This clinic is good practice for graduates of the basic WW class, but also challenging for more seasoned boaters. We will be practicing basic skills like turning, bracing, choosing a good line, eddying out, and ferrying across current. Trying to aim for a 5 ft wide slalom gate makes it a challenge for boaters of all levels. The Cedar river at Landsburg is class 2 or 2+ depending on the water level, and ends in a big pool under the bridge, that is a great place to end a swim. You can repeat the course with an 800 ft portage, or you can work on a few gates at a time until you dial them in. There is a slalom race the next weekend, so you may see some very skilled kayakers running the same gates and doing stupid kayak tricks like pivot turns. And, there are people who do slalom with a canoe paddle, because a kayak is too easy.
Our rules for the clinic:
• Have fun.
• Try to touch each gate in order. Actually, hit them. Make them fear you. This a strategy to manage your perfectly rational fears.
• Extra points for hitting the gate with your head.
• Practice your roll or your swim for extra points. Practice helping swimmers.
• Special award for the best swim.

If feel the need to compete with others, see the race rules below:
1. Go thru the gates in numerical order.
2. Go downriver thru green gates, and upriver thru red gates.
3. If you miss a gate or go thru the wrong way, you can paddle back to it and try again, as long as you don’t go thru or touch another gate first.
4. If your head passes thru a gate, but you touch the gate it is a 2 second penalty per gate- not per touch.
5. If you miss a gate completely it is a 50 second penalty.
6. Everyone is a winner. Lowest time including penalties wins most. There are winners in many classes, by age, gender, and boat type, and special class for novices. Every swimmer is a winner, but there is an award for the very best swim.