The 23 competitors each took two runs through the whitewater slalom course on 19 September. The combined score of both runs counted for the event with the top 15 advancing to the final round the following day.
Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). "Canoeing: Men's Kayak Slalom Singles". In The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: Aurum Press Limited. p. 485.