Can You Identify the Water Sport From an Action Image and a Description?

By: Ian Fortey
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Identify the Water Sport From an Action Image and a Description?
Image: Mike Riley/ Moment/ Getty Images

About This Quiz

Water sports hold a special place in the pantheon of sport. (After all, isn't everything just a little bit more fun in the water, compared to everyday land sports, which leave you exhausted and sweaty when you're finished playing?) There's something refreshing, relaxing and summery about any water sport you can play, even if it's in a swimming pool in the middle of winter. Water sports offer a great workout, and they're just fun. It doesn't even matter what sport you're playing from water polo to snorkeling to parasailing, either. They're fun and that's exactly what a sport needs to be.

One of the interesting things about water sports is how varied and numerous they are. Sure you know surfing and sailing, but how many different water sports do you think you can identify with just a quick glimpse of the action? If you live in the sea this could be a breeze, but if you only get to the beach on summer vacation then who knows, this one might leave you up a creek without a paddle. Only one way to find out! Take the quiz and see!

Question 1
Lucas Photo/ Moment/ Getty Images
Which of these sports can employ up to 20 people on a team?
Kayaking
Canoeing
Dragon Boat Racing
Hydrofoiling
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dragon boat racing dates as far back as 2,500 years ago, in China. It wasn't just a sport; there were often ceremonial and religious aspects to the entire event, but these days most people around the world just focus on the team sport aspect of it.

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Question 2
Gilaxia/ E+/ Getty Images
You'll probably want to use a Flyboard to perform this sport. Tell us what it is.
Hydroflying
Flowriding
Skimboarding
Skurfing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hyrdoflying requires you to stand on a Flyboard, which is connected by a massive hose to a water source. Pressurized water comes up through the hose and exits under your boots, which are strapped to the Flyboard, forcing you into the air. It's like a jetpack for your feet.

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Question 3
John Seaton Callahan/ Moment/ Getty Images
Which sport was noted by the crew of Captain James Cook's HMS Endeavor when it stopped in Tahiti?
Wakeboarding
Skimming
Surfing
Jetskiing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Surfing is a stunningly old sport and likely has existed much longer than anyone realizes. It has roots in many cultures from Polynesian people in Tahiti, Samoa and Ancient Hawaii, as well as with Pre-Incan cultures in South America.

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Question 4
Moodboard/ Cultura/ Getty Images Plus/ Getty Images
Once upon a time, people called this "water ballet." What do we call it today?
Picigin
Aqua Aerobics
Snorkeling
Synchronized Swimming
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Synchronized swimming, also known as artistic swimming or water ballet, had its first recorded competition in Germany back in 1891. It holds the distinction of being both a sport and a kind of theater as many clubs had water tanks on stage to allow for performances.

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Question 5
Image Source RF/Justin Lewis/ Image Source/ Getty Images
Do you know which sport was written about by Aristotle?
Snorkeling
Freediving
River Trekking
Wakesurfing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Snorkeling is an extremely old activity with origins that have mostly been lost to history. Some evidence suggests it could date back a good 5,000 years, however. At that time people likely used hollow reeds as the snorkel so they could fish in shallow waters for things like shellfish and sponges.

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Question 6
Schedivy Pictures Inc./ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
Technically you should call this sport "personal watercrafting." What is it?
Powerboating
Hydrofoiling
Jet Skiing
Water Polo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jet Ski is actually a proper noun but, like Kleenex and Thermos, has been adopted as the generic term we use for all similar items whether they're that actual brand or not. Technically these crafts are all called "personal watercraft," but have you ever heard anyone say that?

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Question 7
Klaus Vedfelt/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
Essentially this game is water rugby. Tell us what it's called.
Underwater Hockey
Water Polo
Pentathlon
Skurfing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Water polo traces its origins to Scotland and the rules were set out by a man named William Wilson. Even though it started out as water rugby, the name "polo" can be attributed to the British pronunciation of the kind of ball that was used, called a "pulu" in the Balti language.

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Question 8
Darryl Leniuk/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
Do you know which sport began on the Susquehanna River back in 1964?
Kitesurfing
Bodyboarding
Parasailing
Windsurfing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Windsurfing is a fairly new sport as watersports go and it comes from the unlikely birthplace of Pennsylvania. A man named Newman Darby is generally credited with inventing the sport but he didn't file a patent on the board design.

