Mixing
Kayaking
Kayakers off the coast of Raspberry Island (Alaska)
Kayaking in whitewater rapids
Kayakers on the River Thames near Canary Wharf, London
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits facing forward, legs in front, using a double-bladed paddle to pull front-to-back on one side and then the other in rotation.[1] Most kayaks have closed decks, although sit-on-top and inflatable kayaks are growing in popularity as well.[2]
Contents
1 History
2 Design
3 Equipment
3.1 Types of kayaks
4 Activities involving kayaks
4.1 Diving
4.2 Fishing
4.3 Ecotourism
5 Adaptive paddling
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
History
Kayaks[3] were created thousands of years ago by the Inuit, formerly known as Eskimos, of the northern Arctic regions. They used driftwood and sometimes the skeleton of whale, to construct the frame of the kayak, and animal skin, particularly seal skin was used to create the body. The main purpose for creating the kayak, which literally translates to "hunter's boat" was for hunting and fishing.[4] The kayak's stealth capabilities allowed for the hunter to sneak up behind animals on the shoreline and successfully catch their prey.
In the 1740s, Russian explorers led by Vitus Bering came in contact with the Aleutians, who had taken the basic kayak concept and developed multiple designs specifically for hunting, transportation, and environmental conditions. They soon recognized the Aleutians were very skillful at hunting sea otters by kayak. Because otters were a popular commodity in Europe and Asia, they would exploit and even kidnap Aleutians and keep them aboard their ships to work and hunt.[5]
By the mid-1800s the kayak became increasingly popular and the Europeans became interested. German and French men began kayaking for sport. In 1931, Adolf Anderle was the first person to kayak down the Salzachofen Gorge, which is believed to be the birthplace of modern-day white-water kayaking.[6] Kayak races were introduced in the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936.
In the 1950s, fiberglass kayaks were developed and commonly used, until 1980s when polyethylene plastic kayaks were introduced. Kayaking progressed as a fringe sport in the U.S. until the 1970s, when it became a mainstream popular sport. Now, more than 10 white water kayaking events are featured in the Olympics.[7] While kayaking represents a key international watersport, few academic studies have (to date) been conducted on the role kayaking plays in the lives and activities of the public [8]
Design
Kayaks can also be classified by their design and the materials from which they are made. Each design has its specific advantage, including performance, manoeuvrability, stability and paddling style. Kayaks can be made of metal, fibreglass, wood, plastic, fabrics, and inflatable fabrics such as PVC or rubber, and more recently expensive but feather light carbon fiber. Each material also has its specific advantage, including strength, durability, portability, flexibility, resistance to ultraviolet and storage requirements. For example, wooden kayaks can be created from kits or built by hand. Stitch and glue, plywood kayaks can be lighter than any other material except skin-on frame. Inflatable kayaks, made from lightweight fabric, can be deflated and easily transported and stored, and considered to be remarkably tough and durable compared to some hard-sided boats.[9]
Glowworm Kayaking at Waimarino Adventure Park
Equipment
There are many types of kayaks used in flat water and whitewater kayaking. The sizes and shapes vary drastically depending on what type of water to be paddled on and also what the paddler would like to do. The second set of essentials for kayaking is an off-set paddle where the paddle blades are tilted to help reduce wind resistance while the other blade is being used in the water. These vary in length and also shape depending on the intended use, height of the paddler, and the paddler's preference. Kayaks should be equipped with one or more buoyancy aid (also called flotation) which creates air space that helps prevent a kayak from sinking when filled with water. A life jacket should be worn at all times (also called a personal flotation device or PFD), and a helmet is also often required for most kayaking and is mandatory for white water kayaking.[10][11] Various other pieces of safety gear include a whistle for signaling for help; throwing ropes to help rescue other kayakers; and, a diving knife and appropriate water shoes should used depending upon the risks the water and terrain pose. Proper clothing such as a dry suit, wetsuit or spray top also help protect kayakers from cold water or air temperatures.[12]
Types of kayaks
"Sit on top" kayaks place the paddler in an open, shallowly-concave deck above the water level.[13] "Cockpit style" involves sitting with the legs and hips inside the kayak hull with a spray deck or "spray skirt" that creates a water-resistant seal around the waist. "Inflatables" are a hybrid of the two previous configurations; these boats have an open deck, but the paddler sits below the level of the deck. "Tandems" are configured for multiple paddlers, in contrast to the single person designs featured by most kayaks. Tandems can be used by two or even three paddlers[14].
