Paddling

Manually propelling a boat using a paddle

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For other uses, see Paddle (disambiguation).

Man paddling a canoe

Paddling, in regard to waterborne transport, is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using at least one hand-held paddle. The paddle, which consists of one or two blades joined to a shaft, is also used to steer the vessel via generating a difference in propulsion between the two sides of the watercraft. The paddle is not connected to the boat, unlike in rowing where the oar is attached to the boat.

In paddling sports such as canoeing and kayaking, the characteristics that are most important include "dynamic balance, core stability, pulling power, speed, endurance, stature, and rhythm".[1]

## Canoeing[edit]

A family in a canoe

Main article: Canoeing

Canoeing is the activity of paddling a canoe for leisure, navigation or exploration. In America the term refers exclusively to using one or more single blades or paddles to propel a canoe. In the United Kingdom and some other countries in Europe however, canoeing is also used to refer to kayaking, and canoeing is then often called Canadian canoeing to distinguish canoeing from kayaking.

There are sub-varieties of canoeing, such as touring and whitewater or wildwater canoeing, and outrigger canoeing. Traveling in a whitewater raft can involve using either paddles, or a pair of oars, or both.

Outrigger canoe racing is a team paddling sport which uses the outrigger canoe.

## Kayaking[edit]

Sea Kayaking at Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, Australia

Main article: Kayaking

Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking is differentiated from canoeing by the fact kayakers use a double bladed paddle and sit in a seat with their legs extended out in front of them. Kayakers will either sit on an elevated bench seat or kneel directly on the bottom of the boat with two knees or one knee in the "high kneel" posture.

The kayak may be either "sit-in" (have a closed cockpit) or "sit-on-top" (sitting on top of the boat deck). Sit-in kayaks provide more protection from water and the elements, and are popular for day trips and touring. Sit-on-top kayaks are growing in popularity for fishing and surfing.

## Dragon boating[edit]

Cantonese dragon boat

Main article: Dragon boat

A dragon boat is a long and narrow human powered boat used in the team paddling sport of dragon boat racing which originated in China.

For racing events, dragon boats are not rigged with full decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails and are not required to carry a large drum aboard. The decorative boats are used in ceremonial events. They do however use smaller and lighter dragon heads and tails and drum for racing. They are not normally used during practice.

## Rafting[edit]

Rafting in Brazil.

Main article: Rafting

Rafting or whitewater rafting uses a raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this activity as a leisure sport has become popular since the mid-1970s.

## Paddle surfing and stand-up paddleboarding[edit]

Main article: Standup paddleboarding

Stand-up paddleboarding on the Ganges River

Stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), are steered with a singled bladed paddle. Originating in Hawaii to help navigate the waves, the sport has grown to include flat water lakes, easy rivers, and spring runs. Traditional paddleboarding is done kneeling on a board and paddling with the hands.

## Surfing[edit]

Main article: Surfing § Maneuvers

Surfing begins when the surfer paddles from the shore in an attempt to catch a wave.

## References[edit]

1. ^ Teunissen, Jan Willem; ter Welle, Stijn; Platvoet, Sebastiaan; Faber, Irene; Pion, Johan; Lenoir, Matthieu (February 2021). "Similarities and differences between sports subserving systematic talent transfer and development: The case of paddle sports". Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 24 (2): 200–205. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2020.09.005. hdl:1854/LU-8693591.

## External links[edit]

* Media related to Paddling at Wikimedia Commons

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Canoeing and kayaking

Main disciplines|

* Canoe sprint
* Canoe slalom
* Canoe marathon
* Canoe polo
* Wildwater canoeing
* Canoe sailing
* Canoe freestyle
* Paracanoe

Olympics|

* Summer Olympics
* Male medalists
* Female medalists
* Venues

Other disciplines|

* Creeking
* Dragon boating
* Nouka Baich
* Paddleboarding
* Surf skiing
* Surf kayaking
* Snow boating
* Squirt boating
* Standup paddleboarding

ICF championships|

* Sprint (Men's Canadian medalists
* Women's Canadian medalists
* Men's kayak medalists
* Women's kayak medalists
* Paracanoe medalists)
* Slalom (Men's canoe medalists
* Women's canoe medalists
* Men's kayak medalists
* Women's kayak medalists
* Mixed canoe medalists)
* Slalom Junior & U23
* Marathon
* Ocean Racing
* Wildwater canoeing

Recreation|

* Small-craft sailing
* Whitewater canoeing / kayaking
* Sea kayaking
* Canoe camping
* Kayak fishing
* Canoe and kayak diving
* Dongola racing
* Canoe orienteering
* Canoe livery

Modern boats|

* Canoe
* Kayak
* Concrete canoe
* Flyak
* Folding kayak
* International Canoe
* Malia
* Recreational kayak
* Sprint canoe

Traditional boats|

* Aleutian kayak
* Cayuco
* Chundan vallam
* Dugout
* Fur brigade
* Outrigger canoe
* Pacific Northwest
* Rabaska
* Sturgeon-nosed canoe
* Taimen
* Umiak
* Waka
* War canoe
* Swan boat

Techniques|

* Canoe paddle strokes
* Eskimo Rescue
* Kayak roll
* Portage

Equipment|

* Albano buoy system
* Outrigger
* Paddle
* Paddle float
* Paddle leash
* Royalex
* Sea sock
* Spray deck
* Tuilik

Venues|

* Artificial whitewater
* Canoeing and kayaking venues

Competitions|

* List of world records in canoeing
* Adirondack Canoe Classic
* Au Sable River Canoe Marathon
* Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon
* Dusi Canoe Marathon
* Hawkesbury Canoe Classic
* Massive Murray Paddle
* National Student Rodeo
* Thameside Series
* Waterside Series
* Riverland Paddling Marathon

Festivals|

* Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival
* Duanwu Festival
* Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York
* Houston Dragon Boat Festival
* Lethbridge Dragon Boat Festival
* Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival
* Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival

Governing bodies|

* European Canoe Association
* American Canoe Association
* Paddle Australia
* Paddle UK
* British Dragon Boat Racing Association
* Canoe Kayak Canada
* Canoe Wales
* Croatian Canoe Federation
* Israel Canoe Association
* Scottish Canoe Association
* Portuguese Canoe Federation

Other organisations|

* Canadian Canoe Museum
* International Dragon Boat Federation
* Sir Alexander Mackenzie Canada Sea-to-Sea Bicentennial Expeditions
* UK Rivers Access Campaign

Media|

* La Chasse-galerie
* Paddle-to-the-Sea (film)
* The Rise and Fall of the Great Lakes
* Waterwalker

Outline

Authority control databases: National |

* Czech Republic

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