Dragon boat - a very narrow, long boat with a dragon design which is paddled by set of persons and is a team paddling sport or Dragon boat racing which originated in China.
For racing events, dragon boats are always rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails and are required to carry a large drum aboard. At other times the decorative regalia is usually removed, although the drum often remains aboard for training purposes.
Dragon boat races are traditionally held to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, making dragonboating the only sport to be celebrated as a national holiday. The Chinese calendar date is 5/5 which usually corresponds to a date in June.
The Dragon Boat Crew
The standard crew complement of a contemporary dragon boat is around 22, comprising 20 paddlers in pairs facing toward the bow of the boat, 1 drummer or caller at the bow facing toward the paddlers, and 1 steerer or tiller(helm) at the rear of the boat, although for races it is common to have just 18 paddlers. Dragon boats vary in length and crew size will vary accordingly, from small dragon boats with 10 paddlers, up to the massive traditional boats which have upwards of 50 paddlers, plus drummer and steerer.
via [Wikipedia]
Pic Link
Philippine Dragon Boat Federation
On the water
- Skurfing is where the participant “skurfs” behind a boat on a surfboard
- Barefoot water skiing is waterskiing with no skiis
- Boating is the use of boats
- Bodyboarding is similar to surfing, but the board is smaller and the person (normally) lies down on the board
- Canoeing
- Canoe Polo is polo using a canoe
- Dragon Boat Racing is a team paddling sport on water
- Fishing is the recreation and sport of catching fish
- Hydroplane racing
- Jet sprint boat racing
- Kayaking
- Kite surfing on flat water using a kite for propulsion
- Motor boating
- Offshore powerboat racing
- Outrigger canoeing
- Parasailing where a person is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a parachute
- Rafting
- Rowing propels a boat by means of oars
- Sailing using the wind for propulsion
- Skimboarding involves riding, standing up, on a board down the wet sand and timing the ride to connect with a shorebreaking wave
- Surfing downhill on waves
- Splash padding: games on zero depth splash pad
- Tubing down a river or behind a boat
- Wakeboarding is similar to water skiing, but using only one board attached to the feet
- Wake skating is similar to wakeboarding, but the board is not attached to the feet
- Water skiing is using skis to slide over the water while being pulled by a boat or other device
- Windsurfing on flat water using wind for propulsion in combination with sails
- Yachting
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_water_sports
Diving appeals to women with different levels of sociability, adventure, athletic skill, technical interest, physical courage, and aesthetic sense. Some dive because they can enjoy the camaraderie of other women with similar interests. Some dive because it’s an escape to another realm that they can do close to home; for others…diving provides a reason to travel to distant shores. Some like the image of strength and athleticism that diving projects. Others are enamored with diving because they like the physical sensation of weightlessness and enjoy breathing compressed air. Such diehards will dive in an y waters, any time. Some people are gearheads who are really into the equipment aspect of the sport and spend more time reading dive magazine test reports and new-product news than gazing longingly at photos of exotic travel destinations.
Reference:
(Walter, Claire. What is Diving? Scuba Diving: Everything you need to know to get started (and keep going). United States: Ragged Mountain Press, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2000.)
Also You may want to check my other post about Scuba Diving
Diving takes place in an environment that is as intrinsically hostile to humans as outer space. Technology enables us to function, to some degree, in both places. In the case of diving, newcomers to the sport must become familiar with water’s effects on the body, the equipment that enables us to adapt to that environment, and the fundamentals of dive technique. This knowledge is not optional and it isn’t something that you pick up along the way.
Unlike that vast majority of other recreational activities, scuba diving is not something you simply go out and learn on your own. Learning from a friend isn’t wise, either. Rather, you must undergo training and take a test to ensure that you have learned the fundamentals of being a safe diver. You must assimilate a fairly large body of knowledge before you pass the test, earn your scuba certification, and call yourself a diver.
Reference:
(Walter, Claire. What is Diving? Scuba Diving: Everything you need to know to get started (and keep going). United States: Ragged Mountain Press, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2000.)
You can also check out my Previous post about Diving.
