Playboats are the gymnasts of the kayaking world: short, agile, and shaped a little like a banana. They are typically around 8 feet long, and the upturned stern and bow make them extremely responsive to paddling or currents. A whitewater kayaker could play in the same hole or rapid all day, and keep finding new things to do.

Whitewater parks, similar to the ones used in recent Olympic events, are cropping up all over the country. With a playboat and a little practice, you can perform amazing tricks like pinwheels, cartwheels, vertical stands and wondrously carved turns. New tricks are being created daily, so keep those eyes open!