CANOEING
Technical details
There are two types of canoes used at the Games - Canadian canoes and kayaks.
Canadian canoes are open-decked for flatwater racing and closed for slalom and
paddled by competitors in a kneeling position with a single-bladed paddle.
Kayaks have closed decks, pointed bow and stern and are propelled by
competitors in a sitting position with a long, double bladed paddle. Kayaks also
have a rudder for flatwater races.
The flatwater, or sprint courses are marked out in lanes of nine metres and
the water must be still and at least two metres deep.
Automatic start and photo-finish equipment are used at Olympic Games. The
object is to be first across the finish line. Umpires are at the start and the
finish as well as a seven-person jury on hand to handle any disputes but the
photo-finish camera is the final arbiter.
Slalom canoeists need good timing and control to keep the boat on the fastest
line through the 25 gates (at least six must be upstream) of the 300-500m course
of turbulent water.
If competitors touch the gates they incur five penalty points. Fifty penalty
points are given if competitors fail to go through a gate. The winner has the
best combination of fastest time and lowest or no penalty points.
Five facts
1) The origin of the canoe stems from many primitive civilisations which used
hollowed-out logs as canoes.
2) Two versions of canoes have evolved, the Canadian version, which the native
North Americans used for hunting, and the kayak, developed by the Inuits.
3) Canoeing as a competitive sport first appeared in England in 1866 where
clinker-built canoes were used to race on the Thames.
4) The first world championships took place in 1930 and canoeing became an
Olympic sport at the 1936 Games in Berlin.
5) Great Britain has won two silver medals in canoeing - Gareth Marriott in
the 1992 Games in Barcelona and Paul Ratcliffe (K1 canoe/kayak slalom) in Sydney
2000. Tim Brabants, in the K1 1,000m sprint, collected bronze in Sydney.
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