Canoeing is a sport or recreational activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed
paddle. In some parts of Europe canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being
called a Canadian canoe.
An ancient mode of transportation, modern canoeing was established in the late 1800s. In 1924,
canoeing associations from Austria, Germany, Denmark and Sweden founded the Internationalen
Representation for Kanusport, forerunner of the International Canoe Federation. Canoeing became
part of the Olympic Games at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
The main form of competitive sport is sprint canoe. Others include canoe polo,whitewater
canoeing, canoe marathon, ICF canoe marathon, and playboating. National canoe associations
include the American, Canadian, British,Scottish, and Welsh.
A recreational form of canoeing is Canoe camping.
A canoe is a lightweight narrow boat, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by
one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel using a single-bladedpaddle.
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In some European countries, like the United Kingdom, the term canoe is often used for both
canoes and kayaks,[2] with canoes called Canadian canoes then. This is seen in theInternational
Canoe Federation nomenclature.
Canoes are used for racing, whitewater canoeing, touring and camping, freestyle, and general
recreation. The intended use of the canoe dictates its hull shape and construction material.
Historically, canoes were dugouts or made of bark on a wood frame,[3] but construction materials
evolved to canvas on a wood frame, then to aluminum. Most modern canoes are made of molded
plastic or composites such as fiberglass. Until the mid-1800s the canoe was an important means of
transport for exploration and trade, but then transitioned to recreational or sporting use. Canoeing
has been part of the Olympics since 1936. In places where the canoe played a key role in history,
such as the northern United States, Canada, and New Zealand, the canoe remains an important
theme in popular culture.
Canoes can be adapted to many purposes, for example with the addition of sails, outboard motors,
and outriggers.
Human swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water or another liquid, usually for the
purpose of recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated
movement of the limbs, the body, or both. Humans are able to hold their breath underwater and
undertake rudimentary locomotive swimming within weeks of birth, as an evolutionary response.
Swimming is consistently found to be among the top recreational activities undertaken by the public,
and in some countries, swimming lessons are a compulsory part of the educational curriculum. As a
formalized sport, swimming features in a range of local, national, and international competitions,
including every modern summer Olympics, which occurs every four years.
SWIMSUIT
Standard everyday clothing is usually impractical for swimming and is unsafe under some
circumstances. Most cultures today expect swimsuits to be worn for aquatic activities.
Men's swimsuits commonly resemble shorts, or briefs. Casual men's swimsuits (for example,
boardshorts) are rarely skintight, unlike competitive swimwear, like jammers or diveskins. In most
cases, boys and men swim with their upper body exposed, except in countries where custom or law
prohibits it in a public setting, or for practical reasons such as sun protection.
Modern women's swimsuits are generally skintight, covering the pubic region and
the breasts (See bikini). Women's swimwear may also cover the midriff as well. Women's swimwear
is often a fashion statement, and whether it is modest or not is a subject of debate by many groups,
religious and secular.
Competitive swimwear is built so that the wearer can swim faster and more efficiently. Modern
competitive swimwear is skintight and lightweight. There are many kinds of competitive swimwear for
each gender. It is used in aquatic competitions, such as water polo, swim racing, diving, and rowing.
Wetsuits provide both thermal insulation and floatation. Many swimmers lack buoyancy in the leg.
The wetsuit reduces density, and therefore improves buoyancy while swimming. It provides
insulation by absorbing some of the surrounding water, which then heats up when in direct contact
with skin. The wetsuit is the usual choice for those who swim in cold water for long periods of time,
as it reduces susceptibility to hypothermia.
Some people also choose to wear no clothing while swimming. This is known as skinny dipping. It
was common for males to swim naked in a public setting up to the early 20th century. Today, skinny
dipping can be a rebellious activity, or merely a casual one.
Overhand Knot Tying
Form a loop and pass the end through it. Tighten it to form the Overhand Knot. When
pulled tight it can function as a simple stopper knot.
