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Whitewater kayaking or playboating is a recreational sport of taking a kayak down a moving body of water, typically a river. Whitewater kayaking can be a challenging, adrenaline filled sport, or be a fun, graceful,
technical ride.
Whitewater Racing is the competitive sport of racing canoes
down a river as fast as possible.
The kayak (or just 'boat') used in whitewater kayaking is different than those used in Whitewater Racing or Sea Kayaking. The boat is
typically made of a tough linear-linked plastic that is slightly flexible and very strong. Boats can range in size from barely
long enough to hold the paddler, up to 12ft or longer.
There are generally three 'sub-hobbies' in whitewater kayaking: river running, rodeo (playboating), and creeking.
River Running can be thought of as more of a tour down a river. You're there to enjoy the scenery and some
challenge of the whitewater.
Rodeo (sometimes called just Playboating) is a technical and artistic kind of kayaking.
Playboaters usually stay in one spot in the river, usually in a hole or wave. On the wave they perform a variety of tricks while
riding the wave. These can include surfing, spinning, and many vertical moves (cartwheels, loops, blunts, and many many
others).
Creeking is a pure adrenaline form of kayaking involving very technical and difficult rapids. This is
typically in the class IV or V range and can include waterfalls, very small and tight rivers, and/or very large and big volume
water.
A great place to learn more about the details of whitewater kayaking is in the whitewater kayaking faq
See also: canoeing, paddling, whitewater
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