Top 9 Interesting Facts About Kayaking [You Probably Don’t Know 2023]

Origin of Kayak

Kayak originated by GREENLAND at that time canoe was used all over the world. Kayak originated over 5000 years ago. invented by the Inuit and Aleut people to use as a means of transport and hunting, it was located in North America. KAYAK means “man boat”. 

History of Kayaking

The old version of the kayak is made up of wood and different types of materials like whalebone, sealskin, and animal hides were also used to construct kayaks but modern technology introduces many features that make a huge difference between old and new kayaks.

Where there is water you need something by which you can also travel that area so the kayak was introduced approximately 4000 to 5000 years back. For the manufacturing of kayaks, animal skin was used, and to make them waterproof, it was coated with whale fat.

The INUIT and ALAUT were the first who introduced kayaks. They also used kayaks for their families to travel from one place to another the word kayak means hunter boat it is used for hunting by primitive people but today it is a more popular water sport used for adventure and fun. Kayak was displayed in the museum of Ethnology in Munich, Germany.

This kayak traveled to Holland in the year 1577 this is considered the oldest kayak of the world by the age of period variation occurred in manufacturing kayaks today material used is fiberglass plastic, wood, etc. When we talk about how many kayaks contain weight then we get knowledge from primitive people that it’s about 10 to 12 kg so that’s a very heavyweight made by man it was an incredibly unbelievable thing to do. In the Modern era, the purpose of kayak transferred from hunting, and fishing to exploring the beauty of the world, and is considered a water sport.

Parts of a Kayak

• Bow: It is the front part of the kayak.
• Keel: It is the lower area of KAYAK and it has a V shape.
• Stern: It is the opposite part of the Bow .you can say the end part of the KAYAK.
• Hatch: It controls the gear storage area used for cargo.
• Hull:  It is the main part of the kayak.
• Deck: This is the top area of the kayak.
• Cockpit: It is a place where you sit and control your craft.

Facts About Kayaking

Where Did the Word Kayak Come From?

The word kayak comes from Greenlandic (kayak) which means small boat or man-boat. It contains a double-blade paddle which is used by men to move the boat through the water. Kayak is considered a fun outdoor activity.

Design and Function of Kayak

The design of a kayak also depends on your performance over water. so if you go kayaking you must have some basic knowledge about KAYAK design and how its works. A kayak is water transport it is a seaworthy transport if we talk about its size and shape it is approximately 6 to 7 meters long, and the weight of a kayak is started from 140 lbs to 180 lbs, of course, it depends on KAYAK height or length.

They used to kayak for finishing, traveling, and touring long distances. Generally speaking, if you want a high-speed kayak then you should choose a longer kayak. There are different sizes of kayaks but you have to decide what kayak suits you according to your weight because all factors play a major role. Choosing the right kayak for you makes you feel comfortable.

The Steepest Kayaking Drop Has a Record Holder Height of 189 Feet

Can you see yourself kayaking a 189-foot drop? Even simply thinking about it makes your stomach turn.

Professional kayaker Tyler Bradt may be seen across Washington State’s Palouse Falls. He survived with minor injuries, such as a sprained wrist. The drop was first judged at 186 feet, but it was later regauged at 189 feet.

Kayak Fishing Competitions

Individuals arrive from many regions. To participate in fishing kayak contests in Florida. Kayak fishing is a popular activity, therefore they held a kayak fishing tournament in Florida.

Kayaking Is an Olympic Sport

The Olympics do include kayaking and canoeing, and they have done so since the 1930s. 16 medals have already been earned by Team USA.

Famous People Have Been Seen Kayaking

There are many celebrities like Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Ben Affleck, Gigi Hadid, Kurt Russell, and even Miley Cyrus have been seen kayaking. either they are skilled in kayaking or maybe not but they really enjoy kayaking.

Kayaking is a Great Workout

Kayaking is great for overall fitness because it provides you with a good cardiac workout and also builds the muscles.

Begin with shorter kayaking outings to build up your stamina. Go on longer journeys when you feel capable of handling them. There are more ways to prepare for kayaking. Always keep in mind that stamina is essential, therefore utilizing an exercise machine at home and at the gym will be helpful.

You may also build your arms by weight lifting and practicing pushups or pullups.

Waterfall Kayaking Facts

Waterfall kayaking is the next level dropping a kayak into a waterfall that kayakers is risky it all depends on your experience as well as hazards and the line you took. One thing that matters when you go waterfall kayaking is the speed you have to maintain the level of speed too fast and too slow will get you in trouble. You have to control your angles by maintaining a good stroke. It will help you to lock your position. 

As it seems interesting but it has also some dangerous sides that you need to focus on it .to avoid that risk factors you needed to remember precautions like taking a lifejacket, helmet, rope or other essentials with you .before get into whitewater falls you should learn and examine that area where you go for kayaking

These little precautions will help you, not every kayaker does it waterfall kayaking needs some special skills. Balancing your stay in a boat is a unique skill that you can learn in many years of practicing, low chance of error is needed during WATERFALL kayaking you can phase different situations it’s depending on the level and path of the water.

There are two types of waterfall kayaking: one is BOOFING and the other is PENCIL into water.

Boofing

This is something that keeps the bow of your kayak safe from diving into the water .it’s an art and if you do not properly it can be quite dangerous. You will get spine shock during a flat landing many paddlers’ faces are back broken by boofing. Always keep your bow up and keep your body in the forwarding position to have control over your boat during the landing.

The majority of paddlers think that falling from water is your guts but that is not enough for waterfall kayaking it also depends upon how you give sufficient time to practicing by many years of practicing you will be able to maintain bow-up and keep your kayak on the surface of the water you have to use enough techniques of boating.

Pencil into the Water

If you go with the other technique then this is another option but it is not so easy it is riskier than booking this type of landing you need to exactly know how deep it is .your miscalculation takes you to face death risk you will set your kayak in vertical position.

Stroke helps the kayak to move forward but there are three main factors that you apply for moving forward your KAYAK effectively that is ROTATION, CATCH, and RECOVERY for CATCH; you need to sit relaxed and straight and make sure your control is well on your paddle to ROTATION, you need to use energy to move stroke forward in this, you will use your stomach and back muscles the more you use vertical paddle the more you can move forward your kayak.

RECOVERY: is about when you use your arm by removing a blade from the water you will use your upper body to move the boat forward so these are the basic things you keep in your mind to avoid difficult situations.

Appropriate Safety Measures are Essential

Swimming skills are not necessarily required for kayaking. Prioritize your safety and take the required safety measures to protect yourself before you go kayaking. Before leaving, be careful of the weather.

Even on normally safe waterways, rain or a rainstorm can quickly turn hazardous. You should still carry a flotation device in case you become underwater.

7 Great Kayaking’s Merits

Every sport has its own mix of pros and cons. let’s see the merits of kayaking.

• Kayaking helps upper body muscle strength.
• People enjoy something new in their daily life, such as whitewater kayaking and fishing kayaking.
• Kayaking boosts your physical health.
• Kayaking is a recreational sport that gives you chance to explore nature and gives fun enjoying the open flow of waters.
• Kayaking is a good source of Vitamin D.
• Kayaking reduces anxiety and improves happiness.
• Kayaking provides you the ability to interact socially with other kayakers and encourages you to develop a healthy sense of self-esteem. Kayaking is a great way to build your personality.

FAQs

Conclusion

In conclusion, I hope you got basic information on the topic facts about kayaking through this article. So here I will highlight the main point which you need to know before choosing a kayak. If you have any queries you can ask me in the comments.