There are competitions in 7 modalities of rowing for which there are usually competitions – European, World, Olympic, etc. Competitions: calm waters, polo kayak, Dragon Boat, marathon, sailing, rough seas, (The Dragon Boat is not a kayak, but a rowboat, so we speak here, correctly, about “competitions in canoeing”). There are races of speed, background, marathon, tourist rowing, promotions, cruises, and descents.
- The rowing calm waters
Rowing is an Olympic discipline. The boats are placed in line and travel a distance, in a straight line, without obstacles, in the shortest possible time, in the sea, river, but usually on an artificial track. The boats can be of type K1, K2, boat – Dragon, they can reach 6 m (8 m in the case of a K2), while their length does not exceed 0.50 CM.
Racing rowing in calm waters has been an Olympic discipline since 1936. Since 1938, World Championships have been held. The first World rowing championship was held in Vaxholm, Sweden. However, the first German championships were held 20 years earlier, in 1919.
- Rowing Polo
The polo kayak is the only modality in rowing that is a team game. It is a game of 2 teams, each consisting of 5 players. Rowers try to score a goal with a shovel or a hand.
1928 the first German Championships in polo rowing were held. 1960 – with the manufacture of plastic kayaks-the popularity of this sport increased. 1919 changed the rules: a smaller field and individual kayaks. They don’t measure ten feet, and they carry foam protection, so they don’t harm the other rowers. Since 1994 it organizes world championships.
- Rowing on the dragon boat
The boat with a dragon head. The canoes are 12.5 m, there are 16-10 canoeists, a drummer in the bow, and a helmsman in the stern. The dragon boat canoeing takes place in calm waters – tracks. The distance to travel is 250 or 500 m.
The Dragon ship comes originally from Asia. 1987 was the first competition in Germany. Since 1992 German championships have been held since 1995 World Championships.
- Slalom rowing
Slalom rowing is an Olympic discipline at the moment. It is a question of correctly traversing a layout-marked by doors as quickly as possible. A fast water mode with slalom kayaks measuring at least 3.5 m in length, 0.60 m in diameter and at least 9 kg.
Slalom rowing in the Alps was invented in 1930. In 1949 the first championships were held. In 1972 he participated in the Olympic Games for the first time.
Slalom rowing has not always been an Olympic discipline. From what happened in Munich, no slalom kayakers were seen at the Olympic Games until 1992-exactly 20 years later.
And, then, the orders were very severe, and it was necessary to build artificial tracks for the Olympic Games. Of course, it is related to huge investments, and that is why we are thinking of removing slalom rowing from the Olympic Games again. More about slalom rowboats.
- The rowing downhill
Descent rowing is one of the oldest disciplines in rowing. Just like calm water rowing – but with a kayak with more volume, more stability, less opening of the bathtub. A certain distance must be lowered into the rough waters as quickly as possible. World championships are held every two years. Annually there is a series of Weltcup.
- Freestyle rowing
Freestyle Rowing is the aggressive form of what is usually called play rowing or rodeo rowing. Freestyle rowing refers to the game with/on a static wave with a kayak measuring less than two meters. The number of figures – in different types of kayaks such as kayaks, canoes, squirts – that can be performed in a static wave in the time of 45 seconds is valued. Rowers of this type are acrobats within the world of rowing.
- Surfing rowing
The surf rowing championships are held over a distance of 700 m. up to 20,000 m. There are Championships for lifeguards. The best-known Championship is the “Molokai” championship in Hawaii. World cup championships are held only in Australia and South Africa so far.