Section 7: Violations & Penalties
7.1 Sprint Violations
- False start: Warning on first offense. Exclusion on second offense (by any crew after the general warning).
- Lane violation: Boat enters another crew's lane. If interference occurred, the offending crew is disqualified. If no interference, a warning is issued.
- Interference: Creating wake or physical contact that impedes another crew. Penalty ranges from a warning to disqualification.
- Illegal equipment: Boat exceeds maximum length or falls below minimum weight. Result is disqualified and all results from the competition voided.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct: Warning, exclusion from event, or suspension depending on severity
7.2 Slalom Violations
- Gate touch: +2 seconds. Assessed when the body, boat, or paddle contacts one or both gate poles while negotiating the gate. Only one penalty per gate.
- Missed gate: +50 seconds. Gate not negotiated (paddler does not pass head between poles in correct direction). This is typically a run-ending penalty in terms of competitiveness.
- Incorrect negotiation: +50 seconds. Gate negotiated in the wrong direction (e.g., going downstream through an upstream gate, or entering from the wrong side).
- Intentional gate displacement: +50 seconds. Deliberately pushing a gate pole to create a wider opening.
- Capsizing without recovery: Run continues only if the paddler successfully rolls. Exiting the boat = did not finish (DNF).
7.3 Kayak Cross Violations
- Deliberate obstruction: Intentionally blocking, holding, or impeding another athlete's forward progress. Penalty: disqualification from the heat.
- Grabbing: Grabbing another athlete's boat, paddle, body, or equipment. Penalty: disqualification.
- Missing the roll gate: Failure to perform the mandatory Eskimo roll at the designated section. Penalty: 50-second time addition or disqualification (depending on the specific rules in effect).
- False start: Launching from the ramp before the start signal. Penalty: disqualification from the heat.
7.4 Protests and Appeals
- Sprint protests must be filed within 15 minutes of the official results being posted
- Slalom protests must be filed within 5 minutes of the run being completed, accompanied by a protest fee
- Video review is the primary tool for resolving gate judgment disputes in slalom
- The Chief Judge or Competition Committee makes the final decision. Further appeal to the ICF is possible for violations of the rules themselves (not judgement calls).