Paddler

Canoeing

Whitewater canoe
Presence
Olympic	1936

Canoeing is a sport or recreational activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. In some parts of Europe canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being called an Open canoe.

An ancient mode of transportation, modern recreational canoeing was established in the late 19th century. In 1924, canoeing associations from Austria, Germany, Denmark and Sweden founded the Internationalen Representation for Kanusport, forerunner of the International Canoe Federation. Canoeing became part of the Olympic Games in the summer of 1936. The main form of competitive sport was sprint canoe. Others include canoe polo, whitewater canoeing, canoe marathon, ICF canoe marathon, and playboating.

National canoe associations include the American, Canadian, British, Scottish, and Welsh.

A recreational form of canoeing is canoe camping. Others include a wide range of casual canoeing on lakes, rivers, ponds and streams.