Diving refers to the sport of performing acrobatics whilst jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard of a certain height. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a common recreational pastime in places where swimming is popular.
While not a particularly popular participant sport, diving is one of the more popular Olympic sports with spectators. Successful competitors possess many of the same characteristics as gymnasts and competitive cheerleaders, including strength, flexibility, kinaesthetic judgment and air awareness.
via [Wikipedia]
Snorkeling although not a sport but since this deals with water related activity I had to post this, for info, of course. The point in snorkeling is to observe underwater attractions for extended periods of time with relatively little effort for fun relaxation and entertainment.
Snorkeling - the practice of swimming at the surface of a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a snorkel which is the “J” – shaped tube used for breathing, and usually swimfins or what I would like to call flipper.
Snorkeling is a popular recreational activity, particularly at tropical resort destinations and at accessible scuba diving locations. Snorkeling is also employed by scuba divers when near the surface, and search and rescue teams may snorkel as part of a water-based search.
The primary attraction of snorkeling is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting. This may include coral reefs and their denizens, such as fish, cephalopods, starfish, sea urchins, and mollusks. Snorkeling in sandy areas may allow sighting of rays and various flatfish. Other organisms that can be seen while snorkeling include various forms of seaweed, jellyfish, shrimp, sea turtles, various types of sea cactus and occasionally anything else which may be found in the ocean.
via [Wikipedia]
It consists of swimming, cycling and running over various distances. A triathlon athlete to be competitive time needs proficiency in swimming, cycling, and running and must have learned to race each stage in a way that preserves their energy and endurance for subsequent stages. Events in triathlon are placed back-to-back in immediate sequence. Competitor’s official time includes the time required to “transition” between the individual legs of the race, including any time necessary for changing clothes and shoes. A triathlon is an endurance sports event
Water basketball is a water sport which mixes rules of basketball and water polo. Ideated and promoted by Italian teacher Francesco Rizzuto in 1986; it is played in a swimming pool. Teams of five players each must shoot at goal with a ball within a certain time after gaining possession.
In USA, Brazil, and Europe, some amatorial matches are organized to develop this sport.
In 2005, the Arab Federation of Basketball recognized it as a form of basketball.
In the Netherlands, people have been playing waterbasketbal since the 1970s. Besides regular tournaments, they also organize a national championship where the best teams compete for the official Dutch Waterbasketbal championship title.
via [Wikipedia]
For More Info You can Check out Water-Basketball.com
Swimming is movement by humans or animals in water, usually without artificial assistance.
Drawings from the Stone Age were found in “the cave of swimmers” near Sura, dating back to 2000 B.C. In 1538 Nicolas Wynman, German professor of languages, wrote the first swimming book. Competitive swimming in Europe started around 1800, mostly using breaststroke. The front crawl, then called the trudgen (now known predominantly as the “front crawl” or “freestyle”) was introduced in 1873 by John Arthur Trudgen, copying it from Native Americans.
Swimming was part of the first modern 1896 Summer Olympics games in Athens. In 1900 backstroke was included as an Olympic Event. In 1908, the world swimming association Federation Internationale de Natation was formed. Butterfly was first a variant of breaststroke, until it was accepted as a separate style in 1952.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming
Image source:www.flickr.com
The two main obstacles to every paddler’s advancement is the shortage of boating buddies as well as the lack of skill development. It certainly is more enjoyable to paddle with others but this is not the only impetus propelling one’s search for a paddling companion. Kayaking and canoeing in groups is a simple matter of safety as well as the best way to improve one’s skills. Every whitewater kayaker knows the disappointment of finding out that the local river is at optimal conditions only to remember there is no one to go with. Regardless of the level at which you canoe or kayak, this list of 5 suggestions will help you not only find new paddling friends it will also help you further hone your skills. Go to Canoe and Kayak Festivals & Expos. Join a Local Canoe and Kayak Club. Join the American Canoe Association and the American Whitewater Association. Try Out Other People’s Canoe and Kayak Gear. Take a Canoe or Kayak Paddling Lesson.