The wonderful sport of kayaking

Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking is differentiated from canoeing by the fact that they use a two bladed paddle. Kayaking of all kinds has continued to increase in general popularity through the 1990's and early 21st century. Kayaking down a river reveals a multitude of delightful things to explore, both large and small. Kayaking is simply the best way to experience the peaceful and remote wilderness of the west coast of Vancouver Island, which is located off the west coast of beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Whitewater kayaking involves taking a kayak down rapids. Sea kayaking sometimes also referred to as Ocean Kayaking involves taking kayaks out on to the ocean or other open water. Sea kayaking can involve short paddles with a return to the starting point or "put-in" or expeditions covering many miles and days. There is also Sprint kayaking, in which you race and gain medals. Sprint and Whitewater kayaking is the only types of kayaking in the Olympics. Traditional Surf Kayaking use kayaks that are similar in design to whitewater kayaks, except they have a planing hull (flat side to side) to carve into a wave face, like a surfboard. Surf Kayaking has become popular in locations were you will find traditional surfboard surfing, as well as new locations such as the Great Lakes. In recent years new, more stable twinhull kayak designs have enabled kayaking in the standing position without any kind of strapping[citation needed]. If your new to paddling Im sure you don't understand half the stuff your kayaking buddies talk about. Here are a few kayaking strokes to work on.


Kayaks differ distinctly in design and history from canoes, which are more flat-bottomed boats propelled by single-bladed paddles by a kneeling paddler, although some modern canoes may be difficult for a non-expert to distinguish from a kayak. Kayaks are commonly referred to as canoes, although these are a different form of boat (see below). Kayaks are propelled by hand-held paddles and can also be outfitted with various types of supplementary sails. Kayaks are classified by their intended use. Kayaks made from thin wood sheathed in fiberglass have proven successful, especially as the price of epoxy resin has decreased in recent years. Kayaks typically have lower gunwales and present less windage to broadside winds. Kayaks can be purchased inexpensively and have little maintenance costs. Kayaks can be stored in small spaces and launched quickly. Kayaks that are built to cover longer distances such as touring and sea kayaks are themselves longer, generally between 16 and 19 feet. In other words, not all touring kayaks handle the same. All sprint kayaks are cockpit style and very tippy. Traditional kayaks typically accommodate one, two or occasionally three paddlers who sit facing forward in one or more cockpits below the deck of the boat. However, kayaks usually have a lower overall cargo capacity than a canoe of similar length. These first kayaks were constructed from stitched animal skins such as seal stretched over a wooden frame made from collected driftwood, as many of the areas of their construction were treeless. Archaeologists have found evidence indicating that kayaks are at least 4000 years old. [1] The oldest still existing kayaks are exhibited in the North America department of the State Museum of Ethnology in Munich. Contemporary kayaks trace their origins primarily to the native boats of Alaska, northern Canada, and Southwest Greenland. In other parts of the world homebuilders are continuing the tradition of skin on frame kayaks albeit with modern skins of canvas or synthetic fabric. Rotomolded plastic kayaks first appeared in 1973. Modern kayaks have evolved into numerous specialized types, that may be broadly categorized according to their application as sea kayaks, whitewater (or river) kayaks, surf kayaks, and racing kayaks (flat water, white water, or slalom), though many hybrid types exist as well, broadly labeled recreational kayaks. Modern kayaks are typically constructed from rotomolded plastic, wood, fabrics over wooden or aluminum frames, fiberglass, Kevlar, or carbon fiber.

About the Author

I an 78 years old and have been married for 52 years. Two children, two grand children and one great, great grandson. I am a retired teamster. Worked at Disneyland for five years before going into business for my self. Even though I am officially retired, I still own and operate a sign business.