Welcome to the home of the England Talent Slalom Programme. It aims to develop a world leading talent infrastructure for athletes throughout England. It is led and managed by Paddle UK and funded by Sport England.
The England Canoe Slalom Talent programme has supported English athletes in achieving World and European Championship finals, team World and European championship medals, a European Championship title and ECA Junior Series Cup medals. In the Tokyo Olympic cycle the programme has transitioned a total of 8 athletes to the World Class Programme (WCP).
There are 7 part time and full time coaching staff who work within the England Slalom Talent Programme and are deployed throughout the pathway in various regions throughout England. Our coaches are amongst the highest qualified in the country and engage in a process of continual professional development.
Programme coaching provision is based locally to key white water facilities spread throughout England to ensure that we can maximise athletes' coaching exposure within these environments.
Development in Canoe Slalom is, in part, dependent on regular and consistent access to moving water. Provision may look very different depending on where individuals are based as a result of what white water access is available.
England Talent Slalom Documents
- Paddle England Athlete Support Fund 202497.40 KBApril 7, 2024This document contains information on the Paddle England Athlete Support Fund 2024.
- England Talent Athlete Complaints Policy365.75 KBMarch 13, 2024This document contains the procedure for making a complaint if you are an athlete on the England Talent Programme.
- England Talent Programme Athlete Disciplinary Process224.26 KBMarch 13, 2024This document outlines the processes for addressing disciplinary issues of athletes on the England Talent Programme.
- England Canoe Slalom Talent Programme Strategy1.08 MBFebruary 2, 2023The England Canoe Slalom Talent Programme Strategy for 2021-2025 presents the programme's direction and focus up to 2025.
The England Slalom Talent Programme is divided into a tiered, progressive squad structure with three clearly defined levels, qualification criteria and aims:
Slalom Schools – Inclusive training and development camps for athletes and club coaches, supporting exposure to various moving and white water venues and developing technical and coaching skills in athletes and club coaches. Primarily aimed at athletes that are J12 in Div 3, J14 in Div 2, or a Junior in Div 1.
You can download the Paddler & Parent Handbook here.
England Regional Development Squad (RDS) – Primarily supporting Junior 14-16 athletes, developing and preparing athletes to progress to the England National Talent Squad (ENTS). There are three Regional Development Squads; Southern, Central and Northern, each region supports up to 16 athletes. Each RDS has a full time coach who provides a programme of coaching through weekly and weekend training sessions at various venues throughout the UK. The RDS's are selected in Winter and reviewed in Spring each year.
England National Talent Squad (ENTS) – Supporting Juniors and U23 athletes to qualify onto GB teams and to make Junior and U23 World Championship finals. Up to 24 athletes from Olympic Classes will be selected with up to 8 places for U23 athletes (up to 4 athletes in LV and up to 4 athletes in HPP).
University Performance Coach - In partnership with the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University provision is available to support their talented student-athletes. Coaching provision is available to student-athletes, with the goal of helping them to achieve their performance potential at British University College Sport (BUCS) events, GB U23 Selection events and World/European age range championships.
For more information about the support available at each institution please email the people in these links: University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.
England Talent Programme – Slalom Squad List 2022/23
England National Talent Squad (ENTS)
England Talent U23 athletes
England Talent Regional Development Squad (Central)
Regional Development Squad (Southern)
Regional Development Squad (Northern)
The support that we can provide is finite and we are selective to ensure we offer appropriate programme places and development opportunities.
Our philosophy is that by publishing and explaining our pathway, its aims, standards, expectations and associated development, we make it as easy as possible for everyone to understand why and how we make how we make squad qualification decisions.
Download the England Slalom Talent Programme Qualification Criteria 2024-25 here
England Slalom Talent Programme applications will be open from 2nd September 2024 and will close 21st October 2024 at 12:00 noon.
All athletes who have applied will be assessed against the qualification criteria detailed in the 2024-25 Qualification criteria document and will subsequently be informed of their programme status/application by 11th November 2024 through a confirmation letter sent via email.
The respective England Slalom Talent Programme squads will then be published on the Paddle UK and Canoe Slalom UK websites.
Athletes aged between 18-22 will be informed of their programme status once World Class Programme athlete nomination outcomes are published publicly.
Slalom School
The England Talent Slalom Schools Programme is an inclusive training and development opportunity for athletes and club coaches, supporting both paddling and coaching at different moving water and white water venues.
The intent is to develop technical skills, white water confidence and fundamental habits in paddlers and to advance technical knowledge and coaching ability within club coaches.
- 2023-24 Slalom School Eligibility Criteria
- Slalom School Calendar
- Slalom School training camp booking page
- 2024 International Summer Slalom School training camp booking page
By booking onto a Slalom School event you confirm that you are eligible to participate within Slalom Schools. The booking window for each event will close at 23:59pm seven days prior to the event or if capacity has been reached.
If capacity has been reached please click on the appropriate waiting list ticket for the event. You will then be notified if any new spaces become available, subject to coach availability. If you are seeking to make accommodation bookings relating to this event then we advise you to book on a flex rate to safeguard againist any last minute cancellations. For anything relating to camp provision (for either paddler or coach) and suitability please contact Will Coney, our Slalom Pathway Coach who is coordinating the Slalom Schools programme.
For information on bookings, payments and timetables please contact our Talent Operations Lead.
Coach Development
We will be running coach development on the dates highlighted in our published Slalom School calendar. Please contact Alan Edge, our Slalom Coach Developer; to request accessing any of these coach development opportunities. Alan can then have a discussion with you to ensure that these coach development opportunities are bespoke to your needs.