Native North ans South American Indians are believed to have been the originators of the canoes we recognise today. They were built from hollow-out tree trunks or were constructed from birchbark. The inuit people of North America and Greenland created their own from of canoe: the sealskin vessels they called kayaks. Aa a competitive sport canoeing was invented by the Scotsman John MacGregor, who in 1866 founded the Canoe Club at Richmond, Surrey.
Rules and Description
Competitive canoeing is divided into two types, depending largely upon the paddle and craft used. “Kayaking” has a paddle with a blade on each end and the kayaker sits in the boat, paddling on alternate sides of the craft. The kayak is a closed decked craft. In “Canadian canoeing” the paddler has just one blade and adopts a half-kneeing position in the canoe, switching the paddle from side to side. The Canadian canoe is an open-decked craft.
In flatwater contests canoeists and kayakers race in lanes over a set distance generally 500m 0r 1,000m were competed over. Flatwater contests are also known as “sprints”, irrespective of the distance. Whitewater or slalom events are held over rivers (natural or man-made) with a series of rapids, currents and sddies. Competitors have to negotiate a series of 18 to 25 gates on a 250-400m course, heading downstream and reversing direction to go upstream. They are timed over the length of the course and can incur penalty points for missing gates or touching gate poles.
Competitor Profile
Competitive canoeists tend to develop a very high level of physical flexibility, strength, and stamina, as the repetitions involved in the aerobic activity of paddling make use of all the muscles in the upper body-abdominals, arms, shoulders, back, and chest – as well as those in the leg.
Speed and Safety
Racing or sprint canoes are long and narrow to facilitate speeds. Slalom canoes are shorter and are fitted with a spraydeck – a waterproof apron worn around the canoeist that stretches over the rim of the canoe cockpit to prevent water from entering the boat.
Protective helmet – A lightweight yet tough and rigid outer shell covers an inner foam lining to provide maximum protection and comfort.
Paddle top – A fully waterproof cagoule, which allows the canoeist complete freedom of movement, is made from a specialist lightweight rubber material.
Flexible spraydeck – The cagoule is combined with a rubber spraydeck that stretches over the canoe cockpit to form a waterlight seal.
Buoyancy vest – To help a canoeist remain afloat in case of a capsize, a foam-filled vest is a useful piece of safety kit, particularly on fast-flowing wartercourses, such as white-water rivers.
Lightweight paddle – Many modern canoe paddles consist of a durable polypropylene blade mounted on an aluminium shaft.
Tough Hull – Canoe hulls, which need to be lightweight yet impact resistant, are constructed from materials such as fibreglass, Kevlar, polythylene plastic, or ultralight carbon fibre.
Rules and Description
Competitive canoeing is divided into two types, depending largely upon the paddle and craft used. “Kayaking” has a paddle with a blade on each end and the kayaker sits in the boat, paddling on alternate sides of the craft. The kayak is a closed decked craft. In “Canadian canoeing” the paddler has just one blade and adopts a half-kneeing position in the canoe, switching the paddle from side to side. The Canadian canoe is an open-decked craft.
In flatwater contests canoeists and kayakers race in lanes over a set distance generally 500m 0r 1,000m were competed over. Flatwater contests are also known as “sprints”, irrespective of the distance. Whitewater or slalom events are held over rivers (natural or man-made) with a series of rapids, currents and sddies. Competitors have to negotiate a series of 18 to 25 gates on a 250-400m course, heading downstream and reversing direction to go upstream. They are timed over the length of the course and can incur penalty points for missing gates or touching gate poles.
Competitor Profile
Competitive canoeists tend to develop a very high level of physical flexibility, strength, and stamina, as the repetitions involved in the aerobic activity of paddling make use of all the muscles in the upper body-abdominals, arms, shoulders, back, and chest – as well as those in the leg.
Speed and Safety
Racing or sprint canoes are long and narrow to facilitate speeds. Slalom canoes are shorter and are fitted with a spraydeck – a waterproof apron worn around the canoeist that stretches over the rim of the canoe cockpit to prevent water from entering the boat.
Protective helmet – A lightweight yet tough and rigid outer shell covers an inner foam lining to provide maximum protection and comfort.
Paddle top – A fully waterproof cagoule, which allows the canoeist complete freedom of movement, is made from a specialist lightweight rubber material.
Flexible spraydeck – The cagoule is combined with a rubber spraydeck that stretches over the canoe cockpit to form a waterlight seal.
Buoyancy vest – To help a canoeist remain afloat in case of a capsize, a foam-filled vest is a useful piece of safety kit, particularly on fast-flowing wartercourses, such as white-water rivers.
Lightweight paddle – Many modern canoe paddles consist of a durable polypropylene blade mounted on an aluminium shaft.
Tough Hull – Canoe hulls, which need to be lightweight yet impact resistant, are constructed from materials such as fibreglass, Kevlar, polythylene plastic, or ultralight carbon fibre.
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