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*[[Ichetucknee River]], [[Florida]]
*[[Ichetucknee River]], [[Florida]]
*[[Kern River]], [[Kern County]], [[California]].
*[[Kern River]], [[Kern County]], [[California]].
*[[Kettle River]], [[Midway, British Columbia]], Canada
*Little Wolf River, [[Waupaca County, Wisconsin]]. [http://www.wolfrivertrips.com/wolfrivertrips/tubing++canoeing/default.asp]
*Little Wolf River, [[Waupaca County, Wisconsin]]. [http://www.wolfrivertrips.com/wolfrivertrips/tubing++canoeing/default.asp]
*[[Maury River]] in [[Rockbridge County]], [[Virginia]]
*[[Maury River]] in [[Rockbridge County]], [[Virginia]]

Revision as of 19:13, 17 July 2008

Tubing behind a personal watercraft on the Mississippi River.

Tubing, also known as inner tubing or even toobing, is a recreational activity of riding an inner tube, either on water, snow, or through the air. The tubes themselves are also known as "donuts" or "biscuits" because of their shape.

Variations

Water

Two riders become airborne after jumping the boat's wake.
One rider is thrown off of his tube in a "wipeout".

Tubing on water generally consists of two forms: towed and free-floating, also known as river tubing.

Towed tubing usually takes place on a large body of water such as a lake or river. One or more tube riders (often called "tubers") tether their tubes to a powered watercraft such as a motor boat or a personal watercraft. The riders are then towed through the water by the watercraft.

In free-floating tubing, the tube riders are untethered and often conveyed by the current of a waterway. Texas and much of the southern U.S.A. have adopted the spelling of 'toobing' and 'toobers'. People paddle with their hands to steer. Without steering, you generally float towards the bank of the river. Groups of tubers often rope their tubes together creating a large floating group. This generally slows down the float but allows the group to pass food, drink, and other party implements around the group. Because of this, free-floating tubing often takes place on rivers and streams (natural or artificial). Longer expeditions often include tubes mounted with coolers for food and beverages.

Guadalupe River, New Braunfels, TX 'toobing'.

Popular riverside tube rentals normally warn against glass due to riverside dangers.[1] Some law enforcement offices have prohibited kegs which were popularly chilled in metal tubs harnessed within larger tubes.[2]

Major water parks often have specially designed courses for tubing. These may consist of a circular, artificial river on which riders are conveyed or a linear course such as a water slide.

Kite tubing

A variant of towed tubing dubbed "kite tubing" has begun to emerge.

When tubes being towed on water reach high speeds, they may begin to experience a tendency to take flight. This is because the body of the tube acts as an airfoil and creates lift. In this way, the tube becomes a kite. A tube's ability to achieve and maintain flight depends on a number of factors including the speed at which the tube is traveling, the shape and size of the tube, the weight of the rider, and how the tube itself is oriented. As most tubes are not designed for flight, the rider often has little or no control over a tube after it takes to the air. This can lead to a violent crash as the rider, with or without the tube, falls back to the surface of the water.

To address the poor flight characteristics of most tubes and to target thrill seekers, tubes specially designed for kite tubing have been introduced. These tubes may feature channels to allow air to flow through the tube's body, a transparent "window" for the rider to signal the boat operator, as well as more streamlined, aerodynamic designs.

As of July 2006, 39 injuries and two deaths from kite tubing have been reported. Injuries have included a broken neck, punctured lung, cracked ribs, a concussion and injuries to the chest, back and face. Some accidents have been linked to gusts of wind that unexpectedly altered the flight characteristics and ejected the riders.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Sportsstuff Inc. voluntarily withdrew the Wego Kite Tube from the market on July 13th of 2006.

Snow

Tubing is a winter activity that the family can take part in.

Tubing on snow is a wintertime activity that is similar to sledding. This kind of tubing is almost always performed on a hill or slope, using gravity to propel the rider to the bottom of the grade. The rider often returns to the top of the slope with the tube to repeat the process. The low amount of friction between most tubes and snow allows tubers to reach considerable speeds while riding, especially on steep slopes. Because of the circular shape of snow tubes, controlling the course and speed of a tube while riding on snow is extremely difficult. While a sled rider can drag their arms on the snow to brake or steer to a degree, attempting this on a tube will often cause the tube to spin. This lack of control has led to injuries, some serious, when riders have struck obstacles such as trees while tubing on snow.

Snow tubes

Some ski resorts offer courses devoted solely to tubing.[1][2] Such courses often have slopes or barriers on the periphery to guide the tubes along a safe course. Motorized pulley towlines are often used to tow riders and their tube back to the top of the course after riding to the bottom.

It is also possible to tow a tube through the snow behind a snowmobile. This is similar to towed tubing on water, only the watercraft is replaced by a snowmobile and the water with snow-covered ground.

Africa

Nile River, Jinga, Uganda

South East Asia

Europe

Middle East

North America

South America

Equipment

These snow tubes await eager riders.

Tubing can require varying pieces and kinds of equipment depending on the variety of tubing one wishes to engage in.

The one common piece of equipment across all forms of tubing is the tube itself. While tubes vary in construction, all share the general characteristics of being:

Water

Tubes for use as towables on water are generally not true inner tubes but rather specially designed tubes for the purpose of recreation. These tubes are often fairly durable and come in either donut or disk shapes. A sleeve of synthetic fabric often covers the tube to prevent it from becoming elongated during towing. Such sleeves commonly have handles for the rider to grasp and an anchoring point for the tow line to be attached at.

Towing a tube or tubes also requires a powered watercraft such a motorboat or personal watercraft as well as rope to tether the tubes to such craft.

Tubes used for free-floating tubing have traditionally been true inner tubes, but commercially-sold tubes for the same purpose are becoming common place. These tubes are almost always donut-shaped to allow the rider to sit comfortably on their back across the top of the tube with buttocks in the center. This kind of tube rarely has handles or a sleeve and would perform poorly as a towable.


Tubing can also be performed by paddling a lesser known third method of entertainment.

Snow

Tubes used for riding on snow are usually specially designed tubes with dimpled centers rather than a "donut" hole. This prevents the rider and the tube itself from dragging on the snow. Snow tubes commonly have handles.

There is also an arcade version and video game of the sport called Toobin'.

References

  1. ^ http://www.appleriver.com/faqs_77575.html
  2. ^ Michigan Canoe Rental, Chippewa River Outfitters, canoeing, rafting kayaking canoe michigan waterways , kayaking, tubing
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