Types of canoeing and top fitness tips

Top canoeing styles explained

Canoeing is a great way of improving your body's health and fitness, developing upper body strength and clearing the mind from distractions. Before you start though, it's vital to know what type of canoeing exercise you want to pursue. Here's the realbuzz guide to the types of canoeing and some top tips for beginners.

Canoeing types
There are a number of types of canoeing which include the following styles:

Slalom is an Olympic sport in which competitors are timed over a course of 20-25 numbered gates, collecting penalties for any missed or touched.

Sprint racing involves covering a short distance in a short time, as its name suggests. Like a rowing course, water for sprint races is flat.

Marathon races follow fairly flat rivers and a course that contains portages past obstacles and, of course, much longer than regular racing courses.

White water courses are generally along a large river that boasts numerous rapids – fastest navigation of the course wins.

Polo canoeing is a five-a-side match on the water. Each team of five boats on a flat stretch of water, such as a swimming pool, tries to score goals at each end with one ball on the ‘pitch’. Competitors need to know how to ‘Eskimo roll’ back after a capsize as tackling opponents by trying to push them in is permitted.

Sea kayaking – as the name suggests, is the exploration of coastal waters. Demands excellent canoe skills and first-rate navigational experience.

Touring is just hitting the waterways at your own pace and having a bit of fun – a fantastic way to explore an interesting stretch of water.

Top 10 tips for beginners in canoeing and kayaking
Here are the realbuzz top 10 tips for those starting out in canoeing:

  • Don’t over-estimate your ability.
  • Tell someone you are about to head out on the water, where you are going and what time you expect to return.
  • Make sure you have good knowledge of the water you are about to head out to.
  • Check out the water quality before you head out.
  • Avoid capsize drill or ‘rolling’ in stagnant or slow moving water, particularly where rat infestation is obvious.
  • Don’t use equipment in open water that you are not familiar with.
  • Get permission before going on to private property.
  • Avoid wildlife disturbance and environmental damage.
  • Be considerate to other water users.
  • Avoid being an intrusion on local life.
  • Follow the Country Code.
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