Whitewater Kayaking

Whitewater kayaking is an adventure sport where a river is navigated in a decked kayak. Compared to flat water kayaking, white water kayaking is more exciting and adventurous and requires some flat skills and additional technique. Flat water kayaks can glide well on the water, but white water kayaks need to overcome more obstacles, and more importantly, white water kayaks need to maintain balance, so it is very important to learn anti-capsulation techniques.

Whitewater kayaking includes several styles:
River running:
The paddler follows a river and paddles rapids as they travel.
Creeking:
Smaller, steeper, and more technical waterways. Creek boats tend to be short but high volume to allow for manoeuvrability while maintaining buoyancy.
Slalom
Slalom requires paddlers to navigate through "gates" (coloured poles hanging above the river). Slalom is the only whitewater event to be in the Olympics. Pro level slalom competitions have specific length (350 cm (140 in) for kayaks – new rules). and weight requirements for the boats, which will be made out of kevlar/fibreglass/carbon fiber composites to be lightweight and have faster hull speed. Plastic whitewater kayaks can be used in citizen-level races.
Squirt boating
Which uses low-volume boats (usually made specifically for the paddler) to perform special moves in whitewater features.
Equipment
Buoyancy Aid (BA) or Personal Flotation Device (PFD), helmet and spray deck (spray skirt), Whitewater kayaking is an adventurous activity due to the lack of internet coverage in rivers or in steep and remote areas, so waterproof radios are recommended for whitewater kayaking team communication equipment to ensure the safety of whitewater kayakers.