Ice Canoeing was originally the idea for winter transport between island and shores of the Saint Lawrence River which flows from Ontario Canada to New York in the USA. But now ice canoeing has become an Adventure Sport. Let us know more about Ice Canoeing.
Five participants alternatively push the canoe across the ice lying on the frozen parts of the river and then row in a river which has a current of around four knots and tides over 15 feet. The ice blocks of many tones are also considered as a part of the sport.
History of Ice Canoeing
It takes us back to the 1600s as Canoeing was the only way in the New France to cross the Saint Lawrence River. There was too much ice for the ferries to coop with and they were not my relying on the ice bridge. During the 1860s more than 200 canoers working at Levis provided transportation for the goods transportation and passengers. The first ever race of Canoes was organized in 1894 at the Port of Quebec when the first Quebec Winter Carnival was organized. In the Montreal races during the Fete des Neiges de Montreal from 1988 to 1992, the races were organized. Since 1990s races are also held at Toronto, Windsor, Gatineau, Trois-Rivieres, Chicoutimi and Isle aux Counters. Since 1987 women are also participating in ice canoeing.
About Ice Canoeing Competition
The Association des Couleurs en Can’t a Glace du Quebec (ACCGQ) was formed in the year 1984 and is the authority to organized Ice Canoeing competition/ races in Canada. The biggest event is of course the Quebec Winter Carnival.
In the ice canoeing competition participants compete in three different classes. They are Elite Men, Elite Women and Sport. The last class comprise both men and women crews.
The canoes used in these races are made out of specifications already laid by the authorities. They got special instructions about the material for canoe, minimum and maximum weight limits for both men and women differently. The length of each canoe is also specified. Each of the canoes must carry 100 liters of floatation material is another rule set for this sport. Canoes used in the race must be brightly colored and also not painted in white.
