| Kayaking is a fun outdoor pursuit that like many | | | | allows a practised user to right a kayak without |
| modern pursuits started as a practical tool for | | | | leaving the cockpit, extremely useful for safety. |
| survival. | | | | There are a variety of modern kayaks. They are |
| A kayak is a very small boat barely large enough | | | | classed depending on the way that they curve |
| for one person. They bear a resemblance to a | | | | and the measurements of the width and length. |
| canoe but are historically and structurally different. | | | | People can buy kayaks that fit more than one |
| A kayak is very slim and the user's legs cannot | | | | person allowing for a family or a group of friends |
| be seen, making them appear to be a floating | | | | to enjoy sailing together. More daring people will |
| torso with a paddle. They are made from a | | | | get specially built 'white water' kayaks to brave |
| variety of materials from wood to plastic, | | | | the rapid waters of wild rivers. These are often a |
| fibreglass or more advanced things like Kevlar. | | | | tough material like a strong plastic and can be |
| Many of these boats are made from a skeleton | | | | used to perform stunts on the rushing waters, |
| that has a fabric cover. Originally this would be | | | | sometimes becoming airborne for a few seconds. |
| sealskin, as the Inuits of the Arctic invented the | | | | There are kayak variations for recreational use, |
| first kayaks. They build each boat specifically to a | | | | streamlined models for competitive racing, and |
| person's size so that no two kayaks are quite the | | | | even folding kayaks that can be collapsed. These |
| same and they have maximum control. | | | | are built on skeletal frames and are the closest to |
| The Inuits used kayaks for hunting, taking out a | | | | the original Inuit kayaks. Sea kayaking is a widely |
| double bladed paddle and a spear, and fishing the | | | | enjoyed past time but it requires a kayak built for |
| cold seas. They were typically sewn into the | | | | the conditions and with space for provisions. This |
| kayak like a piece of clothing. The obvious danger | | | | is one of many forms of kayaking that has |
| is that if the boat capsizes they will be trapped | | | | become a popular activity and a widely recognised |
| under the water; this is where the 'Eskimo roll' | | | | water sport. |
| technique was born. This varies in method but | | | | |