This article discusses flatwater racing (sprint) and marathon racing, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are discussed here together, as equipment and paddling technique are very similar, if not identical. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation (ICF). Canoeing is the recreational or sporting activity of paddling a canoe or kayak. ... Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. ... The International Canoe Federation is the umbrella organization of all national canoe organizations worldwide. ...

Other forms of canoe and kayak racing, such as e.g. whitewater racing, extreme racing, dragon boat racing and outrigger canoe racing, are practised on white water and/or use quite different boats and paddles. See also the article on canoeing for a more general overview. For the ambiguity of the terms canoe and kayak see the article on the canoe.

Whitewater racing is a competitive discipline of canoeing using either kayaks or canadian canoes. ... -1... Two dragon boat crews during a race. ... Outrigger Canoe Racing is a team paddling sport which utilises the outrigger canoe. ... Canoeing is the recreational or sporting activity of paddling a canoe or kayak. ... Canoe at El Nido, Philippines A canoe is a relatively small human-powered boat. ... A kayak is a type of small human-powered boat. ... Canoe at El Nido, Philippines A canoe is a relatively small human-powered boat. ...

Flatwater racing (Sprint)

Flatwater racing takes place on a straight course divided in lanes, on calm water. The distances recognised by the ICF for international races are 200 m, 500 m, and 1000 m. Each boat has his own designated lane, except for races over more than 1000 m, where there also may be turning points. Men race in canoes and in kayaks, women only in kayaks. For each race a number of heats, semi-finals and a final may be necessary, depending on the number of competitors. Flatwater racing is part of the Olympic Games since 1936 (Berlin) for men, and since 1948 (London) for women. Notable Olympic gold medal winners are Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (8 gold medals since 1980) and Gert Fredriksson (6 gold medals between 1948 and 1960). For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... The Games of the XI Olympiad were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. ... The Games of the XIV Olympiad were held in 1948 in London, United Kingdom. ... This article is about gold medal, as an award or prize. ... Birgit Fischer (born 25 February 1962 in Brandenburg, then East Germany) is a kayaker, who has won 8 gold medals over a record 6 different Olympic Games: twice representing East Germany, then four times representing the reunited nation. ... The Games of the XXII Olympiad were held in 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union. ... The Games of the XIV Olympiad were held in 1948 in London, United Kingdom. ... The Games of the XVII Olympiad were held in 1960 in Rome, Italy. ...

Marathon racing

Marathons are long distance races on rivers, lakes, estuaria or even open sea. The course may include obstacles such as shallows, rocks and portages. Under ICF rules, the minimum distances for international races are 20 km for men, and 15 km for women. The races may be divided in several parts and/or several days. World Cup and World Championship races normally are about 35 to 40 km long. As there are no maximum distances, marathon racing has its extremes, such as the Devices to Westminster Marathon in England (125 miles, i.e. about 200 km) and the Tour de Gudenå in Denmark (120 km). Portage refers to the practice of carrying a canoe or other boat overland land to avoid an obstacle on the water route (such as rapids in a river), or between two water routes. ... The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon is a marathon canoe race in England. ...

Equipment

The boats are referred to as K-1, K-2, K-4, C-1, C-2 and C-4, where “K” stands for kayak, “C” for canoe, and the number indicating the number of paddlers (C-4s are only used for the Sprint). The ICF has set rules for these boats, defining among others the maximum length, the minimum weight and the shape of the boats. For example, a K-1 is at most 520 cm long, and weighs at least 8 kg for marathons, or 12 kg for sprints. Kayaks have a steering rudder, which is operated by the (foremost) paddler with his feet. Kayaks and canoes may also have a foot or hand pump to remove water from the boat. Nowadays the boats are usually made of carbon fibre and/or aramid fibre (e.g. Kevlar) with epoxy resin. A rudder is a device used to steer a ship or other watercraft. ... A pump is a mechanical device used to move liquids or gases. ... Carbon fiber composite is a strong, light and very expensive material. ... Aramid fiber (1961) is a synthetic fiber, a fire-resistant polyamide, is a favorite for aerospace and military; bullet-proof protective armor fabric, as well as an asbestos substitute. ... Kevlar, also known as Twaron and poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, is a synthetic fibre that is five times stronger than steel, weight for weight. ... Epoxy or polyepoxide is a thermosetting epoxide polymer that cures when mixed with a catalyzing agent or hardener. Most common epoxy resins are produced from a reaction between Epichorohydrin & Bisphenol A. The first commercial attempts to prepare resins from epichlorohydrin occurred in 1927 in the United States. ...

Paddles for propelling are double-bladed for kayaks, and single-bladed for canoes, and are usually made of carbon fibre with epoxy. For kayaks so-called wing paddles are generally used, the blades of which are shaped to resemble a wing. These paddles are more efficient than traditional paddles, presumably because they create extra "lift" in the direction in which the kayak moves. The NOUN paddle is a tool, originally a boat propulsion implement for mixing or pushing against liquids, typically in order to propel a boat. ... In computing, WinG (pronounced Win Gee) was an API to provide fast graphics performance on Windows 3. ... Lift consists of the negative product of all the aerodynamic forces normal to the direction of the external airflow. ...

Links

• International Canoe Federation
• USA Canoe/Kayak
• British Canoe Union