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Canoeing is the recreational or sporting activity of paddling a canoe or kayak. It usually refers exclusively to using a paddle to propel a canoe or kayak with only human muscle power. A kayak is a closed-top boat and is propelled using a paddle with two blades, whereas canoes are open-topped boats (sometimes with a removable spray skirt) propelled using single- or double-bladed paddles. Confusingly, canoeing is used as a generic term for both forms.
Sport
The International Canoe Federation is a well known canoeing organization around the world. The ICF recognises several competitive and non-competitive disciplines of canoeing, of which Sprint and Slalom are the only two competing in the Olympic games. The United States Canoe Association is widely considered the American authority in sport and recreational canoeing, and recognizes many ICF classes.
- Sprint - the oldest discipline of ICF canoeing, sometimes referred to as "Racing". It involves principally kayaks, and some canoes. Flatwater races are over distances from 200 m to 1000 m.
- Slalom - Competitors are timed in completing a descent down the rapids of a whitewater course, in the process steering their canoes or kayaks through "gates" (a pair of suspended poles about 1m apart), including going up against the flow, across the flow, and surfing the standing waves of the rapids.
- Canoe Polo - A fast-action competitive goal-scoring ball game on water, between two teams of 5 players.
- Whitewater Racing (also known as Wild Water Racing) - Competitors race specialised canoes or kayaks down a whitewater river (typically class II to IV whitewater is used).
Unclassified Styles
- Dragon Boat Racing - Since the 1970s racing of the traditional Chinese Dragon Boats has been organized. In general there are about 18-20 paddlers per boat, plus a drummer and a helmsman. The IDBF is the international governing body for Dragon Boats, discussions with the ICF about co-operation are taking place.
- Playboating (or Rodeo) - a form of canoeing or kayaking where the competitor performs tricks and stunts in standing waves such as front and back surfing, flatspins, cartwheels, and blunts, and receives points for the variety of moves performed within a fixed time. Points are also awarded for style.
- Extreme Racing - a form of canoeing competition involving racing down dangerous whitewater rivers (often with many grade V rapids and typically requiring excellent river running skills).
- Outrigger Canoe Racing - racing of traditional Pacific Ocean outrigger canoes. Very popular in Hawaii (it's the state sport), Tahiti, and other Pacific nations including Australia and New Zealand; well established in western North America and the eastern US, also catching on in Asia and Europe. International ruling body is the IVF. Outrigger canoes are traditionally referred to as wa'a, va'a, or waka ama. Standard racing canoes carry six paddlers; one and two person canoes are also widely raced.
- Canoe Surfing - The canoeing equivalent of surfing, but in a specialised surf kayak. Points are scored for the variety and quality of moves performed on a wave. Also whitewater kayakers and playboaters often surf non-competatively.
Recreational
Other recreational aspects of canoeing are not strictly defined, and distinctions are rather articifical and growing increasingly blurred as new hybrid canoes, kayaks, and similar craft are developed. Some of these forms may be nominally organised at national levels, but are largely individual, group, or club activities. For many groups there is no emphasis on training, the goal is simply to use boats to have fun on the water.
- Whitewater - paddling down whitewater rivers for fun, recreation, or getting away from it all. Can vary from short local trips on easy grade rivers, to extreme expeditions on raging torrents in remote locations for many days carrying all equipment. Whitewater Kayaking is probably the most popular form of canoeing.
- Sea Kayaking - recreational kayaking on the sea. Includes everything from short day trips to year-long expeditions, may include paddling on heavy seas, in surf, or in tidal currents, and usually requires navigational skills.
- Playboating - surfing and performing tricks on one feature on a river.
Other Forms
In some countries, these forms of paddling may come under the national canoeing organisations, but they are not universally accepted as canoeing, even though they involve propelling a small craft with a paddle.
- Surf Skiing - paddling a small, manoueverable craft (surf ski) a little like a bigger surfboard, amongst the breaking waves of the sea or ocean, variously sliding down the face of the wave or performing tricks on the face of a breaking wave. Close affintiy to surfing. The paddler sits on top of the ski. Competition is based on points for tricks and style.
- Wave Skiing - paddling a long (5M?), slim racing craft on the sea, out through the waves and back through the waves, but not manouevering on the waves. The paddler is strapped to the top of the wave ski.
- White Water Rafting - one or a group of people paddle a small or large inflatable raft down a wild water river. Has much in common with White Water Touring.
In the United States and Canada, 'canoeing' usually refers only to open canoes, as opposed to both canoes and kayaks.
See also kayaking, paddling, canoe, kayak, paddle.
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