PARIS, France – If you’re a fan of snowboard cross, ski cross, or just straight up chaos, you’re probably going to be a fan of this new Olympic sport. Canoeing and kayaking have been in the Olympics since 1972, but kayak cross is making its Olympic debut this year in Paris, and it’s nuts.
In canoe and kayak slalom, athletes race the clock. In kayak cross, athletes are racing each other. It really isn’t all that different from slalom skiing versus ski cross, to be honest. Four kayakers compete at once, starting on a large ramp above the water. When the ramp drops the competitions to the water, the race begins.
From there, kayakers have to navigate up to six downstream gates and two downstream gates. They can touch the gates, but if they miss one, they’re disqualified. Racers are also required to complete one kayak roll, or a full flip 360° with their heads going fully under water, in a designated zone during the race.
The racers don’t have to work hard to avoid each other, either. Contact is allowed in kayak cross. With all that, you can be sure the kayak cross will be an incredibly exciting event to watch.
Kayak cross will be held at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium just east of Paris, along with the other canoeing events and the rowing events. It will run from August 3 through August 5.