Activities involving a paddle in water, such as canoeing and kayak and rowing
Canoeing is the activity of paddling a canoe or kayak for the purpose of recreation, sport, or transportation. It usually refers exclusively to using a paddle to propel a canoe or kayak with only human muscle power. A kayak is propelled using a paddle with two blades where the paddler sits with their legs infront of them, whereas canoes are propelled using single- or double-bladed paddles where the paddler is kneeling or sitting on a raised seat. Kayaks are usually closed-decked boats with a spraydeck, while canoes are usually open boats. There are also open kayaks and closed canoes. Although somewhat confusing, the term canoeing is generally used as a generic term for both forms, though the term "paddle sports" is also used. In the United States and Canada, however, "canoeing" usually refers only to canoes, as opposed to both canoes and kayaks. Paddling a kayak is also referred to as kayaking.
Open canoes may be 'poled' (punted), sailed, 'lined and tracked' (using ropes)or even 'gunnel-bobbed'.
In modern canoe sport, both canoes and kayaks may be closed-decked. Other than by the minimum competition specifications (typically length and width (beam))and seating arrangement it is difficult to differentiate most competition canoes from the equivalent competition kayaks. The most common difference is that competition kayaks are always seated, and competition canoes are generally kneeling. Exceptions include Canoe Marathon (in both European and American competitive forms) and sprint (high kneeling position). Whilst traditional 'canadian' canoes are seated, whitewater rodeo and surf variants increasingly employ the use of 'saddles' to give greater boat control under extreme conditions.
Whitewater Kayaking is the sport of paddling a kayak on a moving body of water, typically a river. Whitewater kayaking can range from a fun, carefree, splishy-splash float trip to a challenging, adrenaline filled sport.
The kayak (or just 'boat') used in whitewater kayaking is different than those used in Whitewater Racing or Sea Kayaking. Traditionally, kayaks were made of animal skins stretched over wooden frames. Early whitewater boats were fiberglass or kevlar. Today boats are typically made of a tough plastic that is slightly flexible and very durable. Boats can range in size from barely long enough to hold the paddler (around 6 ft/1.8 m long), up to 12 ft (3.6 m) or longer.
There are four 'sub-categories' in whitewater kayaking: river-running, creeking, slalom, and playboating.
Rafting is a recreational activity utilizing a raft to navigate a river or other body of water. Usually it is done on whitewater of different degrees of difficulty, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this activity as a leisure sport has become popular since the mid 1980's.
The type of raft used nowadays for recreational rafting is almost exclusively an inflatable boat. It consists of very durable, multi-layered rubberized fabrics with several independent air chambers. Its length varies between 3.5 m (11 ft) and 6 m (20 ft), the width between 1.8 m (6 ft) and 2.5 m (8 ft). Rafts come in a few different forms. In Europe the most common is the symmetrical raft steered with a paddle at the stern. Other types are the asymmetrical, rudder-controlled raft and the symmetrical raft with central helm (oars). Rafts are usually propelled with ordinary paddles and typically hold 4 to 12 persons.
The outrigger canoe (Tagalog: bangka; Maori: waka; Hawaiian: wa'a) is a type of canoe featuring one or more lateral support floats known as outriggers, which are fastened to one or both sides of the main hull. The outrigger bestows greater stability and seaworthiness upon a canoe. Smaller canoes often employ a single outrigger on the port side, while larger canoes usually emply a double outrigger configuration.
In the context of sports, rowing is a system of competition that refines the rowing of boats into a discipline. In the United States, high school and collegiate rowing are also sometimes known as crew.
It is a speed sport in narrow boats (called shells or fine boats), where the athlete sits on a sliding seat above the water level and faces backwards (toward the stern), using oars to move the boat. This may be done on a river, lake, sea, or a large body of water.
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