, the river Mersey near Stockport or the Derwent at Matlock.

Anyone who has mastered the basics of paddling (i.e. going forward and turning) and has a little experience of white water (i.e. been down the drops at the Club) can give it a go - it not unusually for children as young as 12 to race.

To get started you are best going for ‘sprint’ races, as these are shorter so less demanding, but also as racers go off individually, there are usually people along the length of a sprint course for safety.

For under 18’s there is also the Wavehopper Challenge Series, specifically designed to encourage young people to have a go at wild water racing

At races there are several classes:

K1M - Men’s Kayak
K1W - Women’s Kayak
C1 - Canadian Singles - kneeling up with a single blade paddle (at the moment men and women race against each other)
C2 - Canadian Doubles - two people in the boat, both kneeling up with a single blade paddle (these can be both men, both women or one of each).

Most people start off in a kayak, but have a go at C1 or C2 when they get more confident.

What do I need? When you are starting out you can use any boat, but once you start to progress you will probably want to start using a wild water racing boat or try a Wavehopper - a plastic wild water racing boat, there are often some of these available to borrow at Division B and Wavehopper series races.

At Division B juniors can race on the Club’s BCU membership, adults need to either be a BCU member or pay a small fee for taster membership. This covers your insurance for the race. If you are going to race regularly then its best to get your own BCU membership.

For more information:

Dates of upcoming races in the region can be found on the events list

For more information on slalom in the UK visit www.wildwater.org.uk

For further information on getting into competition speak to Les Ford ( 01484 854099 or email