Kayaking

During the sport of kayaking, participants propel a small, lightweight boat across bodies of water using a double-bladed paddle. Kayaking is separated into three general categories: Sea or ocean kayaking, whitewater kayaking and surf kayaking.

Fast Facts

1. "Kayak" can be translated to mean "man's boat" or "hunter's boat"
2. Also known as "paddling"
3. Kayaks were developed by indigenous arctic peoples an estimated 4,000 years ago
4. Original kayaks were used for hunting
5. First kayaks were made with wooden frames covered in sealskin
6. Most Kayaks are designed to seat one to three people

Kayak or Canoe?

Although both canoes and kayaks are small, human-propelled boats and share several characteristics, they differ in a number of key areas:

1. Kayaks have closed cockpits as opposed to canoes' open cockpits
2. Kayaks have smaller cargo capacities than canoes
3. Kayaks are generally sleeker and more lightweight than canoes
4. Kayakers sit with their feet stretched out before them, while the paddlers of canoes kneel on the bottom of the boat
5. Kayakers use double-bladed paddles, while canoeists use single blade oars

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