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Question 9
MattStansfield/ E+/ Getty Images
Even though this sport looks a lot like surfing, you're not supposed to stand up. What is it?
Bodyboarding
Flyboarding
Hydrofoiling
Paddleboarding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bodyboarding is sometimes called "Boogieboarding" thanks to the advent of a brand of bodyboards that are known as "Boogie Boards." That's just a brand name, however, and technically speaking Boogie Boards are just bodyboards.

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Question 10
AquaMermaid via YouTube
Which of these sports requires a costume?
Snorkeling
Spearfishing
Mermaiding
Cave Diving
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mermaiding pushes the limits of what you might call a sport. Essentially this is just swimming except you need to get into a full-tail mermaid costume to do it. It's generally just done as part of a performance for an audience but, you know, if you want to do it recreationally, go ahead.

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Question 11
Chase Jarvis/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
In order to pull this sport off, you need to have someone helping you out in a boat. What is it called?
Freediving
Wakeboarding
Triathlon
Paddleboarding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wakeboarding is a bit like surfing but participants are towed by a line behind a boat and instead of surfing natural waves they surf the wake created by the boat. Special boats are used for professional wakeboarding because they create a much larger wake than normal.

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Question 12
Global Stock/ E+/ Getty Images
This sport was first officially recorded in France in 1901. Tell us what it is.
Water Aerobics
Canoe Polo
Triathlon
Picigin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Triathlon is three sports combined together: running, cycling and swimming. Obviously, the idea of someone doing three different sports can't really be said to have started at one specific time in history but the triathlon as a competition in three parts probably began in France, where it was called "les trois sports" or "the three sports."

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Question 13
Noel Hendrickson/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
Do you know which speedy sport was created in the 1970s?
Kitesurfing
Parasailing
Windsurfing
Flyboarding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kiteboarding, sometimes called kitesurfing, is the combination of a surfboard and a kite to allow the wind to pull you around. Because of the simplicity of the basic physics behind it, you can actually do pretty much the same thing over land, ice, or snow as well.

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Question 14
George Karbus Photography/ Image Source/ Getty Images
Success at this sport requires you to be able to hold your breath for a long time. What is it?
Finswimming
Scuba Diving
Synchronized diving
Freediving
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Freediving is more of an endurance sport than anything else. Participants don't use breathing apparatus like you would for scuba diving. Instead, you just hold your breath for as long and as deep as you possibly can. Some world record holders have held their breath for over 11 minutes.

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Question 15
Darryl Leniuk/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
This sport has a reputation for being dangerous. Do you know what it is?
White Water Rafting
River Trekking
Dragon Boat Racing
Kayaking
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

White water rafting is often considered a fairly dangerous extreme sport, a reputation it doesn't entirely deserve. Thanks to increased safety precautions and general education about how rafting works, it's a fairly safe sport for most participants. As with many water-based activities though, there are some dangers.

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Question 16
trotsche/ E+/ Getty Images
Do you know which extreme sport relies on geography to be successful?
Aqua Aerobics
Cliff Diving
Flowriding
Skurfing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cliff diving is a fairly simple sport as far as sports go; it's just jumping off a cliff into the water. The only real limitation to the sport working is having a cliff nearby that you can safely jump off of.

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Question 17
Nino H. Photography/ Moment/ Getty Images
Angling is another word for this sport. What is it?
Water Polo
Picigin
Fishing
Mermaiding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fishing is about as old as humanity itself, so good luck trying to trace its origins to any one place. That said, as a recreational sport, some of the earliest references to it date all the way back to the late 1400s.

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Question 18
Clerkenwell/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
Ancient Egyptians used to engage in this sport. Tell us what it is!
Rowing
Kayaking
Water Polo
Cave Diving
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rowing as a sport seems to have existed about as long as there have been boats that needed oars. The Pharoah Amenhotep II's funerary inscription mentioned that he was an accomplished rower in life, and that was written back in 1430 BC.

