| Whitewater kayaking is a paddling sport in which a | | | | Slalom- This is another form of whitewater kayaking. |
| kayak (boat) is paddled on a moving water body. For | | | | Kayakers try to make way in a designated section of |
| some whitewater kayaking may be a fun carefree trip | | | | river within a time limit and correctly negotiate gates at |
| down the river while for some others, it is a challenging | | | | the same time. There are 20-25 gates, which should |
| sport. Whitewater kayaking boats differ from those | | | | be navigated sequentially during the race. Red gates |
| used in sea kayaking or whitewater racing. | | | | must be negotiated in upstream direction and green |
| Traditional kayaks were made of animal skins. Earlier | | | | gates in downstream. The gate placement and |
| whitewater kayaks were made of Kevlar or fiberglass | | | | precisely paddling through them fast without touching |
| but nowadays they are made of tough plastic, which is | | | | the pole makes the move harder and tougher. |
| durable and flexible. Normally the size of a kayak | | | | Pro-level Slalom competitions have specific width and |
| ranges from 6-12 feet but sometimes it can be even | | | | length requirements of boats that are made of |
| longer. | | | | fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon fiber so that they are |
| Whitewater Kayaking Categories: | | | | lightweight and have faster hull speed. Slalom is the |
| River Running- River running is a tour down the river. It | | | | only whitewater kayaking sport in Olympics. |
| is done for enjoyment as well as for experiencing the | | | | Play boating- Play boating is also known as freestyle |
| challenge of whitewater kayaking. It includes both short | | | | kayaking. This is more an artistic and gymnastic kind of |
| as well as long multi-day trips. Multi-day trips use | | | | whitewater kayaking. The other whitewater kayaking |
| gear-toting rafts for a comfortable experience. The | | | | varieties involve going from point A to B but in play |
| competitive aspect of river running is whitewater | | | | boating, the play boaters often remain in one place in |
| racing. | | | | river. The play boaters work with and against the |
| Creeking- This involves typical and technical rapids. | | | | forces of river and perform various maneuvers like |
| Creeking not only involves higher gradient but is also | | | | surfing, spinning and several vertical moves by staying |
| likely to include slides, running ledges, and waterfalls on | | | | in one spot. Recently aerial moves became accessible |
| small rivers. Creeking kayaks are high volume, rounded | | | | in which paddlers perform tricks. Play boating kayaks |
| bow, and stern boats. These features provide extra | | | | usually have low volume bow and stern enabling the |
| safety margin against spinning and the kayak is | | | | paddler to submerge the kayak ends easily. In US, play |
| controlled and resurfaces more quickly when coming | | | | boating competitions are known as whitewater rodeo |
| off large drops. The competitive form of creeking is | | | | but in UK and Europe, it is known as freestyle |
| extreme racing. | | | | kayaking. |