Sprint kayakers use specially designed wing paddles for extra power and efficiency. Both kayaks and canoes will be in sprint competitions for the Sydney Olympics, but women compete in kayaks only. The major differences between kayaks and canoes are the paddling positions of the athletes, the type of paddles they use, and the style of boat. Sprint kayaks are closed craft paddled from a sitting position, using a steering mechanism controlled by the feet. The paddle has blades at both ends.
Sprint canoes are open boats paddled from a kneeling position with a single-bladed paddle.
A sprint course has still, windless water two meters deep with no currents. Wash-hanging is using a rival's lead to take advantage of his wake, and thus having slightly less work to do as you get dragged along. Just before the start of a race, the paddler is watching the bow of every other boat in the race. He is also half watching the starter. This is why they watch the other boats, because if one goes, they must go, too.