Types Whitewater kayaking

1 types

1.1 river running
1.2 creeking
1.3 slalom
1.4 playboating
1.5 squirt boating

types

there 5 sub-categories in whitewater kayaking:

river running

riverrunning (practitioners use 1 word) essential - , artful - form of kayaking. whereas derivative forms (described below under headings of creeking, slalom, playboating , squirt boating) have evolved in response challenges posed riverrunning, such pushing levels of difficulty and/or competing, riverrunning, of own right, more combining 1 s paddling abilities , navigational skills movements , environments of rivers themselves. important riverrunner experience , expression of river in continuity rather than, say, penchant punctuated vertical features (e.g. standing waves, play-holes , waterfalls). kayak design, pure riverrunning boat can said have driving ability - blend of qualities enables paddler make of differential forces in river s currents. example, instead of spinning or pivoting boat change direction, riverrunner drive boat in such way make use of river s surface features (e.g. waves, holes , eddylines) conserving boat s speed , momentum (this in particular contrast slalom racing, where, in attempt negotiate kinds of slalom gates, boater pivot boat change direction, , doing, diminish boat s speed , momentum.) principal design characteristic of riverrunning kayaks (as closest cousin slalom boat) comparatively longer length , narrower breadth (generally not less 285 cm in length or more 63 cm in breadth). longer length @ waterline not helps carry speed longer arcs created between stem , stern allow boater more efficiently , gracefully carve into, through , out of eddies , other currents.

jared alexander, on hazard creek in idaho.


creeking

creeking perhaps best thought of subcategory of river running, involving technical , difficult rapids, typically in grade/class iv vi range. while people differ on definition, creeking involves higher gradient (approaching or in excess of 100 ft per mi (19 m per km)), , include running ledges, slides, , waterfalls on relatively small , tight rivers, though allow large , big volume rivers in definition. kayaks used creeking have higher volume (more gallons or litres of displacement) , more rounded bow , stern, these features provide margin of safety against likelihood of pinning (getting kayak wedged in such way cannot removed without mechanical advantage system, such between rocks and/or underwater), , resurface more , controllably when coming off larger drops. creek boats have increased rocker, or rise, fore , aft of cockpit manoeuvrability. extreme racing competitive form of aspect of whitewater kayaking, in kayakers race down steep sections , or dangerous sections of whitewater.

slalom

slalom technical competitive form of kayaking, , whitewater event appear in olympic games. racers attempt make way top bottom of designated section of river fast possible, while correctly negotiating gates (a series of double-poles suspended vertically on river). there 18-25 gates in race must navigated in sequential order. green gates must negotiated in downstream direction, red gates in upstream direction. events typically conducted on grade/class ii grade/class iv water, placement of gates, , precision necessary paddle them fast , clean (without touching pole , adding 2 seconds total time), makes moves harder water s difficulty suggests. (slalom has been described performing class v moves class iii consequences.) pro level slalom competitions have specific length (350 cm (140 in) kayaks - new rules), width, , weight requirements boats, made out of kevlar/fiberglass/carbon fiber composites lightweight , have faster hull speed. plastic whitewater kayaks can used in citizen-level races.

playboating

playboater performing aerial loop @ reno whitewater festival.

playboating, known freestyle or rodeo, more gymnastic , artistic kind of kayaking. while other varieties of kayaking involve going point point b, playboaters stay in 1 spot in river (usually in hole, pourover or on wave) work , against dynamic forces of river perform variety of maneuvers. these can include surfing, spinning, , various vertical moves (cartwheels, loops, blunts, pistol , donkey flips, , many others), spinning boat on possible axes of rotation. more recently, aerial moves have become accessible, paddlers perform tricks having gained air using speed , bounce of wave. kayaks used playboating have relatively low volume in bow , stern, allowing paddler submerge ends of kayak relative ease. competitions playboating or freestyle called whitewater rodeo in us, more referred freestyle events in uk , europe. famous playboaters eric jackson, stephen wright, peter czonka, , james bebbington.

squirt boating

squirt boating incorporates use of low-volume boats perform special moves in whitewater features. squirt boating predates, , critical foundation of, playboating. squirt boats long , flat, low volume throughout design. because squirt boats custom built paddlers weight, inseam, , personal preference, constructed composite materials instead of plastic. many squirt moves intended submerge or part of craft , paddler, such mystery move, in both boat , paddler submerge river s flow several seconds , half minute.