轻艇，是近代的新名词，近年代制造材料和技术上的改变，提升轻便强硬的材质所产生的新名称；独木舟则是旧的名词，是旧时代人类交易行商的水路运输工具。至今已越来越多人参与轻艇休闲运动，是一项历史悠久而刺激的水上体育运动。皮划艇与赛艇是两个不同的比赛项目。由于轻艇有很敏捷的操控性，因此现代的轻艇活动可以在各水域中进行，如河、湖、激流及海洋等不同水域上活动，也发展成各种专业形式存在，在欧美国家的轻艇活动发展的相当蓬勃。

非亚奥运项目：龙舟 Dragon boat、轻艇水球 Canoe polo、激流越野 Wildwater canoing、轻艇马拉松 Canoe marathon、轻艇风帆 Canoe sailing、轻艇激流花式 Canoe freestyle、轻艇海洋竞速 Canoe ocean racing、泛舟 Rafting、轻艇冲浪 Waveski。

Canoeing is an sport or recreational activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. In some parts of Europe canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being called a Canadian canoe.

An ancient mode of transportation, modern canoeing was established in the late 19th century. In 1924, canoeing associations from Austria, Germany, Denmark and Sweden founded the Internationalen Representation for Kanusport, forerunner of the International Canoe Federation. Canoeing became part of the Olympic Games at the 1936 Summer Olympics.