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Question 19
Igor Emmerich/ Cultura/ Getty Images
Art found in Kuwait dating from the year 5,000 BC or so depicted this sport. What is it?
Canoeing
Sea Dooing
Sailing
Kayaking
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sailing has long been a part of human history and is arguably one of the greatest innovations of all time. It allowed ancient people to travel and colonize new lands. When it split from a method of travel and fishing to something recreational is anyone's guess.

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Question 20
DeborahMaxemow/ E+/ Getty Images
Which of these sports is very similar to surfing but uses a smaller board?
Paragliding
Wakeboading
Freediving
Skimboarding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unlike with surfing, in which a rider paddles offshore and rides a wave back in, a skimboarder begins onshore and glides out on the water's surface to meet an incoming wave before riding it back in. Skimboards are shaped like surfboards, but they are smaller and without fins.

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Question 21
JAG Images/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
Tell us which sport is basically a combination of kayaking and surfing.
Hydrofoiling
Wakeskating
Paddleboarding
Wind Surfing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Paddleboarding is a sport that involves sitting, kneeling, or laying down on a large surfboard and using your hands or an oar to paddle through the water. Some paddleboards include a chair, but the most popular version is the stand-up paddleboard, in which the paddler stands up or kneels.

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Question 22
Andrej Trnkoczy/ Moment/ Getty Images
Do you know which sport wouldn't exist if not for the Inuit people?
Powerboating
Kayaking
Yachting
White Water Rafting
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kayaking as a sport was popularized by Europeans in the 1800s, but the actual kayak boat they used was invented by the Inuit people thousands of years ago. Traditional kayaks were made of wood or bone with animal's skin stretched over it.

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Question 23
PastorScott/ E+/ Gettty Images
This was first recognized as a sport back in 1904. What's it called?
Flyboarding
Powerboating
Regatta
Outrigger Racing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Powerboating, specifically offshore powerboating, dates back to a race that took place between England and France in 1904. Modern boats are now able to reach incredible speeds of up to 155 mph.

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Question 24
Wikicommons by Dedinski89
Which sport comes from Croatia where it's played on the beach in shallow waters?
Picigin
Bodyboarding
Flowboarding
Wakeball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Picigin is a Croatian game that was invented by Croatian students who wanted to play water polo but only had access to shallow water. In picigin, the object is to prevent the ball from hitting the water.

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Question 25
Lothar Knopp/ Moment/ Getty Images
This became an event at the Summer Olympics in 1936. What is it?
Stand Up Paddleboarding
Kayaking
Flyboarding
Canoeing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Canoeing was first shown as a demonstration sport at the Paris Olympics in 1924. There are several different ways to canoe competitively including canoe polo, canoe sprinting, canoe slalom and canoe marathons.

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Question 26
JF Creative/ Photographer's Choice RF/ Getty Images
16,000-year-old cave art shows this activity being done. Do you know what it is?
Ice fishing
Spearfishing
Snorkeling
Trawl Fishing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Spearfishing is the most ancient form of fishing in the world and probably is older than civilization itself. There are Biblical references to spearfishing and many ancient statues and artworks depict the practice.

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Question 27
Photo by TanMan/ Moment/ Getty Images
Which sport is essentially wrestling but underwater?
Aquathlon
Wakeskating
Flowriding
River Trekking
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Aquathlon started in the USSR in the 1980s. Participants wear masks and fins and wrestle underwater. After some years the sport gained enough popularity that it's played in nearly a dozen countries throughout Europe.

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Question 28
Emreogan/ E+/ Getty Images
Name this sport that has been criticized for being dangerously unregulated.
Skurfing
Water Skiing
Parasailing
Yachting
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Parasailing involves being towed behind a boat while suspended from a parasail wing. Due to a lack of regulation, the sport can be very dangerous and a number of people have died over the years in accidents.

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Question 29
RAZVAN CIUCA/ Moment/ Getty Images
Do you know which sport's name is actually an acronym?
Snorkeling
Freediving
Synchronized Diving
Scuba Diving
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Scuba stands for "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus." The idea was experimented with in the late 1700s and by the1820s early autonomous diving gear was being used in France and England with limited success.

