Prague-Troja Canoeing Centre

The Prague Canoeing Centre is one of the most frequently used venues for international canoe slalom competition. Built in 1983 in Czechoslovakia, it diverts water around a 3.6 metres (12 ft) dam at Troja on the Vltava river in Prague. Its two unique features are its use of car and truck tires as flow diverters and its shallow slope, closer to 1% than the usual nearly 2% for such venues.[1] Despite these characteristics, the Troja facility has hosted ten World Cup races and one World Championship in the 21 years 1992-2012, and the 2013 World Championships.[2]

The mid-course bridge and below. For competitions, the sloped right bank is covered with bleachers.

Foreground, the iconic truck tire water diverters. Background, the Troja dam on the Vltava river.

Prague-Troja Canoeing Center

Slalomový kanál v Praze-Troji
About
Locale	Prague-Troja, Czech Republic
Main shape	Linear
Adjustable	Some recent use of moveable RapidBlocs
Water source	Vltava River
Pumped	No
Flow diversion	Yes
Practice pool	Yes
Surf wave	Yes
Grandstands	Installed for events
Canoe lift	No
Facilities	Yes
Opening date	1983
Stats
Length	Competition: 300 metres (984 ft) Total: 410 metres (1,345 ft)
Width	12 metres (39 ft)
Drop	3.6 metres (12 ft)
Slope	Competition: 1.2% (63 ft/mi)
Flowrate	16 m^3/s (570 cu ft/s)
Prague Canoeing Center Slalom Course in Prague-Troja

Venue

The artificial whitewater course on the Vltava river near Prague, used for canoe slalom training and competition.

The channel walls are vertical, with flow diverters constructed of automobile and truck tires stacked side-by-side to form large cylinders attached to the bottom by beams running through the tires. Large truck tires are used at the channel sides, where they often breach the surface. In the center of the flow are smaller automobile tires which remain submerged, and shallow-sloped ramps. In several spots, new concrete platforms have been installed in the channel bed to receive moveable RapidBlocs, like the ones at the Lee Valley White Water Centre used for the London 2012 Summer Olympics.[3]

The original water diverters, made from vehicle tires filled with concrete, have been completely replaced by adjustable plastic RapidBlocs.

These new plastic wave-shapers, just above the mid-course bridge, use RapidBlocs to create a standing wave for freestyle surfing tricks.

There are four wing dams on the right and five on the left. At the location of the mid-course bridge, two wing dams are directly across from each other, narrowing the channel by one third. Just below the bridge is a concrete boulder in the channel center, connected to the right bank by a barrier that blocks all flow to the right, effectively narrowing the channel by half.

2013 World Championship gates

Gate map for Semi- & Finals of the 2013 World Championship race, September 13. Three single-pole gates, each marked with a green dot, and no flush gates. Gate 12 was double width.

Gate map for Heats of the 2013 World Championship race, September 12. Five single-pole gates, each marked with a green dot, and no flush gates.

2012 World Cup gates

Gate map for Semi- & Finals of the 2012 World Cup races on August 25 & 26. The double-pole gates were: 1, 2, 16, 18, & 22. Gates 14 & 20 were reverse gates.

References

1. "2012 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 4 - Pre Worlds - Prague 2012". www.slalomtroja.cz. Archived from the original on 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
2. "Troja Hosts Canoe Slalom World Cup". Portal of Prague. 2010-05-19. Retrieved 2013-01-31.
3. Robertson, Paul (2011-11-18). "New Rapids in Prague". Palm - Gear for Paddlers. Retrieved 2006-08-23.