Activities involving kayaks
Sea kayaking at Wilson's Promontory in Victoria, Australia
Because of their range and adaptability, kayaks can be useful for other outdoor activities such as diving, fishing, wilderness exploration and search and rescue during floods.[15]
Diving
Kayak diving is a type of recreational diving where the divers paddle to a diving site in a kayak carrying all their gear to the place they want to dive. The range can be up to several kilometres along the coastline from the launching point to a place where access would be difficult from the shore, although the sea is sheltered. It is a considerably cheaper alternative to using a powered boat, as well as combining the experience of sea kayaking at the same time.
Kayak diving gives the diver independence from dive boat operators, while allowing dives at sites which are too far to comfortably swim, but are sufficiently sheltered.[16]
Fishing
Kayak fishing is fishing from a kayak. The kayak has long been a means of transportation and a stealth means of approaching easily spooked fish, such as cobia and flounder. Kayak fishing has gained popularity in recent times due to its broad appeal as an environmentally friendly and healthy method of transportation, as well as its relatively low cost of entry compared to motorized boats.[17][18] In addition, kayaks allow greater access by their ability to operate in shallow water, getting in and out along the shoreline, and having the ability to get away from the crowds to find a more solitary environment where boats may not have the ability to do so.[19]
Ecotourism
Ecotour guide stands on a kayak, spotting dolphins and manatees around Lido Key.
Ecotourism based on kayak trips is gaining in popularity. In warm-water vacation destinations such as Sarasota Keys, guided kayak trips take kayakers on a tour of the local ecosystem. Kayakers can watch dolphins breach and manatees eat sea grass, in shallow bay water.[20]
Adaptive paddling
Adaptive paddeling is paddeling for people with disabilities
See also
- Canoe polo
- Canoe slalom
- Canoeing
- Quadrathlon
- Surf kayaking
- Whitewater kayaking
References
^ "ICF - Canoeing, Kayaking and Rowing: So what's the difference anyway?". Canoeicf.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-07..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "Kayak Review". Kayak Review. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
^ "Kayak Manual". Kayak Manual. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
^ "The Interesting History of Kayaks and the Sport of Kayaking". surftosummit.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-06. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
^ "History of the Kayak". coastmountainexpeditions.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
^ McWilliams, Sarah. "Origins: The History of Kayaking". Athletic Training Lifestyle. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
^ "History of Kayaking - HowStuffWorks". Retrieved 2015-07-06.
^ Parker, Christopher J.; May, Andrew; Mitchell, Val (2013). "The Role of VGI and PGI in Supporting Outdoor Activities". Applied Ergonomics. 44 (6): 886-94. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2012.04.013.
^ Brown, Kevin. "What Is Best For You; An Inflatable Kayak Or A Hard-Shell Kayak?". Surf to Summit. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
^ "Kayak Safety – Essential Paddling Safety Tips". Globo Outdoors. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
^ Bigelow, Jodi (2008). Kayaking for Fitness. The Heliconia Press. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
^ "American Canoe Association: Paddling 101: A Newcomer's Guide to Safe Canoeing and Kayaking" (PDF).
^ "Why a sit-on-top kayak?". Ocean Kayak. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
^ "Kayaking News". Paddle Lake Erie. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
^ "Equipments". Wiltshire Search and Rescue. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
^ Francis, John (August 2003). "Kayak diving". How to Scuba Dive. Scuba Diving magazine. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
^ Routh, Cory (2008) Kayak Fishing : The Complete Guide No Nonsense Guides.
ISBN 978-1-892469-19-9;
Burnley, Ric (2007) The Complete Kayak Fisherman. Burford Books.
ISBN 978-1-58080-147-8;
Daubert, Ken (2001) Kayakfishing : The Revolution. Coelacanth Pubns.
ISBN 978-0-9678098-2-3;
Null, Scott and Mcbride, Joel (2009) Kayak Fishing: The Ultimate Guide 2nd Edition. Heliconia Press.
ISBN 978-1-896980-43-0
^ "Cost Effective Fishing". Retrieved 7 August 2016.
^ White, Jerry. "Why Fish From a Kayak". Paddling.com. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
^ "Kayak Coasting, SRQ Magazine(2015)". Retrieved 2017-04-02.
External links
Media related to Kayaking at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to Kayaking at Wikimedia Commons
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