They can use their paddles to thwart rivals, jostling for position down the course while kayakers must also complete a full 360 degree eskimo roll before crossing the finish line.
While Fox has strong results in the event she said the head-to-head nature made the outcome more unpredictable.
“The kayak and the canoe, they’ve been my pet events for so many years,” she said.
“But the kayak cross is fresh and it’s new for everyone and every competition we see new athletes break through.
“We see different tactics come out and everyone is sort of building their confidence and their skill-set in this event.
“I know that anything can happen in the kayak cross – yes, I’ve won the last race but I could also be out in the first round of the next race, it’s just so dependent on how the race unfolds, your decision making and a little bit of luck as well.
“But definitely coming into Paris now with those results that I’ve had and the experience that I’ve had, I’ve definitely got more confidence in the kayak cross.”
Coached by her French mother Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, who won bronze at the Atlanta Olympics, the host nation are catching onto the possible golden feats of Fox.
Born in Marseille, the 30-year-old feels very much at home in France and moved her training base to Paris after Poland.
She said she felt a growing interest from the French in her prospects.
While she also has a British-born father Richard Fox, who finished fourth at the Barcelona Olympics before going on to become a successful national coach, Fox said her loyalty lay firmly with Australia but she’s happy to be embraced by the locals.
“If it happens it’s a very green and yellow Aussie gold medal,” she said.
“The French have definitely picked up that I’m the Frenchest of the Aussies, let’s say, or the most Aussie of the French people they know and the media are showing a bit more interest.
“But it’s lovely to have some extra support as well, I know I’ll have some friends and family from France in the crowd.
“It feels different but it doesn’t feel overwhelming in a sense.”
By Melissa Woods in Melbourne/AAP
