Whitewater Racing

Whitewater racing is a competitive discipline of canoeing using either kayaks or canadian canoes. Competitors are classed by type of boat and gender. They are numbered within their class by their ranking in previous races and compete in reverse order (best paddler last) usually at one minute intervals. Races generally occur in Classes I-IV whitewater.

Related Topics:
Canoeing - Kayaks - Canadian canoes

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There are two general types of Whitewater Racing.

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Whitewater Slalom Racing - Multiple (18-25) gates are hung over a river section about 200-400 yards long. The object of the race is to go through each of the gates in order, as fast as possible, without touching any of the hanging gate poles. Green and white gates signify gates which must be run going downstream of the current. Red and white gates signify gates which must be run going upstream of the current. Each missed gate costs the racer a 50 second penalty, and each touched gate costs the racer a 2 second penalty.

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Slalom kayaks and canoes are long, made of composite material, with thin sterns to go fast, but turn easily. They must conform to rigid length and width requirements.

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Popular whitewater slalom courses include: Athens Whitewater Course in Athens, Greece, Penrith Whitewater Course in Penrith, Australia, and Dickerson Whitewater Course in Dickerson, Maryland, USA.

Related Topics:
Athens Whitewater Course - Penrith Whitewater Course - Dickerson Whitewater Course

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Famous whitewater slalom athletes include: Michael Kurt, Davey Hearn, Jamie McEwan, Fabien Lefevre, and Rebecca Giddens.

Related Topics:
Michael Kurt - Davey Hearn - Jamie McEwan - Fabien Lefevre - Rebecca Giddens

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Wildwater (or 'Downriver') Racing - Simply stated: Go from Point A to Point B down the river as fast as possible. Wildwater racing courses are typically 10 to 20 minutes long and ideally have as many rapids as possible. Typically grade II to IV rivers are used, as opposed to extreme racing where harder rivers are paddled.

Related Topics:
Rapids - Extreme racing

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Wildwater racing kayaks and canoes are long and thin making them fast but unstable and hard to turn. They are turned when racing by leaning to one side rather than with wide sweep strokes. Two wings at the back behind the paddler add stability and make the boats conform to the minimum width required for races, the wings are out of the water so do not cause drag.

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Popular whitewater racing courses in Scotland include Grandtully and Stanley on the River Tay. Popular whitewater racing courses in England include the Washburn and the Tees. Popular whitewater racing courses in Wales include the Tryweryn, and the Dee (although canoeing is currently banned here).

Related Topics:
Grandtully - Stanley - River Tay - Washburn - Tees - Tryweryn - Dee

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