Canoeing and Kayaking. Encyclopedia of World Sport

Canoeing is the use of a popular and versatile category
of small, lightweight, narrow craft with a shallow bottom. Initially used for transportation, canoeing is now
a popular recreational and competitive sport with
Olympic status. Contemporary canoes come in two basic styles, known as Canadian canoes and kayaks.
Canadian canoes usually have an open deck; kayaks
are enclosed with a small passenger cockpit. They are
usually powered and steered by paddles held by the
canoeist.
Canadian-canoe paddles have a blade (the wide
section placed in the water) at one end. Kayak paddles
have blades at both ends. The term canoeing refers
specifically to the use of Canadian-style canoes, while
the use of kayaks is called kayaking. Both are frequently referred to as canoes because of their common
characteristics. Competitive canoe races, for example,
often include divisions for kayaks.
History
Canoes were important in many cultures largely because of their versatility. Their design allows them to
move very efficiently in both shallow and deep water,
permitting travel on open seas or through rivers and
lakes. Canoes were used to carry warriors into battle, or
for fishing and hunting. A direct ancestor of the modern Canadian canoe was the bark canoe developed by
Native Americans. These lightweight canoes could be
carried (portaged) over the land, and they could be
easily repaired.
The pointed kayak was developed by the Aleuts and
Inuit of the far northern Arctic regions of America and
Greenland. Kayaks were made by wrapping animal
skins over a frame of wood or bone. These kayaks were
very fast and maneuverable. Their covered, watertight
decks protected the kayaker in turbulent, cold waters. If
a kayak capsized, the passenger could right the boat by
shifting his weight and maneuvering the paddle while
he was underwater, a move now called an Eskimo roll.
Other methods of transportation gradually took
over in the mid-19th century, and canoes were used
more for recreation and competitive sport. In North
America, people on wilderness vacations rode in canoes operated by expert guides. Recreational canoes
also were used at resorts. Early interest in canoe sports
was particularly strong in Europe. John McGregor, a
lawyer, was an important early booster of the canoe in
England and Europe, and his writings about the Rob
Roy canoe—actually a kayak—promoted interest in
that vessel.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, recreational canoeing continued to gain worldwide popularity. Specialized canoes and kayaks were developed,
along with new competitive racing sports. Numerous
organizations were formed to promote sport canoeing,
including the American Canoe Association in 1880. In
1924, an international canoeing organization, the Internationella Representantskapet for Kanotidrott
(IRK) was formed in Europe. Canoe racing was officially included in the Olympics for the first time in the
1936 Games in Berlin. After World War II, the IRK was
succeeded by the International Canoe Federation.
In the middle and latter 20th century, canoeing
benefited from the increasing emphasis on physical fitness and the popularity of outdoor activities. New local
and national canoeing associations were formed, including the United States Canoe Association and the
American White-Water Affiliation.
Rules and Play
Paddling is the basic skill of canoeing. Each individual
movement of the paddle through the water is called a
stroke. There are many styles and combinations of
strokes. People develop personal paddling styles, and
canoe enthusiasts often debate the merits of specific
strokes.
Canadian-canoe and kayak paddling are both
based on similar basic strokes and principles, but there
are also differences. Because canoe paddles have only
one blade, it is awkward to shift from one side to the
other, so canoeists usually paddle primarily on one side
of the boat (some do alternate sides in races and other
circumstances). In open Canadian canoes, kneeling is
the most efficient position for paddling in many situations. Canoeists also paddle from an upright sitting position, especially in calm waters. In kayaks, the paddler
is usually seated in the cockpit, or on top of the hull,
with legs extended in front. Kayakers can also more
easily shift their strokes from one side to the other because they hold their paddles in the center with the two
blades extending over the hull.
There are three basic categories of stroke for both
canoes and kayaks. Power strokes propel the canoe forward, stop it, or push it backward. Turning strokes exert force on one side to either change the canoe’s direction or to correct its course. The stabilizing, or bracing,
stroke, is used to keep the craft level and upright.
