Participation in paddlesports is on the increase with more than 1.9million UK adults canoeing or kayaking over the past 12 months, according to latest research released today.
The annual Watersports Participation Survey, showed that canoeing was the most popular of all boating activities and that it has continued to see a 4 percent rise in popularity year on year since the survey began in 2007.
Stand up paddleboarding also saw a surge in participation with just under 600,000 people regularly getting out on the water.
Guin Batten, head of strategy and development for British Canoeing, said: “The survey continues to highlight the growth in canoeing. The estimated 1.9million people is really exciting for our events, clubs, centres and trade partners; as the national governing body for paddle sport we want to help encourage more people onto the water and to help them come back year on year.”
In total a record 3.96m UK adults (7.4% of the UK adult population) participated in one or more of 12 core boating activities in 2017 and canoeing saw the largest increase in participation, with 345,000 people more getting out on the water.
The gender gap on canoeing continues to reduce with more women now taking part on a regular basis.
The Watersports Participation Survey is conducted annually by a consortium of leading marine bodies including British Marine, Royal Yachting Association (RYA), Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), British Canoeing (BC) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). The survey and report provides these organisations with wide ranging information and statistics to support the development of measures to encourage greater participation in watersports, to monitor on/in water activity and safety, and the impact on the environment.