Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. Common meanings of the term are limited to when the canoeing is the central purpose of the activity. Broader meanings include when it is combined with other activities such as canoe camping, or where canoeing is merely a transportation method used to accomplish other activities. Most present-day canoeing is done as or as a part of a sport or recreational activity. In some parts of Europe canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being called an open canoe.
Wildwater canoeing is a competitive discipline of canoeing in which kayaks or canoes are used to negotiate a stretch of river speedily. It is also called "Whitewater racing" or "Downriver racing" to distinguish it from whitewater slalom racing and whitewater rodeo or Freestyle competition.
Paddle Scotland, formerly the Scottish Canoe Association or SCA, is the national governing body for canoeing, kayaking and other paddlesport in Scotland.
Canoe slalom is a competitive sport with the aim to navigate a decked canoe or kayak through a course of hanging downstream or upstream gates on river rapids in the fastest time possible. It is one of two kayak and canoeing disciplines at the Summer Olympics, and is referred to by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as Canoe/Kayak Slalom. The other Olympic canoeing discipline is canoe sprint. Wildwater canoeing is a non-Olympic paddlesport.
Paddle UK is a national governing body in the United Kingdom for canoeing, kayaking and other paddlesports such as standup paddleboarding. Established in 1936 as the British Canoe Union, it federalised in 2000 to become the umbrella organisation for the home nation associations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In 2015 it took on the name British Canoeing and amalgamated the former British Canoe Union, Canoe England and GB Canoeing. In March 2024, British Canoeing changed their name to Paddle UK.
The British Judo Association (BJA) is the governing body for the Olympic sport of judo in the United Kingdom. In 2019 there were 35,000 members.
Canoe Wales is the national governing body for paddlesport in Wales. It covers all branches of the sport from recreational canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and rafting to whitewater racing, slalom racing and wildwater racing; flatwater sprint racing and marathon racing; canoe sailing; canoe polo; surf kayaking and canoeing; and extreme racing. The organisation has over 2,700 members including individual paddlers as well as affiliated club members. Full adult members of Canoe Wales are also by default Welsh members of Paddle UK.
Standup paddleboarding (SUP) is a water sport born from surfing with modern roots in Hawaii. Standup paddleboarders stand on boards that are floating on the water and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water. The sport was documented in a 2013 report that identified it as the outdoor sporting activity with the most first-time participants in the United States that year. Variations include flat water paddling, racing, surfing, whitewater SUP, yoga, and fishing.
The British Dragon Boat Racing Association (BDA) is the UK governing body for dragon boat racing as a sport and recreation, recognised by the UK Sports Council and a member of the Sport Alliance, Water Recreation Division.
The Northern Ireland Association of Aeromodellers (NIAA) is the governing body for all British Model Flying Association (BMFA) affiliated clubs in Northern Ireland. The NIAA committee is elected by, and from representatives of the local Northern Ireland flying clubs, with an aim to promote, protect, organise and encourage model aircraft flying throughout Northern Ireland. Additionally the organisation coordinates local club events and activities, and acts as a contact and representative on their behalf to the BMFA. The NIAA is accredited in these roles by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI), and the BMFA who are delegated by the Royal Aero Club to be responsible for all aspects of model flying in Great Britain. The BMFA is also recognised as the sole representative organisation for the sport in the UK by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) which is the worldwide governing body for all forms of sporting aviation, including model flying.
Canoeing – recreational boating activity or paddle sport in which you kneel or sit facing forward in an open or closed-decked canoe, and propel yourself with a single-bladed paddle, under your own power.
The Pakistan Canoe and Kayak Federation (PCKF) is the official national governing body for canoeing and kayaking Olympic sports in Pakistan. Its function is to promote sporting activities and events for canoe and kayak paddlers across the country on a national and international level. PCKF is a non-profit organisation, which represents all people and organisations with a genuine interest in canoeing, kayaking and associated sports, helping them to increase the profile of these sports across Pakistan.
In 2000 the British Canoe Union (BCU) federalised to become the umbrella organisation for the Home Nation Associations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Canoeing and kayaking in India has become a popular sport. The Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association (IKCA) is the governing body of the sport in India.
Sport Northern Ireland is the regional government sports council for Northern Ireland. Its head office is based at the Malone Roundabout of the A55 and B103, near Barnett Demesne. It receives around £7m a year from the National Lottery; the rest comes from the taxpayer.
The Northern Ireland Federation of Sub-Aqua Clubs (NIFSAC) is the National Governing Body (NGB) for Sub Aqua in Northern Ireland. Sub Aqua is a broad term encompassing both recreational underwater activities such as recreational diving and snorkelling, and competitive underwater activities such as underwater hockey.
Paddle Australia is the governing body for the sport of canoeing and kayaking in Australia.
Norwich Canoe Club is based at Whitlingham, Trowse in Norwich, Norfolk, UK with Whitlingham Great Broad, Whitlingham Little Broad, River Yare and River Wensum on its doorstep. It is a canoe and kayak racing club that focuses on flatwater sprint canoeing and marathon canoeing. It is a friendly club where canoeing is safe and fun and welcomes anyone who wants to have a go on the water. The club has as many girls as boys and as many women as men and also many families who all come and paddle together. Members are all ages, from 7 to 70 so there is definitely a place for everyone.
The Irish Canoe Union, known as Canoeing Ireland since 2012, is the governing body for paddlesports in the Republic of Ireland. It has been affiliated with the Olympic Federation of Ireland since 1964. It is a member of the International Canoe Federation.
