Snow boating orsnow kayaking is a winter sport that usually involves kayakers descending snow slopes, in contrast to river sports such aswhitewater kayaking for which the boats were usually designed. Typically eitherplayboats orcreek-boats are used depending on the style of snowboating to be done. AlthoughPFDs are not worn,helmets, andpaddles are often used. Snow boating is typically done in the backcountry and occasionally atresorts and ski areas.[1] Races are held in a modus similar to those ofsnowboarding they are known as a boatercross.
The first snow boating race was held inLienz,Austria by a local group of kayakers in 2002 and in 2007 a so-called 'world championship' was held in Lienz where Peter Draxl from Austria was the first champion.[2] Subsequent world championships moved indoors to better control the terrain.[3] Filmmaker Warren Miller is credited with raising the profile of snowboating.[4]