Whitewater canoeing

Whitewater paddling is a form of canoeing, is traversed in the whitewater with a whitewater canoe or raft. We distinguish the difficulty after the six-level whitewater difficulty scale, in which case risks or hazards play a role, particularly water quantity (flow rate in m³ / s), and gradient ( injury ). What is important is the tactical assessment of rapids or cataracts, eddies, cases, cascades, rollers, washouts and currents and other places of whitewater kayaking.

As a grassroots whitewater paddling is exercised for pleasure, among other things, in the forms of river running, creeking, Squirtboating and play boating ( canoe rodeo ), but also in some forms of competition ( for summary sheets on each boat types see whitewater canoe). Competitions at Whitewater are aligned (competitive form of play boating ) in the disciplines of whitewater racing, canoe slalom, Extreme Racing, Squirtboating and freestyle. The whitewater paddling denote some extreme whitewater paddlers as " go rush ," which reflects the character of the traffic flows: steep, splinted, massive. In a narrower sense, with " falls " driving on waterfalls meant.

Whitewater paddling can be dangerous if one keeps no safety precautions. It is fundamental for typically the equipment with a life jacket and helmet. Depending on the situation - especially for single or traveling in a responsible position paddlers - further for the life jacket chest strap for a cowtail be useful as well throw bag, carabiner and rescue knife. It is recommended with an increased knowledge and safety training.

Whitewater paddlers use in addition to natural waters increasingly artificial stretches of white water systems such as the Augsburg ice track.