The term canoeing is the umbrella term used to refer to all kinds of paddle sports, be it with the use of a canoe or a kayak.

In sports, canoes and kayaks fall into one category despite their different designs and historical roots. During the early times, canoes were generally classified as open boats, while kayaks were referred as closed boats. In an open boat, rider's legs are exposed to the air, while in closed boat, the rider's legs were inside and covered by the boat itself. However, due to the advances in technologies today, the differences between the two are almost blurred out, leaving the people use the two terms synonymously and interchangeably.

Canoeing has been a part of the Olympic competition since 1936, with Sprint and Slalom as the only two competing category.

• Sprint is the oldest discipline formed by the International Canoe Federation. This is the worldwide organization that formulated the existing standards and rules for the different discipline of canoeing and kayaking. Sprint is also known as Flatwater Racing. Sprint races are open in 200m, 500m, 1000m, 2km and 6km distances.
• Slalom, on the other hand is a paddling competitive sport that requires its participants to navigate a canoe or a kayak through against river rapids in the shortest time possible.

Other types of canoeing include:

• Marathon - This is basically a form of flatwater racing, but with longer distances. Its course lengths could reach up to 201 km.
• Canoe Polo - It is a kind of competitive ball game on water between two teams individually comprised with five members.

Provider of Canoes and Canoeing Equipments

The following are some of the things that you should look for in choosing a good provider of canoes and canoeing equipment:

• A good canoe and canoeing equipments provider offers warranties to all of your purchased items.
• It should be opened for possible item returns and refunds.
• It should also offer item packages that would let you purchase items of discounted prices.
• Offer insured shipping and delivery services
• Accept different modes of payment