Yukon slalom paddlers hit the pool for one last time before they brave the icy waters of the Yukon River. Nearly 10 paddlers attended the Yukon Canoe and Kayak Club’s second annual Indoor Slalom Race at the Canada Games Centre last Friday, including a current junior national team member and one future hopeful.

“I thought it went fairly well,” said race organizer Trevor Braun. “I think people had fun.”

Braun started organizing the race last year after seeing similar events in the U.S.

“I just wanted to give people an opportunity to try the slalom boats,” he said.

Slalom boats differ from their freestyle, creek and river running cousins in both shape and material. Slalom boats are much longer and are comprised of carbon, kevlar and fiberglass depending on the make. The boats are fast, but don’t play as well in holes or waves as the plastic shorter models.

The poles for the course were hung from a makeshift cat’s cradle of twine over the pool.

Among the racers was Mael Pronovost, who is one of two club members who will be racing at the junior national whitewater slalom team trials in Alberta this month. Hunter Vincent will also be competing.

Slalom paddling will start up again once the ice has thawed more on the Yukon River, said Braun.

The club is also looking for help to run the program.