Canoe/Kayak: White-water routes

Canoeing is a water sport in which a canoeist in a canoe uses a paddle to move forwards in the direction he or she is facing. In contrast to rowing, there is no fixed link between paddle and boat. English captains brought the first canoes to Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. Towards the end of the 18th century, English students also brought canoes to Switzerland. The sport is practised in the form of canoe trips on rivers, white water sports, competitions and several specialised disciplines. Various boat materials are used across these disciplines.
Traditionally, there are two types of boats – kayaks and Canadian canoes – which differ according to the type of paddle.

• In a kayak, a double-bladed paddle is used in a sitting position. The kayak originated among the Inuit peoples, who used this craft for fishing.
• In a Canadian canoe, just a single bladed paddle is used in a kneeling or sitting position. Native Americans used this type of boat primarily for transportation purposes.

There are numerous variations within these two main types of boat. Wide boats are more likely to be stable and long, while narrow boats are faster but also tilt more easily.
Whether as a recreational sport or as a means of travel, canoeing can be practised in different types of canoe and on different waters (whitewater or lake).
Canoe camping (also known as canoe touring or canoe tripping). More than 98% of canoeists take part in this, which involves travelling on mostly calm waters with a canoe. There is the option of a short trip or a longer tour, with the latter traditionally combined with camping. Canadian canoes are the predominant canoe of choice on the relatively remote routes of North America and Scandinavia, since they have a high transport capacity and are easier to get out of and carry when faced with obstacles, whereas most European canoeists use the kayak. The relatively low physical demands on easily navigated waters mean a wider distribution. Even older generations or families with children can practise the sport.
Sea kayaking (also salt water, sea or coastal paddling) is practised using slimline kayaks on large bodies of water. As well as navigation expertise, it also requires attention to tides and weather patterns. The demands on physical fitness, mastery of rescue techniques and equipment are significantly higher than when canoe camping.
Whitewater canoeing is practised on whitewater and can transition smoothly into canoe camping. A variety of different boats can be used depending on the water and level of difficulty. Stringent investigation and consideration of water levels is required when selecting a boat.
In Switzerland there are many waters suitable for whitewater canoeing. This whitewater is split into six whitewater classes according to the International Canoe Federation ICF. The classes are defined by their navigability, taking into account vision (free, obscured), water (e.g. waves, torrents) and riverbed (e.g. gradients), using roman numerals in ascending order from I to VI. Class I (Easy) waters are easily navigable, Class III (Intermediate) can be passed with difficulty and Class V (Expert) are extremely difficult. Class VI routes are generally impassable. The level of difficulty refers to a river at normal water level. These waters are also sometimes used for rafting.
Playboating (formerly known as canoe rodeo) is a playful approach to whitewater. In recent years, the popularity of this sport has grown faster than that of traditional disciplines. Many whitewater canoeists also “throw some shapes” at suitable locations on their tours.

The Swiss Canoe Federation (SKV) is the governing body for Swiss canoeing. The SKV was founded in 1925 as the Vereinigung Schweizerischer Flusswanderer (Association of Swiss river travellers) and had 31 members at the time. As of 2015, the Federation has 3,800 members in 48 clubs. The overall objective of the SKV is the maintenance and promotion of canoeing in Switzerland, both at a recreational level and among professional athletes. At a competitive level, the SKV offers competitions in the following disciplines in Switzerland: descent, slalom, regatta, canoe polo, freestyle and dragon boating. Furthermore, the SKV works to preserve the waters and safeguard their use for canoeing.