A Study of Taiwan Kayak/Canoe Development

[[abstract]]The purpose of study is to research the factors of obstruction and the keys of improvement in Taiwan Kayak/Canoe Sport and to analyze the possibility of popularization in Taiwan Kayak/Canoe Sport in the future. Under discussing the theories and some aquatic sport studies, the study methods took literature review and semi-structured interview. Literature review primarily used newspaper resource as data, constructed the progress of Taiwan kayak/canoe development background with 7 specialists of Taiwan Kayak/Canoe interviewed. The results oriented to three different periods: germinating period, rooting period, multiple developing period. In 1st period, coastline sealed, economy was low in Taiwan. There was only one Kayak/Canoe club promoting Kayak/Canoe sport. In 2nd period, there were more clubs established. Also, the laws and decrees released, allowed kayak/canoe equipments imported. But lacks aquatic knowledge still made some people in Taiwan had obstruction to aquatic sport. In 3rd period, many associations established. The economy grew steady, the government started more and more policies for aquatic sport in Taiwan, which made whole environment was alright for Kayak/Canoe development. But some local laws bend and restricted aquatic sport area. In Taiwan, Kayak/Canoe is still a long way to be a popular leisure sport. The government needs to make the whole environment improving, which includes the economy、the policy、the management, and with Kayak/Canoe association working better. Kayak/Canoe may be a popular leisure sport in the future.