Tubing, also known as inner tubing, is the recreational activity of riding an inner tube, either on water or on snow. The tubes themselves are also known as "donuts" or "biscuits" due to their shape.

When on water, the tube may be conveyed by the current of a river or pulled behind a motorboat or personal watercraft, resulting in a more high-speed experience. On snow, the tube is usually ridden down a slope much in the same manner as sledding. Some ski resorts even have specially designed courses for tubing. Alternatively, a tube and its rider may be pulled through the snow behind a snowmobile.

The tubes used in tubing may be actual inner tubes from tires, or, as is often the case, special inflatable tubes designed specifically for recreational use. Recreational tubes may include handles for the rider to grip as well as sleeves made from synthetic fabric to prevent the tube from becoming elongated while being towed. Such tubes made for riding on snow usually have only small indentations in their center rather than a hole. This prevents the rider and the tube itself from dragging on the ground.

As a sport

Water

Compared with other water sports tubing is often considered a novice or a child's sport, due to the lack of skill involved and the stability the tube offers when compared with waterskiing or kneeboarding, where the rider must stay constantly balanced to avoid falling over.

The general aim of the sport is to hold on as long as possible without falling off due to high speeds and sharp turns the boat takes. More experienced riders also attempt to use the boat's wake (or on a busy waterway, the wake of other boats) to "jump" their tubes and become airborne.

It is also possible to stand for a brief period on the biscuit, although the rider will usually lose balance and fall as soon as the boat turns or hits rough water.

Kite tubing

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

When tubes being towed on water achieve high speeds, they may begin to experience a tendancy to take flight. This owes to the body of the tube acting as an airfoil and creating lift. In this manner, the tube acts as a kite. A tube's ability to achieve and maintain flight depends on a number of factors including the speed at which it 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 meager flight characterists of most tubes and to target thrill seekers, tubes specially designed for kite tubing have been introduced. Such tubes may feature channels to allow air to flow through the tube's body as well more streamlined, aerodynamic designs. Some U.S. states have already taken legal measures to limit the use of such tubes.

Safety

Snow

Tubing on snow is often considered to be dangerous because the rider is almost entirely at the mercy of gravity as he or she travels down a slope. Unlike a sled with which steering and braking are often possible to some degree. In attempting such maneuvers while tubing will often simply cause the tube to spin, further reducing the rider's control. If a rider should fear for his or her safety while tubing, it is often best to "bail out" of the tube. They could also roll to a stop rather than risking a more violent crash while on the tube.

Severe injuries have occurred when riders have struck trees or other obstacles while tubing. Courses intended for tubing are often free of such hazards. The courses may have banks along the periphery of the course to guide riders along a safe path. Safety equipment such as helmets is an advantage to riders. Although, helemts are rarely worn because of their cost and the fact that most riders would likely be embarrassed to wear such gear. For most people, common sense, the padding of bulky winter clothing, and the snow present on the ground is enough to provide a safe snow tubing experience.

Water

The greatest risk posed to those tubing on water is the threat of drowning. Personal flotation devices such as lifejackets are a must in almost all situations. This is especially true while tubing behind a watercraft as riders who are ejected from their tube may become disoriented or knocked unconscious. Those who are not competent swimmers should never enter deep water without a flotation device.

Tubing behind or near watercraft carries additional dangers as well. The operator of a watercraft that is towing tube riders must monitor the riders at all times to ensure their safety. This may include devising hand signals between rider and driver to communicate desired speeds and other information over the noise of the watercraft's engine. This is often facilitated by use of a spotter, a third person who watches the tube at all times and communicates hand signals to the driver.

The operator of the watercraft must also ensure he or she does not collide with the riders being towed. This is especially important while retrieving riders who have been ejected from their tubes. Riders are encouraged to wear bright colors and should never submerge themselves below water. This ensures that they can be seen by all water traffic in the area. Watercraft with outboard motors have the additional danger of a spinning propeller that is a potential for injury. This should be turned off whenever riders are entering or leaving the water. Riders idling near the rear of a running watercraft also run the risk of succumbing to the engine's fumes^*.

Tubing on water should never be done at night or during conditions of low visibility.

External links

• YouTube - a video of "kite tubing"

Water sports