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Question 30
Kieth Binns/ E+/ Getty Images
Legend has it this sport started in the town of Winter Haven, Florida. Name it.
Barefoot Skiing
Parasailing
Skurfing
Wakeskating
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barefoot skiing or barefooting is like water skiing but without the actual skis. The sport is said to have originated in 1947 in Florida.

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Question 31
Rudolf Pretorius via YouTube
Another name for this sport is "Octopush." Do you know what it's also called?
Underwater Football
Water Polo
Underwater Hockey
Aquathlon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Underwater hockey dates back to 1954 when it was invented so that members of a sub-aqua club would have something to do during colder months when outside dive activities were not an option.

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Question 32
Wildestanimal/ Moment Open/ Getty Images
A famed oceanographer is responsible for this activity. What is it?
Deep Diving
Spearfishing
Cage Diving
Freediving
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cage diving is considered an extreme sport even though it's not all that physically demanding. Psychologically it's pretty intense since you're required to lock yourself in a cage underwater while sharks potentially attack it. Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau invented the shark cage in the 1950s.

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Question 33
David Trood/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
Which sport is part of the celebration of the Christian feast day of Epiphany?
Cave Swimming
Ice Swimming
Wakeskating
Underwater Orienteering
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ice swimming or winter swimming is exactly what it sounds like; you go swimming in frozen waters. It's not as dangerous as it sounds but you do run the risk of a serious case of hypothermia if you don't take proper precautions.

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Question 34
Jason Maris via YouTube
Which sport requires you to be wary of submerged trees?
Sit-Down Hydrofoiling
Flowriding
Aquathlon
Boogie Boarding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A sit-down hydrofoil is essentially a small ski that you sit on with a long foil extending beneath it. When pulled behind a boat, the seat is elevated above the water while the foil remains below, allowing for less resistance than traditional skiing.

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Question 35
Noel Hendrickson/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
In 2013 this sport was said to have had the most first-time participants of any sport. What's it called?
Hydrofoiling
Modern Pentathlon
Canoe Slalom
Stand Up Paddleboarding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stand up paddleboarding is what happens when you take a surfboard and a kayak paddle and head out to sea. Unlike traditional paddleboarding, the point is to stand up and paddle yourself wherever you want to go.

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Question 36
Zac Macaulay/ Cultura/ Getty Images
Which sport has been depicted in 10,000-year-old paintings?
Swimming
Snorkeling
Diving
Aqua Aerobics
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Swimming is probably the single oldest watersport in existence and you could never hope to trace its true origins. That said, as a competitive sport, it was actually featured in the very first modern Olympics back in 1896.

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Question 37
Thomas Barwick/ DigitalVision/ Getty Images
According to some sources, this sport was invented in Thailand by a princess. Do you recognize it?
Skurfing
Zorbing
Tubing
Flowboarding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tubing can take one of two forms for the most part. You can just sit in the inner tube and float around like driftwood or you can use it like a water ski and get dragged behind a boat. Time Magazine said it was invented by Princess Chumbhot in the mid-1900s, but there are print ads that show people doing it as early as 1916.

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Question 38
Chris Ryan/ OJO Images/ Getty Images
Name this sport that, at a competitive level, employs serious acrobatics.
Aquajogging
Artistic Swimming
River Trekking
Diving
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although diving has been around as long as swimming, diving as a competitive sport began in England in the 1880s.

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Question 39
Pete Ark/ Moment/ Getty Images
Though this sport was created in the 1930s, technological innovations in the '70s took it to a whole new level. What is it?
Mermaiding
Finswimming
Spearfishing
Scuba Diving
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Finswimming, as the name suggests, is swimming while wearing fins. Fins, like the kind you might wear when scuba diving, were invented in the 1930s, however, in the 1970s, the monofin was created, which is a single, wide fin you wear on both feet at the same time. The resulting boost in performance allowed swimmers to smash all previous records.

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Question 40
Team Florida Track Club via YouTube
This can be done as a method or rehab or for cross-training. What is it?
Triathlon
Aqua Aerobics
Freediving
Aquajogging
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Aquajogging involves basically running in place while you float in a pool. Often, weights can be added to the jogger's ankles while a floatation device ensures that you don't sink, allowing for some low-impact resistance training and aerobic weight loss exercise.

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You Got:
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