Wild Water Racing FAQs

What's the Aim?

The aim is to move your kayak/canoe as fast as you can down a stretch of white water.  You race against the clock and normally competitors start at minute intervals to avoid having to overtake people on the way down the river.  This is a thrilling challenge - it's up to you to find the optimum line down the river and to pace yourself so that get there in the shortest possible time.  Two Types of WWR Race - Classic & Sprint.

What type of races are there?

Classic Wild Water Race - Classic Races are normally 3 miles or so in length and take 10-20 minutes depending on the course, river level... and yes.. your paddling speed and skill level.

Sprint Wild Water Race - Sprint Races involve two runs down a shorter course of usually 500-1000 metres in length with the times added together in order to calculate the final results.

What's the Season?

Wild Water Racing traditionally took place after the ski season, on the snowmelt, before the slalom races began.   Races take place on weekends from Nov until May on the rivers Dee, Tay, Awe, Clyde, Teith and Nith.   Most can be suitable for novices although the Tay at Grandtully, and the Nith, do require some experience particularly at high river levels.

When and where can I train with others?

There are open-to-all training weekends usually based on the River Tay.  You are all responsible for your own safety on at all times - for further information please contact a member of the WWR committee.

What boat can I use?

Just as in other disciplines such as Sprint, Marathon and Slalom you can race in either Kayak or Canoe.  In kayaks you sit in the boat and use a double ended paddle and in canoes you kneel and use a single ended blade.  Wild water racing craft are designed to travel fast through the water while having enough volume to stay on top of the waves on rapids.  Whereas people race individually in the kayak (K1) class you have a choice or racing alone (C1) or in pairs (C2) in the canoe class.

Can I borrow a boat to start with?

Yes. The Committee have a number of plastic wild water racing boats called Wavehoppers which you can use to get you started.  Contact the Committee Secretary for more details.  There are special competitions for wavehoppers and you get a time allowance against composite boats.

Wavehopper junior training camp, Holme Pierrepont

Can I use other types of boat if I want to?

Yes.  We welcome people in slalom boats or other general purpose boats at all events and, depending on numbers, you may find there is even a separate class.

What's the Tour d'Ecosse?

Is it a large ironwork mast-like structure like the Tour d'Eiffel?  No, It's more in the nature of the Tour de France, except it's in Scotland and on water, not on French roads and mountains.   Also, we use boats not bikes.  The Tour d'Ecosse event takes place at the beginning of May each year and consists of a 4 race series over 4 days.   The races provide the chance to paddle on a variety of water from the rapids of the Tay to the Awe near Oban.   The Tour provides the opportunity to combine top paddling with fantastic Scottish scenery.  Find out more.

Is there internatonal competition?

Competitors from Scotland also regularly travel to England and Wales to take part in races.  In recent years a number of Scottish paddlers have achieved considerable success in wild water racing, representing Britain at international level.

What do i do next?

If you are interested in taking part, or would like to know more about Wild Water Racing then please contact us and let us know how we can help.