Since the Soviet-era state was split into constituent parts in 1993, both the Czech Republic and Slovakia have been successful in canoeing.

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Six gold medals were decided in canoeing, with Attila Vajda of Hungary winning the men's 1, 000 meter singles in 3:50.46, taking a step up on the podium after his bronze four years ago in Athens.

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Steve Wall, 48, died in a separate canoeing accident in the River Teme near Ludlow.

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The landowners, Brandreth Park Association and Friends of Thayer Lake, had sued Phil Brown of Saranac Lake after he wrote an article in the Adirondack Explorer newspaper in 2009 about canoeing from Lake Lila to Little Tupper Lake in the state-owned Whitney Wilderness Area.

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The Department of Environmental Conservation lists parts of 10 rivers statewide, most in the Adirondacks, where canoeing or rafting guides for hire need whitewater licenses.

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The Slovakians in particular excel at slalom, a canoeing event that involves river rapids.

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The company could program its Web site so that users who visit the canoeing section encounter a banner offering a 75% discount on paddles -- if they buy in the next 60 seconds.

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In 2008, the non-profit organisation SwitzerlandMobility launched a 19, 000km network of hiking, cycling and canoeing routes that are tightly integrated with rail, bus and ferry services, bike rental stations and overnight accommodations.

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If you can squeeze in more outdoor fun before the bell rings, Adventures Unlimited also offers challenging ropes courses as well as tubing, canoeing and fishing for additional fees.

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