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Originally a means of winter transport between the islands and shores of the Saint Lawrence River, ice canoeing is now a sport. Crews of five athletes alternately push their canoe across the ice on the frozen parts of the river, and paddle in a river with currents of four knots, tides of over 15 feet, and ice blocks weighing a few tonnes blown by the wind. Shoes with bolts screwed to the bottom are worn to keep their traction on the ice.
In 1894, the first race was organised between Lévis and the Port of Quebec at the first Quebec Winter Carnival. In Montreal races were held during the Fête des Neiges de Montréal from 1988 to 1992. In 2013, Héritage Maritime Canada relaunched the race as the Défi canot à glace Bota Bota. Since the 1990s races have also been held at Toronto, Windsor, Gatineau, Trois-Rivières, Chicoutimi and the Isle-aux-Coudres.
Women have competed since 1987.
Ice canoeing is still utilized as a means of travel for those that live on McKenzie Island, Ontario. During the “break up” and “freeze up” the local ferry can not run due to ice breaking up in the spring, and forming in the fall. This necessitates the need for other modes of transportation, or finding alternative accommodations for the locals affected during this time.
Athletes compete in three classes: elite men, elite women, and sport, the latter comprising crews of men, and crews of mixed men and women.
Originally wooden, canoes are now made with epoxy and fibreglass with an internal metal frame. The minimum weight of a canoe is for the sport and elite men classes, and for elite women. The length of the boat must be between and . Boats must contain 100 litres of flotation material, and it must be possible to float the boat with 700 litres of water on board. Canoes must be brightly-coloured and not painted white.
External links
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Quebec Winter Carnival
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