What is aquabike racing? Is it a recognized sport in the world?

While some sporting activities are centuries old, others are relatively new, such as Aquabiking. At the time of writing, two forms of competitive water sport exist, with an additional version of stationary cycling in pools for fitness purposes. Dig into this article for a deep dive into Aquabike racing and the various versions of the sport.

What is the meaning of aqua biking? To fitness enthusiasts, aqua biking is an innovative workout system that allows them to burn calories and improve their health. However, this article dives into the specifics of two versions of competitive Aquabike racing.

What is an Aquabike race?

Sports Brief has gathered credible information on the differences between Aquabike triathlons and watercraft-powered racing. The sport is defined as a version of triathlon multisport events, including swimming and cycling. On the other hand, at the UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championships, the sport is exclusively competed on powered watercraft.

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Is it a recognised sport in the world? The races are competitive multisport events to test athletes' endurance and craft on the water. While the International Olympic Committee recognises the UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championships, the Aquabike triathlon championships, on the other hand, are held on national, regional and international levels.

The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championships

According to the sport's official website, the game began in 1994. However, it was sanctioned a year later under an International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognised body called the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the World Governing Body for Powerboating. At the time of writing, the competitive watercraft racing sport, which has about 60 affiliate national federations, has been played for 29 seasons.

Globally, the water games are promoted and organised by Aquabike Promotion Ltd, a company that took up the position in 2011 under the backing of Union Internationale Motonautique. In 2017, there were 26 competing nations represented by 89 riders in three main divisions, including the Runabout, Ski, and Freestyle.

How many countries took part in UIM-ABP Aquabike races between 2022 and 2023? Reports suggest that the number of participating nations currently ranges between 21 and 23.

When are UIM-ABP Aquabike events held?

Aquabike World Championships are held annually and are organised by the only global promoter, Aquabike Promotion. The competition is categorised into five disciplines, such as the Circuit, Parallel Slalom, Endurance, Offshore, and Jet Raid. Riders must race through specified courses with turns, gruelling physical challenges, and distances in each discipline.

How do you get into Aquabike racing?

Competitors can race in three main divisions, including the Runabout, Ski, and Freestyle categories. The Runabout category is also known as the Blue Riband category, where players race with the most powerful bikes at speeds up to and exceeding 170 km/hr.

The Ski category requires riders to drive their bikes standing while displaying downhill skiing and motorcycle racing at 130km/hr. In this category, men and women race separately. Lastly, the Freestyle category allows drivers to display skillful aerial acrobatic tricks.

All interested competitors with valid National Licenses issued by a National Authority recognised by the UIM and a World Super License issued through the UIM Secretariat. With a minimum age of 15, the only eligible competitors who can get a World Super License must have competed in four national or international races.

Aquabike triathlon

According to Aquabike.World, this version of the sport combines swimming and biking events and is typically held as part of triathlon competitions or as stand-alone events. The earliest documented races were held in Germany, Canada, and the United States in the early 2000s. Since then, the sport has expanded to include at least 30 countries around the world.

In 2016, the International Triathlon Union recognised the sport, setting up rules that govern Aquabike events. The 2018 ITU Competition Rules define the sport as a competitive event comprising swimming, transition area 1, cycling, and transition area 2, covering the same swim and bike distances. In 2022, the World Triathlon Competition Rules introduced a short run of less than 1 kilometre to the last leg of the event.

What is an Aquabike Championship?

The International Triathlon Union may organise World Championship Series events in which Aquabike competitions are held for various age groups. The World Triathlon Championship Series is an annual event held in different host countries.

How does the Aquabike triathlon work?

The ITU Competition Rules stipulate that races must be categorised by age, with a minimum age of 18 years for athletes in global competitions. However, athletes under 18 can participate in local, national, and regional races depending on National Federation and Continental Confederation rules. Players are required to swim across 1,500 metres, followed by a 40-kilometre bike race, in Standard Distance Triathlon events in which the Aquabike is included.

In Long Distance Triathlon events, athletes are expected to make a 1900-metre swim followed by an 80-kilometre bike race. The race distance in Long Distance Triathlon events can be longer depending on the specific triathlon that the event is part of. Here are more Aquabike distance specifications for the World Championship events.

While the determined race distances present an element of difficulty for athletes, other factors, such as weather, biking terrain, and swimming location, can influence the difficulty level of the race. In addition to the elevation of the biking course, race organisers also consider difficulties in swimming events, such as swimming in the open sea under varying conditions, such as high waves, against a current, or in low temperatures.

How do you qualify for the Aquabike World Championships?

Details on how to join the Aquabike Triathlon for beginners vary depending on local and national race organisers. In the USA, local USA Triathlon race champions must qualify for the State Championship and the USA Triathlon Nationals before proceeding to the Aquabike World Championships.

Aquabike racing may be relatively new to the world of sports. However, as a multi-sport activity, it rivals several major sports in terms of inclusivity and fun.

Sports Brief recently published an article rating the best competitive sports in the world right now. Competitive sporting activities began as early as 3000 ago, with the traditional Greek Olympic Games dating from 776 BC. Click on the link above to discover the most popular sports played around the world.

	Swim distance	Bike distance
Standard Distance Triathlon	1,500 metres	40 kilometres
Long Distance Triathlon	1,000 - 4,000 metres	100 - 200 kilometres