Kayaking

Kayaking is a fun water sport. A kayak is a small boat with space for one or two people. The paddler sits inside and uses a paddle with blades on both ends. People kayak on rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Kayaking is peaceful on calm water and exciting on rough water.

Kinds of Kayaks

There are many kinds of kayaks. Sea kayaks are long and made for ocean trips. Whitewater kayaks are short and built to handle fast rivers. Sit-on-top kayaks are good for beginners and warm days. Racing kayaks are very thin and fast. Each kind is built for a different place.

An old kayak made from wood and animal skins, shown inside a museum.
An old kayak made from wood and animal skins, shown inside a museum. (Fuzheado / Wikimedia Commons)

Kayak History

Kayaks were first made by native people in the Arctic. They used them to hunt seals and fish in cold waters. Old kayaks were built from driftwood and covered with seal skins. The word 'kayak' means 'hunter's boat.' Today, most kayaks are made from plastic or fiberglass.

Fun Facts

  • The first kayaks are over 4,000 years old.
  • Kayaking became an Olympic sport in 1936.
  • A skilled kayaker can roll upside down in the water and come back up.

Did You Know?

Inuit hunters wore special jackets that sealed tightly to the kayak to keep water out in freezing seas.