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Canoe Slalom
Slalom is intended to test river-running skills in a safe and friendly environment. Excitement and personal challenge - an ultimate test of skill. Speed and precision is crucial as slalomists need to squeeze through a series of gates without making contact to avoid penalty seconds being added to the time taken to paddle from start to finish.
Website: http://www.canoeslalom.co.uk
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Freestyle
Freestyle is the most exciting, most dynamic most unique thing you can do in a boat. It’s Gymnastics in a kayak. Freestyle paddlers, in tiny specialist boats will search out features on fast flowing rivers; White Water with a big standing wave or a retentive hydraulic with a tow back is what they are looking for. When they find it they will test this feature & their skills to the limit. These features with names like ‘Bus Eater’ & ‘Big Kahuna’ can be intimidating but the sense of exhilaration that paddlers get when pulling off huge moves is unrivalled.
Website: http://www.ukfreestyle.com
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International Canoe Sailing
Sailing the International 10 Square Metre Canoe is the most exciting challenge in single-handed dinghy sailing, and it is also one of the oldest forms of the sport. The pioneer was John MacGregor in the second half of the 19th century with his “Rob Roy” canoe, which was fitted with a simple lugsail to assist whenever the wind was favourable.
Website: http://www.intcanoe.org.uk
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Marathon Racing
Marathon Racing is truly a sport for all. It is open to paddlers of all ages and abilities – to novices of any age; to paddlers with disabilities that may preclude them from other sports; and to supremely fit international athletes. Importantly, it is open to you, whatever your age, ability or fitness.
Website: http://www.marathon-canoeing.org.uk
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Canoe Polo
Canoe Polo is the fastest growing competitive canoeing discipline not only in the UK but also worldwide. Fabulous to play, and full of spectator interest, Canoe Polo combines paddling and ball handling skills within an exciting contact team game where tactical and positional play are a fascinating ingredient of this thoroughly entertaining sport.
Website: http://www.canoepolo.org.uk
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Open Canoe Sailing
The Open Canoe Sailing Group (OCSG) is the principle open canoe sailing group in Britain, with a keen interest in both racing and touring. Members range in ability from beginners to experts.
Website: http://www.ocsg.org.uk
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Sea Kayaking
Sea kayaking is historically one of the earliest forms of paddling, with archaeological evidence suggesting highly developed craft and skilled hunter-fishermen as far back as 5000 BC. Nowadays sea kayakers are not normally in the position of fishing for the family fare, but the craft are remarkably similar in lines to their museum antecedents.
Website: http://www.seakayaking.org.uk
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Sprint Racing
Sprint racing is one of only two canoeing events included in the Olympic Games. Racing takes place on flatwater over distances of 200 metres, 500 metres and 1000 metres on a straight course, of up to nine boats, each in a separate lane. Races are in singles, doubles and fours, for both Canadian canoes and Kayaks, which have to conform to minimum weight and specified standard.
Website: http://worldclass-canoeing.org.uk
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Open Canoeing
The Open Canoe Association, founded in 1956, is affiliated to the BCU and is an Association of canoeing clubs and individual members from across the UK. It exists to promote the open canoe as an all round, versatile craft, which can be used on placid, moving, white and open water.
Website: http://opencanoe.info
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Surf
Surf competitions are tremendous fun, and are a great way to meet like-minded paddlers and improve your personal skills at some of the best surf breaks around the country. There are separate classes for ladies, masters (over 40), juniors (under 18) and newcomers.
Website: http://www.bcusurf.org.uk
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Touring and Recreation
Canoeing is an activity that appeals to paddlers of every age and level of fitness. The adventurous can attempt steep mountain streams, looking for the excitement of speed and action; others travel on the slower flowing rivers, lakes and Is finding enjoyment in the scenery and countryside. |
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Whitewater Kayaking
From the steep water fall runs of the Scottish Glens to the boulder garden rapids of North Wales and the high moorland rivers of the English Moors, Britain has a long tradition of white water kayaking. White water kayaking is simply the decent of rapids in a kayak. The experience in essence is straight forward, you arrive at the put in on your chosen run, head down river on an adventure with your friends, may be into an unknown canyon or on a regular run or perhaps the trip may take several days to undertake, either way the fun is intoxicating, the action aplenty and enjoyment addictive. |
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Wild Water Racing
Do you want to experience the exhilaration of racing flat-out against the clock down stretches of the UK’s top white water through unspoilt countryside and gain a sense of achievement by successfully negotiating a demanding time-trial course? Then try Wild Water Racing – the canoeing equivalent of downhill skiing.
Website: http://www.wildwater.org.uk
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Getting Started 
