2024 Division 4 Races and Starting in Slalom
A trial for the 2024 season

Having to move straight into the ranking system may deter some paddlers from continuing, by requiring them to purchase national membership or pushing them to a higher level before they feel ready.

Division 4 slaloms remain an important part of our sport, introducing paddlers and giving them water time and race experience, but for 2024 there will no longer be automatic promotion from Div 4 to Div 3. MORE>

If you are not already ranked in any of the divisions Prem, 1, 2 or 3, you may race in Div 4 repeatedly without having to take promotion, but you may request ranking in Division 3 whenever you choose. Use THIS FORM>.

Get Ranked!

Novice Paddler?

New paddlers usually start in Division 4 and compete in Division 4 events until:
• They (or their coach) think they are ready to be ranked in Division 3.
• They have won 3 quorate Division 4 events (3 or more paddlers starting).

Clubs, coaches, organisers and parents are asked to encourage paddlers to apply for Division 3 ranking when they are ready and/or when they achieve 3 wins in Division 4. The onus is on the paddler to apply for ranking status. Bib/ranking officers will monitor results and follow up informing paddlers achieving 3 wins to apply for ranking via the paddler’s club.

Whitewater Experience?

Novice doesn't look challenging enough? You may apply for Ranking Status giving suitable supporting evidence. You could enter an open competition at a Division 2 events may use your result as evidence to support your request.

Individual paddlers who already have some experience can also ask to be ranked straight into Division 3 - for example if they have competed at several mini slaloms.

Paddled in the Past?

Competitors ranked in the past, but who did not compete last year, must apply to the Ranking Status Officer for ranking status.

You may state the division you preferred, but where a paddler has been ranked in the same class before, he/she will normally be reinstated into the division in which he/she was last ranked. Last ranked in Prem, usually reinstated in Prem, and so on.

Want to Try C1/K1?

Ranked paddlers starting in a different event (e.g. ranked in K1 and starting C1) should apply for ranking before racing. However, a paddler ranked in Division 3 may feel they are ready to start the other event in Division 3 and apply for ranking rather than start in Division 4.

New C2 pairings

Apply direct to the C2 Bib Officer - you do not need to go through reinstatement. Ranked C2 pairs may enter races at any level.

There is now only one division in C2. Any pair can now get together, as casually as they wish, to race in C2 at Div 2, Div 3 and Div 4 races, but they will only get a ranking if they apply for a bib. No bib, no ranking.