Paracanoe
Paracanoe is canoeing for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. The Paralympic version of the sport is governed by the International Canoe Federation (ICF),[1] and a va'a-specific variant is governed by the International Va'a Federation (IVF).[2]
A meeting of the International Paralympic Committee in Guangzhou, China in 2010 decided to add paracanoe to the Paralympic programme.[3] As a result, paracanoe debuted at the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympics where single kayak races were contested.[4][5][6]
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.
ICF paracanoe
Classification
In the single kayak, there are three event classifications (linked to different levels of mobility impairment) 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.[7][8]
There is also a three-tier ICF classification system in place for single va'a events (VL1, VL2, VL3).
Competition format
All international paracanoe competitions are held over 200 metres in single kayak or va'a boats.[9]
It is contested at World Championships, World Cups and continental championships. As of May 2018, nine of the twelve events (all six kayak events, both VL2 events and the men's VL3 event) are also on the Paralympic programme.[10]
ICF World Championships
At the 2009 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Dartmouth, 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).
The sport made its official World Championship debut in 2010 and has been contested at every World Championship since, including the standalone Paralympic-year ICF Paracanoe World Championships in 2012 and 2016.
2012 ICF Paracanoe World Championships
The 2012 ICF Paracanoe World Championships were held on 16–17 May 2012 in Poznań, Poland, as a standalone event since the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships are not held in Olympic years.[11]
Event | Gold | Time | Silver | Time | Bronze | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men's K–1 200 m A[12] | ![]() | 53.550 | ![]() | 58.882 | ![]() | 1:01.250 |
Men's K–1 200 m TA[13] | ![]() | 44.614 | ![]() | 49.938 | ![]() | 52.934 |
Men's K–1 200 m LTA[14] | ![]() | 43.259 | ![]() | 44.299 | ![]() | 44.695 |
Men's V–1 200 m A[15] | ![]() | 1:13.143 | ![]() | 1:18.267 | ![]() | 1:28.731 |
Men's V–1 200 m TA[16] | ![]() | 59.024 | ![]() | 1:01.500 | ![]() | 1:02.432 |
Men's V–1 200 m LTA[17] | ![]() | 54.749 | ![]() | 55.469 | ![]() | 59.593 |
Women's K–1 200 m A[18] | ![]() | 1:05.684 | ![]() | 1:07.112 | ![]() | 1:12.024 |
Women's K–1 200 m TA[19] | ![]() | 1:04.693 | ![]() | 1:05.489 | ![]() | 1:09.921 |
Women's K–1 200 m LTA[20] | ![]() | 57.775 | ![]() | 1:01.191 | ![]() | 1:03.071 |
Women's V–1 200 m A/TA*[21] | ![]() | 1:08.655 | ![]() | 1:15.419 | ![]() | 1:29.711 |
Women's V–1 200 m LTA[22] | ![]() | 1:08.028 | ![]() | 1:10.828 | ![]() | 1:14.236 |
- Combined categories such as the 2012 Women's V1 A/TA have since been dissolved from the World Championship programme.
2016 ICF Paracanoe World Championships
IVF paracanoe
In IVF competition, 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.[23](p1) The three divisions approximately correspond to the three ICF va'a classes.[24]
References
- "Canoe | IPC". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
- "About the IVF". International Va’a Federation. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- "Paratriathlon and canoeing for 2016 - Paralympics news - London 2012 | MSN Sport UK". Sport.uk.msn.com. 2010-12-16. Archived from the original on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
- "BBC Sport - Disability Sports - Canoeing and triathlon added to 2016 Paralympic Games". BBC News. 2010-12-11. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
- "Canoe | IPC". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
- "Para-Canoeing added to roster for 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio". Paddling Life. Archived from the original on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
- http://www.paralympics.org.nz/canoe.htm Archived 2015-04-13 at the Wayback Machine Definitions on New Zealand Paralympics
- http://canoe.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/AC-Paracanoe-direction-2014-2016.pdf
- "What is Paracanoe?". International Canoe Federation. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games – Qualification Regulations | Canoe (PDF). International Paralympic Committee. 15 May 2018. pp. 43–47. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- http://www.kayakpl.com/2012/PARACANOE/index.htm
- 2012 Men's K–1 200 m A Results
- 2012 Men's K–1 200 m TA Results
- 2012 Men's K–1 200 m LTA Results
- 2012 Men's V–1 200 m A Results
- 2012 Men's V–1 200 m TA Results
- 2012 Men's V–1 200 m LTA Results
- 2012 Women's K–1 200 m A Results
- 2012 Women's K–1 200 m TA Results
- 2012 Women's K–1 200 m LTA Results
- 2012 Women's V–1 200 m A/TA Results
- 2012 Women's V–1 200 m LTA Results
- "AP Rules and Classification System". International Va'a Federation. 2009-10-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-01. Retrieved 2014-08-27. Cite journal requires
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(help) - "Paracanoe Leaflet" (PDF). International Canoe Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2014-07-11.