What are the regulations of kayak slalom?

Kayak slalom regulations govern the design of boats, equipment, and race formats to ensure fair competition and safety. Kayaks must meet specific dimensional standards, including length and width, and competitors are required to wear personal flotation devices and helmets. Courses are designed with a series of upstream and downstream gates that paddlers must navigate through within a set time limit, with penalties for missed or touched gates. Additionally, rules cover athlete conduct and race procedures to maintain the integrity of the sport.