Kayaking Basics

Types Of Kayaking  -  Wildwater Or Downriver Racing

Do you want to experience the exhilaration of racing flat-out against the clock down stretches of  top whitewater through unspoiled countryside and gain a sense of achievement by successfully negotiating a demanding time-trial course

Wildwater or downriver racing is type of kayaking which is an exciting variant of whitewater paddling. Wildwater kayaks, at around 4.5m (14.5') in length, are longer than whitewater playboats or even creek boats. They are designed for speed on whitewater and the races take place on courses that are roughly 8km (five miles) in length with class III and class IV rapids.

Wild Water Racing is the equivalent of downhill skiing. Wild Water Racing is a discipline of paddling racing. The wildwater time trial is the purest of whitewater racing forms - the athlete, the river, the clock. A racing performance is the result of physical conditioning, skill and harmony with the water - and is the only sport where social paddling is necessary to achieve a peak performance. Beautiful water, scenery and companionship make the Wild Water Racing experience compelling. The competitor is free to take whichever route on the river they desire, a freedom of racing unsurpassed in the whitewater world.

Races are run in three formats:

Classic - A single run over a 15 minute (approximately) course.

Sprint - The total of two runs over a 500 meter course.

Wavehopper - A format specifically for youngsters, the best of two runs to count.