What do the green and red poles mean in canoe slalom?
B · Beginner · The run · 2 of 5Green and white poles mark a gate to be taken going downstream. Red and white poles mark a gate to be taken going upstream, against the current. A course has 18 to 25 gates, of which six or eight are upstream, on 150 to 400 metres of water. Each gate is 1.4 metres wide.
How it works
- A gate: "two (2) suspended poles painted with green and white rings for downstream gates and red and white rings for upstream gates".
- Width: 1.4 metres between the inside edges of the poles.
- The poles: round, 1.6 to 2 metres long, hanging with their ends about 20 centimetres above the water.
- How many: "a minimum of 18 gates and a maximum of 25 gates, of which six (6) or eight (8) must be upstream gates".
- Length: 150 to 400 metres from start line to finish line.
- Time: as a guide, a men's kayak should take about 95 seconds.
- Numbers: gates are numbered in the order they must be taken. The back of each number board has a red diagonal line to show the wrong side.
- The last gate: at least 10 metres before the finish line.
- Fair for both hands: the course must give the same conditions to canoe paddlers who paddle on the right and on the left.
- Natural or built: the obstacles may be natural, artificial or both.
The glossary has the gate, the upstream gate, the eddy and whitewater.
Tricky cases
Must an upstream gate be entered from below?
Yes. An upstream gate is taken against the current, in the direction shown by its number board.
Is every course the same?
No. The course designers set a new one for each competition within the limits on length and gates.
Can the organisers move a gate during the competition?
It depends on the chief judge. If unusual circumstances change the course, only the chief judge may authorise a gate to be moved.
Is the bottom of the pole in the water?
No. The poles hang with the end about 20 centimetres above the surface.
Why the rule exists
The gates are what make a river into a test of control. Downstream gates reward reading the fast water. Upstream gates force the paddler to stop the boat, turn it in the slack water behind an obstacle and drive back against the flow, which is where most time is won and lost.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ICF rules | 18 to 25 gates, 6 or 8 upstream | SL 9.4.1 |
| Kayak cross | 4 to 6 downstream gates and, where possible, 2 pairs of upstream gates | SL 16.19.4 |
| World championships and World Cups | The venue and gates must be approved by the ICF | SL 8.1.3 |
From the rule book
International Canoe Federation, Canoe Slalom Competition Rules 2025, Articles 8.2, 8.3, 9.4.1 to 9.4.8 and 10.6.2. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ICF Canoe Slalom Competition Rules (PDF).