Kayaking

River running

River running can be thought of as a tour down a river, to enjoy the scenery as well as experiencing challenging whitewater. River running includes short day trips as well as longer multi-day trips. Multi-day kayak trips often entail the use of gear-toting rafts to allow a more comfortable experience without a heavily-laden kayak.

Creeking

Creeking is a subcategory of river running, involving very technical and difficult rapids, typically in the Grade/Class IV to VI range. Kayaks used for creeking usually have higher volume and more rounded bow and stern. Creek boats usually have increased "rocker," or rise, on the bow to go up and over obstacles and obstructions within the river.

Slalom

Slalom is a technical competitive form of kayaking, and the only whitewater event to appear in the Olympic Games.

Playboating

Playboating, also known as Freestyle or Rodeo is an artistic kind of kayaking. While the other varieties of kayaking generally involve going in a straight line, playboaters often stay in one spot in the river where they work with and against the forces of the river to perform maneuvers. Kayaks used for playboating have relatively low volume in the bow and stern, allowing the paddler to submerge the ends of the kayak with relative ease.

Squirt Boating

Squirt boating incorporates the use of low-volume boats to perform special moves in whitewater features. Squirt boating predates, and was the foundation of, playboating. Squirt boats are often fairly long and flat, with low volume throughout the design. Because squirt boats are custom built to the paddlers weight, inseam, and personal preference, they are constructed with composite materials instead of plastic.