Whitewater Racing
From Free net encyclopedia
Image:White-water-racing-grandtully.jpg 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. Whitewater racing is called Wildwater Racing in England 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.
White water racing kayaks and canoes are long and thin, with a rounded hull profile, 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' (a flaring protrusion in the hull) at the back behind the paddler add stability and meet the minimum width required under racing rules. When the boat is under way, most of each wing will be above the waterline so as to minimize drag.
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 there). In the United States, a world championship was held on California's Kern River.