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Paracanoe

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Paracanoe is canoeing for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. The sport is governed by the International Canoe Federation (ICF).

Contents

Paracanoe debuted at the Summer Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 where single kayak races were contested. A meeting of the International Paralympic Committee in Guangzhou, China in 2010 decided to add paracanoe to the roster of the Summer Paralympic Games.

Equipment

The two main types of paracanoe boat are kayaks (K), with a double-blade paddle, and outrigger canoes called va'as (V) where the paddler has a second hull as a support float and uses a single blade paddle with a T-top handle.

Competitor classification

Paralympic classification of mobility impairments has since been restructured as of April 2015; in kayak competition (K1), governed by the ICF, there are three different classes for both men and women:

  • KL1 (formerly A; Arms) This grouping is for paddlers who have no trunk function (i.e. shoulder function only). A KL1 class paddler is able to apply force predominantly using the arms and/or shoulders.
  • KL2 (formerly TA; Trunk and Arms): paddlers who have good use of the trunk and arms, but limited use of their legs. They are unable to apply continuous and controlled force to the footboard or seat to propel the boat.
  • KL3 (formerly LTA; Legs, Trunk and Arms): this class is for paddlers with a disability who have good use of their legs, trunk and arms for paddling, and who can apply force to the foot board or the seat to propel the boat.

    • Non-Paralympic competitions including va'a events use the same system of classification (V1 VL1, V1 VL2, V1 VL3).

    In other va'a competitions, governed by the International Va'a Federation, a points system is used with a higher number assigned to less impaired paddlers and lower points for more severe impairment.

    In team events the total number of points of a boat crew are limited; 26 points in 6-person boats and 52 for 12-person boats. In single-seat boats competition take place in three divisions; division 1 for 5 or 6-point paddlers, division 2 for 4-point paddlers and division 3 is for 2 or 3-point paddlers. 1-point paddlers do not participate in singles races. The three divisions approximately correspond to the three ICF classes. At World Championships only single seat Va'a are used and the paddlers are classified according to the ICF system.

    Competition format

    Paracanoe is contested at World Championships, World Cups and continental championships; paddlers compete in kayaks (K1, K2) and in va’a outrigger canoes (V1, V2), both men and women, plus mixed pairs events are becoming more numerous.

    Paracanoe World Championships will not, from 2016, occur in Paralympic years. The sport makes its Paralympic debut at Rio 2016; only single kayak races will feature in the 2016 race programme, both for men and women.

    Currently all international paracanoe competitions are 200 m sprints.

    2009 (Exhibition event)

    The 2009 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held on 12–16 August 2009 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada on Lake Banook. Looking onto potential inclusion in the Paralympic Games, four 'paddability' races featured as non-medal exhibition events including two male-female mixed disciplines in kayak doubles and in doubles canoe ('aka' Canadian or kneeling canoeing).

    2010

    The 2010 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held on 19–22 August 2010 in Poznań, Poland; paracanoe featured on the competition programme.

    2011

    The 2011 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held on 17–21 August 2011 in Szeged, Hungary; paracanoe featured on the competition programme.

    2012

    The 2012 ICF Paracanoe World Championships were held on 16–17 May 2012 in Poznań, Poland; a single standing event as, where it was an Olympic year (London 2012) no ICF Canoe Sprint World Championship was held, plus paracanoe was not yet part of the Paralympic programme until 2016.

  • Combined categories such as the 2012 Women's V1 A/TA have since been dissolved from the World Championship programme.

    • 2013

    The 2013 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held 29 August–1 September 2013 in Duisburg, Germany; paracanoe featured on the competition programme.

    2014

    The 2014 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held 6–8 August 2014 in Moscow, Russia; paracanoe featured on the competition programme.

    2015

    The 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held from the 19–23 August 2015 in Milan, Italy; paracanoe featured on the competition programme. The event was also a qualifier for the 2016 Summer Paralympics.

    References

    Paracanoe Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA