Canoe polo and slalom competitors including junior and national team members, converged on the Sundre Aquaplex this past weekend for a some fun and competition.
The fourth annual Sundre Paddle Club Canoe Polo/Slalom Tournament held March 17 and 18 attracted 56 competitors in canoe polo and as many as 30 in slalom.
Several Alberta clubs were represented, including Innisfail, Calgary, and Edmonton and participants came from as far away as Saskatoon, Sask.
The sports' draw are small but growing in Alberta, says event organizer Christie Siddle.
“To me it's the love of kayaking,” said Siddle, a national U21 team member
The tournament attracted some curious townspeople as well as friends and family of competitors who came to the pool to watch the tournament.
Both events were modified from regulation play as Sundre's pool is several metres shorter than regular competition pools and, in the case of slalom, was held indoors and not on a river.
Typically played five-on-five, the canoe polo event in Sundre was a three-on-three competition.
Individual players signed up and teams were made up from the registrations. Five youth division and numerous adult teams competed.
“It's a really neat game. It's like hockey or basketball. It appeals to many,” she said.
A net the size of a basketball backboard is suspended over the ends of the pool and players score by getting the ball into the hoop.
The number of points accumulated are similar to hockey - scores would typically be 10 points or less per side.
When a point is scored the game is similar to basketball in that play resumes at the end and not in the middle of the pool.
“This makes the game a lot faster,” she said.
The regulation two-10 minute halves were changed to one-15 minute period for the Sundre tournament.
The canoe polo event was an all-day affair Saturday, ending with awards at about 11 p.m.
The pool was turned over to slalom competitors Sunday.
When slalom is done on the river, it's similar to downhill ski slalom where competitors are weaving in and out of poles hanging over the river while navigating the river features.
In a pool, it's more about speed than edge control, she said.
Up to 30 people were entered in the slalom event including junior national competitors. Siddle is also a national team member.
She said more competitors than expected turned out for the tournament with the youngest player being eight years of age and the oldest 65.
Holding slalom and canoe polo together provided opportunity for cross-over between the sports.
“By hosting them together I've got slalom players in canoe polo and canoe polo players in slalom,” she said.
Everyone starts out in a kayak, she said, but usually choose one sport or the other to specialize in.
The event was an Alberta Canoe Polo sanctioned event and the organization provided a travel grant subsidy to help competitors participate.
