There are many different types of kayaking. Flat water, sea and whitewater kayaking are all distinct forms that have their own sets of challenges. Whitewater kayaking involves paddling down moving water, generally a river or creek, and through rapids. Although whitewater kayaking is a difficult and often dangerous sport, even beginners can find rivers to suit their abilities.
Kayak
A kayak is a small boat with an enclosed cockpit in which the paddler sits. In whitewater kayaking, the cockpit is sealed shut with a waterproof sprayskirt that fits around the kayaker's waist. Whitewater kayaks are generally smaller than other kayaks for easy maneuverability. There are several types of whitewater kayaks designed for different styles of paddling, including downriver, creek, rodeo and playboating.
Paddling Styles
There are four forms of whitewater kayaking: river running, creeking, playboating and slalom. River running is the most basic form and simply refers to paddling down a river. Creeking is a subcategory of river running and typically involves running narrower, faster rivers with a higher gradient and difficult rapids. Playboating resembles gymnastics in a kayak. Playboaters do tricks with their kayaks such as spinning, flipping and surfing. Slalom is whitewater kayak racing.
Rapid Rating Scale
In whitewater kayaking, rivers are ranked based on the difficulty of their rapids. Kayakers use the international scale of river difficulty, which rates rapids on a scale of one through six. Class I rapids are the easiest, meaning the risks are few and and they are appropriate for beginners. The level of difficulty increases to Class VI rapids. According to American Whitewater, Class VI rapids have almost never been attempted, even by experienced paddlers, because they are extremely dangerous.
Maneuvers
Whitewater kayakers use a variety of maneuvers to navigate rivers. Paddle strokes are the most basic skill and include the forward stroke for going forward, the sweep stroke for turning, draw strokes to move horizontally and back strokes for slowing down. An eddy turn is when a kayaker paddles into or out of an eddy. Ferrying is a maneuver for moving horizontally across the river without being carried downstream. Rolls are when a kayaker, after having been flipped upside-down, rolls back up to the surface without having to exit the boat.
River Reading
Kayakers must read the river in order to know how to safely maneuver. The only way to learn to read rivers well is to paddle often and recognize river features. For example, an eddy is a calm spot behind an obstacle such as a rock or the river bank. Kayakers use eddies as resting stops in the river. Holes are spots where water flows over the top of an obstacle, such as a rock, and flows back upstream. Strainers are objects, such as a fallen tree, that block kayakers from moving downstream while allowing water to run past. Both holes and strainers can be dangerous to kayakers.
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