Freestyle Kayaking is a niche sport…..
And will remain so as long as British Canoeing have anything to do with it.
Plainly, for these guys, taking membership fees off ordinary kayakers and funnelling that money at the - very few - who compete in slalom is their primary obsession.
Some of those receiving that funding seem undeserving - lazy, arrogant, uncommitted - so to see them enjoying a red carpet when ordinary kayakers get next to nothing is mildly enraging.
Particularly so as BC rarely bother giving the time of day to the Hoi Polloi.
It is clearer than clear that many who handle the Freestyle side of things are less than enthusiastic about it, as though they drew the short straw and ended up with this.
I suppose this isn’t surprising. If whoever manages world Road Cycling (Tour de France etc) was asked to adjudicate BMX I’d imagine they’d feel the same way.
As a final observation, though: the best Freestylers are a damned sight more talented and impressive that the Slalom guys and also much more fun to watch.