Introduction

The history of the canoe and kayak has been traced back thousands of years to when natives used these craft to hunt, fish and travel. Canoes were used mainly by the native North and South American Indians along with the Polynesian islanders of the Pacific. They were propelled through the water by single-bladed paddles usually made from wood.

The earliest known archaeological evidence of a canoe was unearthed at the tomb of a Sumerian king near the Euphrates River. This relic is estimated to be around 6000 years old. The counterpart of the American Indian canoe is the kayak which was introduced by Eskimos many years ago. These people inhabited the land to the far north of the American continent and Greenland.

Understanding canoe/Kayak

Canoe / kayak flatwater racing is made up of speed races in calm water. The main features of this sport are power and speed. Canoe / kayak flatwater incorporate speed races for nine individual competitors (?1, C1) or nine crews (K2, K4, C2) per course. A course consists of nine lanes, each 9 m wide. The contests take place in a Flatwater Racing Centre, and competitors paddle over 500 m or 1,000 m, respectively (Olympic distances). Arrangements for the heats, semi-finals and finals depend on the number of competitors taking part. The winning paddler or crew is the one whose bow's point (the tip of the boat) crosses the finishing line first.

The basic features of Canoe / kayak slalom are dexterity, power, speed and tactical skill. Canoe / kayak slalom racing takes place on a natural (a river) or artificial competition course. Competitors complete distances of 250 to 400 m, passing through a series of 18 to 25 'gates' without touching them with their paddle, boat, head or body.

The two Olympic Canoeing disciplines are Canoe / kayak flatwater racing and Canoe / kayak slalom racing. There are several non-Olympic disciplines: Wildwater racing, Marathon racing, Canoe polo, Canoe sailing, Dragon boat, Ocean/Sea kayaking, Kayak surfing wave, Free style Kayaking rodeo, Rafting and Outrigger Va'a.

There are two kinds of boats: Canoes and Kayaks.

Canoes:

Kayaks:

In addition to the number of competitors, the seated position and the type of paddle, there are some other differences. Flatwater kayaks have a small rudder in the stern. The flatwater canoes, slalom canoes and kayaks operate without rudders.

There are men's and women's events for Kayak flatwater and Kayak slalom racing; there are only men's competitions for Canoe flatwater and slalom racing. 

Canoe - Kayak Flatwater Racing

Both men and women compete in Canoe / kayak flatwater racing disciplines, except that there are no mixed crews. There are twelve Olympic disciplines: 

In the World Championships and World Cups there are eighteen disciplines for men and nine for women, a total of 27. They include 200, 500 and 1,000 m disciplines.

Weighing the boat and measuring its dimensions before the contest starts and after each race is an important competition procedure. Recent years have seen a rise in the standard of racing; a photo finish is often needed to decide the winner.

Equipment

Canoe - Kayak Slalom Racing

The 'gates' are placed specifically in locations so the competitor passes them downstream, (green gates), or upstream - against the current - (red gates, of which there must be at least six in the course).

A competitor receives a two-point penalty for touching a gate during the race and a fifty-point penalty for missing a gate. Penalty points are added to the final time. (For example: a competitor finishes in a time of 2:20:82.   Each second counts for one point., making 2:20:82 minutes a total of 140.82 points. However, during   the race the competitor touched a gate once and missed another one. Two further points are added for touching one gate and an additional fifty points for failing to go through a gate, bringing the total up to 192.82 points). The winner is the competitor with the least amount of points.

In the slalom race there are heats (two runs), semi-finals (one run) and finals (one run). Every competitor / crew races on his / her own boat down the course, the opponent being the clock and the gates to be passed. Depending on the number of participating athletes, competitors usually start at one-minute intervals in the heats and up to two-and-a-half minute intervals in the finals.

There are four disciplines in the Olympic programme: three men's (K1, C1, C2) and one women's (?1). Corresponding team events are held at World Championships and World Cups, with each team consisting of three boats.

Weighing the boat and measuring its dimensions before the contest starts and after each race is an important competition procedure. Additionally, the specifications of the helmet and the buoyancy of the competitor's lifejacket (weighing 6 kg) are checked.   

Equipment

A competitor in Canoe / kayak slalom racing must wear a lifejacket and protective helmet. A neoprene suit is optional, but the competitor must wear a special spray skirtaround the waist, buttoning on to the craft and preventing water from getting into the competitor's seat.  

International Canoe Federation
European Canoe Association
Confederation of African Canoeing