What are the Kayak Cross rules?
Kayak cross is poised to captivate audiences during the Paris 2024 Olympics where it will make its Games debut.
Chapter 16 of the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom Competition Rules (2023-2024) is where to find the rules of kayak cross.
Here are some of the key rules and regulations from that document.
Boat and paddle
Only mass-produced boats freely available for purchase on the open market are permitted.
- Maximum length of boats: 2.75m
- Minimum weight of boats: 18kg
The paddle is not permitted to have any sharp edges on the paddle blade.
Metal tipped paddle blades are also not allowed.
The paddle edges must have a minimum thickness of 5mm (radius of 2.5mm).
Body protection and equipment control
At ICF competition (level 1 to 3) athletes must wear appropriate clothing including a long sleeve top while competing.
Additional protection equipment is allowed (e.g. side protection, mouthguard, elbow protection).
If an athlete's equipment does not comply with the requirements and pre-competition Equipment Control is in operation, they will not be allowed to start and will receive the DNS code. If an athlete's equipment does not comply with the requirements and post-competition Equipment Control is in operation, they will receive the DSQ code.
Course design requirements
The elimination phase course must consist of four to six downstream gates and where possible two pairs of upstream gates.
The two pairs of upstream gates should be set to allow the athlete to choose to negotiate either up right or up left.
The elimination phase course must contain a marked roll zone and/or a roll barrier. When used in conjunction with the roll zone, the roll barrier must be set within the roll.
Gate negotiation
The following conditions must be satisfied for a gate to be considered correctly negotiated:
- The whole head and both shoulders of the athlete must cross the gate line in accordance with the correct side of the gate and the course plan.
- Part of the boat must cross the gate line at the same instant as the whole head crosses the line.
- All gates must be negotiated in accordance with the direction established by the course map.
- Athletes are permitted to touch the gates with any part of their body or equipment. Athletes are only permitted to touch the gates with their hand if that hand is holding their paddle.
- Athletes are not permitted to move the gates with any part of their body or equipment for an unfair purpose (leading to disadvantages to another athlete).
- For the roll zone, the boat must make a complete 360-degree kayak roll within the marked area.
- For the roll barrier, the boat must make a complete 360-degree roll. At one point the boat must be upside down under the barrier.
Safety measures
Kayak to kayak contact is permitted
Athletes are permitted to reach across another athlete with their arm or paddle, making brief contact with the athlete’s body.
Athletes are not permitted to deliberately reach across and / or hold back another Athlete with their hand, arm, or paddle.
Purposeful paddle strokes off another athlete's body are not permitted.
Dangerous contact with another athlete’s head or body that may result in a personal injury is not permitted.
An athlete with a broken paddle must drop back and/or complete the course alone.
The broken end of the paddle is considered dangerous. They may drop the paddle and use their hands to finish the course.
In all cases the situation is assessed by the judges.
Penalties
Athletes will receive a fault (FLT) for the following actions:
- False start – athlete moving after the READY command but prior to, the GO command, or the activation of the automatic start mechanism.
- Non-negotiated gate unless renegotiated.
- Negotiating the gate in the wrong direction.
- For roll zone, roll not executed within the zone unless renegotiated.
- For roll barrier, the boat was not upside down at one point under the barrier unless renegotiated.
- Full 360-degree roll not completed unless renegotiated.
Athletes will receive a did not finish (DNF) for the following actions:
- Capsize.
- Crossing the finish line upside down.
An athlete will receive a DNS if they or any of their equipment fall from the start platform before the READY command.
No enquiry is permitted at any phase during kayak cross.
