Canoeing and Kayaking: emerging water sports in Sri Lanka
Although a beautiful island nation surrounded by the Indian Ocean and with many picturesque lakes, rivers, canals, waterfalls and waterways, water sports such as canoeing and kayaking have not been practiced for competitions in Sri Lanka until the turn of the 20th century.
With the advent of the National Association for Canoeing and Kayaking, Sri Lanka, (NACKSL) in 2004 however, this Olympic sport has since gained popularity.
Disciplines in Canoeing and Kayaking
Whilst the primary focus of the International Canoe Federation (ICF) are the two main Olympic disciplines, namely, Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom, there are a number of other disciplines which are not Olympic disciplines, also governed by the ICF, such as Canoe/ Kayak Ocean Racing, Dragon Boating, Stand Up Paddling and Canoe Polo.
The main focus of NACKSL has been to promote Canoe Sprint and Dragon Boating.
Canoe Sprint
Canoe Sprint is the premier discipline among Canoe Sports, being the oldest and most widely practiced. This is such as Diyawanna Oya, Bolgoda and the Beira Lake and some venues managed by the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force in Jaffna, Trincomalee and Tangalle.
This competition requires strength, stamina and technique and two primary types of boats namely Canoes and Kayaks are used. Canoes are paddled by athletes kneeling in their boats, using a paddle with a single blade at one end, whereas Kayaks are paddled by athletes sitting in their boats, using a paddle with a blade on each end of the paddle.
There are several categories of boats in this discipline, one, two or four persons on each boat, being designated C1, C2 and C4 for Canoes and K1, K2 and K4 for Kayaks.
Canoe Slalom
Canoe Slalom is an exciting discipline with spectator-friendly competitions. There are both Canoe Slaloms and Kayak Slaloms and the whitewater courses are navigated through gates.
Green gates require to be navigated downstream in the red gates require to be navigated water.
Touching a gate while passing or incorrectly passing a gate or missing a gate, carry time penalties for the athlete.
Dragon Boating
A traditional Chinese water sport celebrated for over 2,000 years, Dragon Boating which uses long narrow boats involving 10, 20 or 50 paddlers, with a steerer on each boat and paddling to the rhythmic beats of a drummer, is now practiced in over 72 countries around the world.
Athletes
Fundamentals can be taught from the ages of 4 – 6 years as a fun activity and play in boats with parents, as part of developing physical literacy and swimming. Ages 6 – 12 years learn overall sports skills, water sense and safety awareness, basic boat and paddle handling skills in age appropriate sprint canoes and kayaks. Ages 12 – 16 years learn to build general endurance, proper paddling techniques, develop speed and strength, paddling of singles and crew paddling skills, racing competitions and skills for strength, endurance and racing.
For more information please contact NACKSL:
President: Mr. Prithiviraj Perera
Tel: 0773-601947
Secretary General: Rear Admiral Ajith Samarasinghe (Rtd) –
Tel: 0777-775993