Creeking

Creeking 

Creeking is a sport that is a branch of canoeing and kayaking. Creeking involves a single kayaker descending steep, low-volume whitewater rivers while attempting to keep upright. In order to successfully perform creeking, boaters will use specialized canoes or kayaks, which are designed to withstand the intense whitewater of the sport and give paddlers the maneuverability they require to avoid river obstacles. Creeking is a very strategic sport that involves a lot of planning and analyzing river patterns to see how they will affect a boat. Creekboats are designed with the ability to rock, giving them enhanced maneuverability, and have high-volume, blunted ends, which allow them to resurface quickly from the water.

What are the differences between traditional and extreme kayaking?

There are quite a few differences, and many of them can be noticed at first glance. Experience – it should determine whether you choose a family trip on the lake with your family, or you will be tempted to raft in the mountain river with a very rapid current. If you have never sat in a kayak before in your life, extreme challenges are unlikely to be an idea worth considering. Learn to paddle on quieter waters before you embark on more challenging kayaking trips. 토토사이트

Experience alone is not everything, however. The difference can also be seen in the equipment you take on the trip. Kayaking trips in the traditional version are usually long, two-person kayaks. If you want to try your hand at rafting down a mountain stream, you need to invest in completely different equipment.

The kayak which is used in extreme version of kayaking is popularly called creeker. It is much shorter than a traditional kayak. It has additional reinforcements, thanks to which its durability increases significantly.

What features should an ideal creeker have?

This kind of kayak, to ensure safety and maximum fun from paddling down the mountain stream, must be first of all stable and very agile. What counts is an appropriate construction, which will not be damaged when colliding with rocks and other natural obstacles, which you will encounter on the way of your rafting trip.

When choosing a kayak, pay attention to its size. Manufacturers of professional kayaks offer equipment of different sizes. Decide on one that will optimally suit your needs.

How to start your adventure with mountain kayaking?

The way to try this unique adventure is not easy at all, and it’s not just that when planning a creeking trip you have to think about going abroad, because Poland lacks extreme routes for such trips. The key role is played by the previously mentioned experience.

Do you want to face your own weaknesses? Do you dream of conquering very difficult routes with more rocks and stones than water? This is great! But start with a course in white-water kayaking. This is available in many towns and cities. The courses are often held on artificial tracks, which are much safer than natural terrain from the student’s point of view.

Mountain kayaking course consists of theoretical and practical part. The offer is very flexible. At the beginning, to see if this form of leisure activity is for you, you can decide to take a weekend course. If you catch the bug, you will gradually gain further levels of initiation!

History

The history of creeking extends back to the early days of kayaking, which was practiced both by Native Americans and early explorers in the Midwestern United States. However, the more recent popularization of creeking originated in the 1980’s, when whitewater sports like rafting and canoeing became popular. Whitewater sports first developed into an industry in the 1980’s, after years of growing popularity due to whitewater rafting trips down various rivers in the U.S. National Parks. By the 1990’s, approximately 14.8 million people participated in whitewater sports in the United States, and in 1997, the International Rafting Federation, which governs whitewater sports like rafting and creeking, was founded, with the first world championship being held in 1999.