A single stroke may combine the actions of a power,
turning, or stabilizing stroke. The J-stroke, for example,
is a basic movement that simultaneously propels the
canoe and keeps it on a straight course by combining a
forward stroke with a turning movement. The strokes
also depend on the number of paddlers. A solo paddler
must concentrate both on steering and powering the
boat. When two or more people are paddling, these responsibilities are shared.
Paddles have differing sizes, shapes, and weights that also determine which strokes are used. One paddle
might be lightweight or have a narrow blade to make it
easier to use, while another may be larger and heavier
to provide more power. The blades and handles are often angled or shaped to make specific types of paddling more efficient.
White-water sports are a special category of boating. White-water paddling and rafting require specialized skills and fast reflexes, because the vessels move
very quickly in turbulent water, among rocks, and other
obstacles. In contrast to calm-water canoeing, where
paddling is necessary to move the vessel forward, fastmoving currents naturally propel white-water craft. So
the ability to slow down, stop, and turn quickly become
the priorities. In addition to riding the crest of the fastmoving currents to go forward, white-water paddlers
also steer into quieter eddies to slow down, to rest, and
to aim their boats for the next stage of the run. In
rapids, the white-water canoeist must also paddle
across or against the currents when necessary.
Canoeists and rafters usually plan their runs in advance using maps and guidebooks published by boating organizations and publications. They rate individual rivers by categories of difficulty, so people can
choose sites within their level of ability. While individual ratings methods may vary, rivers are generally designated as Class I—the calmest—to Class VI—the
most difficult.
White-water paddlers and rafters also “read the
river”: study the water on the site before making an actual run, to judge water levels and other changeable
conditions. These advance precautions are also advised
for those who are using canoes and kayaks on water
that appears calm, to avoid being caught in unexpected
stretches of rapids or other hazards.
Safety is an important consideration in all forms of
canoeing and kayaking. The canoe should be equipped
with life jackets for passengers, and with other flotation
devices and features to make it easier to turn the boat
upright if it capsizes or is swamped. Warm clothing is
also advised under cold conditions. In white-water
boating and other risky situations, boaters wear helmets and other protective equipment.
Competitive Canoeing
Prominent canoeing sports include wild-water racing,
slalom white-water events, and sprint or marathon racing on flat water. Many events include divisions for
both canoes and kayaks, with canoes designated as C
(or OC for open canoes) and kayaks as K. Classifications are also based on the number of people the boat
can hold. A two-person Canadian canoe is classified as
a C2; a one-person kayak is a K1. In addition to the
Olympics, formal events with strict criterion sanctioned by a canoeing organization are held in many localities and on a national and international level. The
specific race categories and rules may vary, depending
on the guidelines of the sponsoring organization. Informal races are also popular.
Slalom canoe races are held either on rapidly running rivers or on artificial courses with simulated
rapids, rocks, and other obstacles.
Wild-water races also take place on running rivers.
However, the object in wild-water racing is to complete
the course as quickly as possible, with no defined
course of gates (except to mark dangerous sections).
Other types of canoe racing take place on calmer,
open lakes, rivers or artificial pools. These include
long-distance marathon races or short sprints. Here,
endurance and the ability to paddle fast are the required skills. Sprint courses are often 500 meters (547
yards), 1,000 meters (1,094 yards), or as long as 10,000
meters (10,940 yards) or more. Marathon courses may
be much longer.
Canoe polo is a fast-paced water sport in which
teams of players in small one-person kayaks attempt to
score points by maneuvering and passing a ball into
the opponent’s goal.
Other canoe and kayaking sports include mass-races,
which are informal events with a large number of canoeists racing on open water. Competitions are also held
in poling, sailing, and other specialized canoe sports. At
times canoeing is incorporated with other activities into
multisport endurance events.A triathlon that with activities like cycling or running, for example, may include a
section where the participants paddle a canoe.
As means of transport, canoes have been replaced
except in remote areas under extreme conditions. Their
popularity for recreation and competition, however,
appears unchallenged.
—JOHN TOWNES
Bibliography: Harrison, David. (1993) Sea Kayaking Basics.
New York: Hearst Marine Books. Ray, Slim. (1992) The Canoe Handbook. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books.

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