Sports

Sports

Sports are activities involving physical exertion and skill in such areas as strength, speed, stamina, and dexterity in which an individual or team competes against another for entertainment of the participants or an audience.

Water-Based Sports

Sports that occur in or on the water are called water sports. There are different types of popular water sports around the world.

Swimming and Diving.

Swimming is the act of moving through water by using the arms, legs, and body in motions called strokes, such as the backstroke, breaststroke, and crawl. Competitive swimming is one of the world's most popular sports. Diving is the act of plunging into water, usually off a diving "board." People dive competitively by performing airborne acrobatics before entering the water.

Surfing.

Surfing is the act of riding on waves. Traditionally, people surf by lying, kneeling, or standing on a surfboard; however, they may also surf with just their body (bodysurfing), or with a sail attached to the board (windsurfing). Competition takes place wherever waves are ridden, from Hawaii to indoor wave pools. Surfers are judged based on the wave's size, the distance ridden, and the quality of maneuvers.

Waterskiing.

Waterskiing is an activity in which people are pulled behind a motorized boat with skis attached to their feet. The types of competition skiing include: slalom (skier passes buoys), trick (skier performs tricks), jump (skier is propelled off ramp to maximize distance in air), and race (powerboat with skier behind). Sport variations include barefoot skiing, wakeboarding, and kneeboarding.^*

Canoeing and Kayaking.

Canoes and kayaks are small crafts that are pointed at both ends.^* In sprint competitions, speed races on still waters are performed over different distances in a straight line. Slalom races are timed competitions held on a rapid river through gates suspended over the water.

Rowing.

Rowing is a method of moving a boat through water by using oars. One of the world's most honored rowing competitions is the Henley Regatta that is held annually on the Thames River near Oxford, England.

Fishing.

Fishing is the act of catching fish for sport or food. Competitions and tournaments focus on specific game fish, such as trout, tarpon, and bass. Competitions include cash awards and prizes for various categories, including biggest fish caught, first fish caught, and most fish caught.

Sailing.

Sailing is the act of moving across water in a vessel powered by wind. The main types of competition are closed-course (small lakes or inshore waters), coast (large lakes, inland waters, or offshore), and ocean. In ocean racing, competing vessels navigate over open sea. The America's Cup Race is an international yacht race in which crews compete while representing their home countries.

see also Recreation.

William Arthur Atkins

Bibliography

McManners, Hugh. Water Sports: An Outdoor Adventure Handbook. New York: DKPublishers, 1997.

^* See "Recreation" for a photograph of a wakeboarder executing a flip.

^* See "Transportation" for a photograph of a sea kayaker.