Canoe/Kayaking Terms
“5” -- A five-second penalty assessed against whitewater paddlers who touch one or both of the gate poles while attempting to pass through the gate.
“50” -- A fifty-second penalty assessed against Whitewater paddlers. Penalty is assessed if paddler fails to pass through the gate, passes through gate while underwater or in the wrong direction (i.e. moving through an upstream gate in a downstream direction} or intentionally move a gate pole to permit movement through the gate.
Beam -- The widest part of the canoe.
Bent-Shaft Paddle -- Any canoe or Yak paddle with a bend in the shaft, usually at the paddle's throat area. Effect is exponential increase in efficiency (power} with varying compromise in control, depending on degree of bend.
Blade -- The wide part of the paddle that goes in the water.
Bow -- The front end of the boat.
Broach -- Occurs when a canoe or kayak: becomes caught in the current against an obstruction and turns sideways. Considered very dangerous.
C-1 -- One person canoe, usually decked over for whitewater river running. A C-2 is a two-person canoe, also usually decked over. The paddler kneels in the boat and uses a single bladed paddle.
Canoe -- An open craft with pointed ends that is propelled with a single bladed paddle. Also called an “open boat."
Chute -- Area where a river's How is suddenly constricted, compressing and amplifying the current's energy into a narrow tongue of water.
Class I-VI -- International standard classification system for rating the difficulty g of fast-moving water.
Deck -- Closed in area over the bow and/ or stem of a canoe or kayak. Sheds water . and, on a canoe, adds strength to the gunwales.
Downstream Gate -- A slalom gate which is negotiated in the same direction as the flow of the river. Distinguished from an upstream gate by its green and white stripes.
Draw -- A stroke pulling in toward the paddler at 90 degrees to the direction of travel. When executed by the bowman of a two-man canoe, it will turn in the boat in the direction of the drawing side.
Eddy -- A pool of more calm water which is out of the main current of a stream. Located behind obstacles in the river or near the shore, eddies are likely locations for upstream gates, since the paddlers would not have to battle the full force of the current to move through an upstream gate.
Eskimo Roll -- A maneuver performed by a paddler whose boat has rolled, or tipped over. By using the paddle as a brace against the water, the paddler can right himself or herself and continue competing.
Fast and Clean -- The goal of a whitewater paddler: to be fast (cover the course as quickly as possible} and clean (to not accumulate penalty points).
Flatwater -- Lake water or slow moving river current with no rapids. Also a shorthand term to refer to the Olympic discipline of flatwater sprint racing.
Grip -- The end of a canoe paddle opposite from the blade; should be shaped to fit comfortably into the paddler's hand.
Gunwale -- {Pronounced “gunnels”} The upper edge of the boat's side. Inside strips : are “inwales;” outside strips are “outwales.”
Hull -- The body of a canoe or kayak; the area that has the greatest impact on how the boat and water interact. A flatwater sprint boat's V-shaped hull gives it better tracking, while a whitewater slalom boat's rounded hull makes it more maneuverable.
“J” Stroke -- A stroke that ends in a rudder, usually used by sprint canoeists to avoid the need to move the paddle from one side of the boat to the other to maintain a straight-line course.
K-1 -- One person kayak. For women's classes, a “W” is added (K-1W).
Kayak -- Self-propelled watercraft in which paddler is fully enclosed and uses a double-bladed paddle from a sitting position.
Keel -- The ridge running the length of the boat's bottom which prevents sideslipping in the wind or in a lake. Also adds rigidity or structural support to the hull.
Line -- The path a whitewater paddler chooses to take through the gates.
Paddle -- Primary tool for propelling canoes and kayaks.
Petit-Final -- Literally “small final.” Used to determine final placement of athletes who do not earn a starting position in the finals of a sprint event.
Rapids -- Section of a river where the currents speeds up and flows turbulently over and around boulders, drop-offs, ledges, etc. Also known as whitewater.
Repechage -- French for “second chance.” This stage of a sprint racing event permits athletes a second chance to earn a spot in the next round of competition (the semi-finals}.
River Left -- The left side of the river as it would appear to a paddler facing downstream.
River Right -- The right side of the river as it would appear to a paddler facing downstream.
Rudder -- Dragging the paddle to create resistance; when executed by the sternsman of a two-man canoe, the boat turns in the direction of the rudder side.
Shaft -- The narrow part of the paddle which the paddler grips.
Slalom -- Short term for the Olympic discipline of whitewater slalom racing.
Sprint -- Shortened term for the Olympic discipline of flatwater sprint racing.
Stern -- The back end of the boat.
Sweep -- A stroke made in a broad curve. When executed, the boat turns in the direction opposite the sweeping side.
Thwart -- The supporting member extending across the canoe between the gunwales.
Upstream Gate -- A slalom gate which must be negotiated against the flow of the river. Distinguished from a downstream gate by its red and white stripes.
Whitewater -- Turbulent, heavily aerated water caused by its flowing around or over obstacles in the current Also a shorthand term to refer to the Olympic discipline of whitewater slalom racing.
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