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Before I get into that , it is important to understand the first few years of Extreme Slalom under the ICF had a lot of ‘ growing pains ’. The ICF didn ’ t have the experience with the sport to write the rules or judge the athletes to achieve the goals of their new event , which was added to the roster for one main reason – to save slalom from being kicked out of the Olympics . There was not a big push by the masses to add extreme slalom ; it was a ‘ top-down ’ decision since slalom is one of the most expensive events in the summer Olympics to run ( build a whitewater course for four gold medals ). Adding Extreme Slalom reduces the cost / medal by 50 %. It adds a new exciting event that the spectators and TV Coverage will gravitate towards and assure that whitewater kayaking stays an Olympic sport .
This doesn ’ t mean that the traditional slalom isn ’ t exciting and amazing in every way to watch . The athletes today are way better than when I was in the Olympics . However , it is what it is . Extreme slalom is the saviour of slalom .
BACK TO THE CHALLENGES THAT THE ICF HAD Slalom judges behind closed doors judged athletes and had a ‘ safety rule ’. Often you would see as many as one or two athletes in each heat getting disqualified for being too aggressive , missing a gate , false starting , etc . Like myself in my first World Cup in Prague , the athletes were disappointed to race , get to the finish line in the top two and then be kicked out of the race .
Many athletes who came specifically to race in Extreme Slalom left angry and disappointed and vowed never to do that again . Spectators lost the ability to watch a race and know who won . They would see the order of finishing but have to wait to see who was disqualified and still not know why . It was a buzz kill , to say the least .