How is kayak cross judged?
At a marked section of the course, competitors must complete a full 360-degree flip into the water with the kayak and land upright within a designated boundary. The roll zone and all gates are judged. First, the four competitors are dropped into the water from a two-meter high ramp and paddle furiously down the 210-meter course, trying to barge each other out of the way before they take on obstacles like barrel-rolling their kayak under a bar, as well as navigating upstream and downstream buoys.
How does kayak cross work at the Olympics?
In kayak cross, four athletes race head to head simultaneously down a whitewater course, navigating through a series of obstacles, with the goal to be the first past the finish line. Kayak cross was introduced in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
What are the three golden rules of kayaking?
The 3 Golden Rules of whitewater paddling are a set of rules that all paddlers need to apply, regardless of the type of paddling being done. You need to separate your upper and lower body movements, use the power of your torso, and maintain control of your kayak with an active blade. The three golden rules are a set of rules that, when followed, will let you paddle the most efficiently and help keep you safe on the water: You need to use the power of torso rotation for all your strokes. You need to choose an appropriate paddling location. You need to have a plan in case you capsize.