Kayaking is a water sport involving paddling. You paddle with an oar which has two blades, and you do this in a small boat. Kayaks vary in shapes and size, and they differ depending on what you will use them for.
Most kayaks are enclosed, so your legs stay covered, but some are more open, like sea kayaks. Kayaks sit low in the water, so you sit pretty much level with the water. Most kayaks are only big enough for one person, but some boats hold two people so you can kayak in tandem.
Kayaking is a popular water sport, and most people can try their hand at kayaking with no problem. There are lots of classes for kayaking for beginners around, so finding a class for newbies won’t be too hard. Is kayaking hard?
Attending a beginner’s class where you learn kayak basics is the best way to start. Having a good grounding and being taught the right way to do things is the easiest way to get started. Once you have got the hang of it, you will really start to enjoy the sport, and you will begin to get the most out of it.
Once you learn to kayak and you are enjoying the sport, you can think about buying a kayak. Some kayaks are expensive, and you will need space to store them, so make sure you are sure about this sport before you go out and buy a boat.
There are different types of kayaks to suit the different water ways and kayaking sports you may be doing. You can kayak on rivers, lakes and on the sea. You can kayak on white water, you can race in kayaks too, and you can even use your kayaks for fishing trips.
The first kayak was created by the Inuit people. They were made from wood and were covered in sealskin.
They were mainly used for hunting seals and whales and had a small hole in the middle in which you could sit, with storage in front and behind you. Kayaks are thought to be at least 4000 years old. Later kayaks were covered in fabric, and this continued until the invention of fiberglass. The word “kayak” means “mans’ boat” or “hunters boat.”
Continue reading, How to Kayak – A Beginner’s Guide from our friends at Nature Sport Central here.
Read more tips for beginning kayakers here.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
I loved this read. I have been seeing more and more people with kayaks both on the river here and in the lakes. A lot of them are also fishing from them which I think it kind of neat to watch!