[Don]

Here is a break down of kayaking coverage on TV.

Tuesday Aug. 17th: Men's C-1, NBC 12:30-4 pm
Aug. 17th: Women's K-1, NBC 12:35- 2 am

Wedesday Aug. 18th: Men's C-1 & Women's K-1 Finals 12:35- 2 am

Thursday Aug. 19th: Men's K-1, NBC 12:30- 4 pm

Friday Aug. 20th: Men's K-1 Finals NBC 12:35- 2 am
Aug. 20th: Men's K-1 Finals USA 7:00- 12 pm

 

[freakboy]

Olympics

TiVo is my friend. Thanks for the info.

 

[cosurfgod]

This may be a stupid question but is that Slalom Racing or getting rowdy? If it is slalom, is it cool to watch? Running gates might be fun to do but is it fun to watch? I wouldn't know, I have only hit my head on the gates playboating. :?:


Are we posting ages now?!

 

[frenchy]

Are we posting ages now?!

Sorry, had to do a full rebuild of the site a couple days ago and still trying ot get things back to normal.. Age is gone now.

 

[Lurch]

I doubt the slalom will be very fun to watch but I plan to tune in to get a look at the white water park they built. It is basically a large water slide. Water is pumped by 4 turbine water pumps to a large pool where the course starts then crosses over an aqua-duct, down a large concrete “stream” that curves under the aqueduct and out into a lake. The bottom of the concrete channel is covered with irregular shapes and large poles stacked side by side create the water features. It even has conveyor belts to haul you and your atrophied legs back up to the top.

Video of the park dry and being filled with water
http://www.canoeicf.com/slalom/committee/news/news2004/athen2004_course_web_2.wmv


Offical Site for Canoe and Kayak Center
http://www.athens2004.com/en/Venues/venues?oid=ca18398278069f00VgnVCMServer28130b0aRCRD

 

[yarn]

where can I get one of those?

How do these guys pay attention to the gates? I saw about a half dozen surf waves and boofs.

So much fun, I hope its not too late to ship the play boat and buy a plane ticket to athens.

 

[cstork]

Wow, neat video.

I can't believe what they built. How much did that thing cost?

I agree, slalom kayaking doesn't do it for me. A waste of a good river and the gates are a pain. But, I think slalom kayaking is big in Europe.

I wish they had an event for how many tricks you can do on that course where you can only spend 30 seconds max at each feature.

 

[Marco]

If it is slalom, is it cool to watch?

You betcha! From what I have seen and heard, they may place a gate right in the middle of the biggest hole on the course. Watching the racers negotiate it with long glass boats will be interesting.

...the gates are a pain

That's the whole point! :wink: They place the gates such that it is difficult to maneuver through them. Makes a class III rapid into a class IV/V challenge. If you are interested in increasing your boating ability, I would highly recommend hanging out with some of the racers at Golden and learning from them. Learning to race gates will be the best thing you ever did to increase your boating ability.

One interesting aspect of this course is that they will be using salt water, which will be much foamier, whiter, and more difficult to read. It will be interesting to see how that effects the competition.

Look for Rebecca Giddens to turn up the heat and challenge for a medal in Women's K-1. Too bad the Women's finals are 12-2:30am...

Go USACK!

http://www.nbcolympics.com/canoekayak/index.html

 

[cstork]

The gates in Golden are a pain!

I've always wondered why they are left in the middle of the river for everyone to bonk. I've never seen anyone use them.

 

[ACC]

most racers stay away from golden at peak play times...

umm...the gates at golden get a fair share of use. the also make for a very nice workout on the way to and from the better holes/waves. my $.02.

 

[asherj]

I agree with ACC. I had the totally "new school" playboat etc. mentality for a while until I actually tried a slalom race a few years back in which I got my but kicked and quickly gained respect. Its a great way play around while waiting for the hole to open up and it can really help with just paddling fundamentals which in turn help your playboating as well. or at least that was my experience. I think that puts the grand total now at $0.04 :wink:

 

[JJH]

I must agree that slalom kayaking is great to watch and really hard to do. Much harder than throwing ends. The gates are put in very challenging places and you are racing against the clock. Playboating requires one feature that works with your boat design. .06

 

[Mike Harvey]

I love paddling gates and own two slalom boats. That is the only paddling I do on the Ark in the winter because who wants to get their head wet. That said gates are most definitely a pain in the ass. I maintain the course in Salida and it pretty much sucks huge.

 

[rivermanryan]

I am so pissed off. I have Tivoed two nights in a row where kayak and canoeing were listed to be on and all I get is shot put, beach volleyball and rowing. I have not been able to watch a single whitewater event. What is going on? Is NBC screwing around and changing the TV schedule?

All I want now is to watch the Men's K-1 Finals that concluded live last night, and I can't find it listed anywhere. Can anyone help?