Kayaking << KY ak ihng >> is a sport and a form of recreation in which one or more people paddle a kayak. A kayak is a light, narrow boat, like a canoe with a deck. The deck has one, two, or four openings called cockpits, in which the kayakers sit. Each cockpit holds one person. The kayaker or kayakers sit facing forward and propel the craft with a paddle that has a blade at each end.
Most kayaks are made of such materials as plastics, fiberglass, a synthetic fiber called Kevlar, or carbon fiber. Others, called folding kayaks, are made of a waterproof fabric that covers a collapsible frame. A kayaker wears a waterproof covering, called a spray skirt, around the waist. The spray skirt attaches to the sides of the cockpit to keep water out. Kayakers should also wear a safety helmet and a life jacket.
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The two most common types of kayaks are whitewater and flatwater kayaks. Whitewater kayaks are built for quick maneuvering on river rapids. Flatwater kayaks, also called touring or sea kayaks, are used to paddle along seacoasts and calm rivers, and on large lakes. A typical whitewater kayak is less than 6 feet to 13 feet (1.8 to 4 meters) long. Flatwater kayaks range from 13 to 36 feet (4 to 11 meters) long. Most kayaks are from 24 to 30 inches (60 to 75 centimeters) wide and weigh between 20 and 86 pounds (9 and 39 kilograms).
Kayak racing has been a sport in the Summer Olympic Games since 1936. Races are held both on flatwater and whitewater courses. Competition for flatwater races may be either short sprints or long marathons. Races are held in men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and fours. Whitewater races, called slaloms, are held for singles only. Recreational kayakers typically use their craft for camping and to explore wilderness areas, glaciers, and coastal forests, and to watch for whales in the ocean.
The Aleuts, Inuit, and Yuit of the Arctic regions made kayaks more than 6,000 years ago. They used the boats as a means of transportation on rivers and lakes and for fishing and hunting. Early kayaks consisted of skins from caribou, seals, or walruses stretched over a wooden or bone frame.
See also Inuit (Transportation) .
