History Of Kayaking
Water sports gained more following in recent years. Different activities were introduced such as paddle boarding, Canoeing, Kitesurfing and others. However, there’s this one activity that can be considered as the focal point of water sports – kayaking.
Kayaking has become one of the most popular water sports in the world. People enjoy traveling across the waters in a very light vessel. It’s exciting and fun activity for friends and family. Let’s take a closer look at the history of this great water sport activity.
More information about the technical details of the kayaks, sizes and models are available on our Kayak shop in Dubai online.
Who are the first people to use kayaks?
Kayaks already existed thousands of years ago. It was created by ancient civilization who lived in the Northern part of America.
The first group of people to build and use kayaks were the Inuit and Aleut tribes in North America. The Aleut tribes were known for using their kayaks to travel in the water while the Inuit tribes were considered to be the first to build the earliest kayaks.
These kayaks were far from the kayaks that we know today in terms of structure. They are made using primitive materials such as wood, animal skins and bones.
Types of kayak
There are two types of kayaks in the early days – One that is made from whalebones and the other one is made from light driftwood. What these early people did was to build light frames out of whalebones and then they cover it by stretching animal skins.
Apparently, the first kayaks that they built were not stable on the water. They solved this problem by coming up with a great solution. The Inuit and Aleut people used whale fats and put them in different strategic areas on the kayaks to help improve the buoyancy of the vessel.
Seal bladder
To make sure the kayaks stay afloat on the water, they would fill seal bladders with air and put them in the front and rear section of the kayak. This simple solution made the vessel more controllable and extend its longevity, making it more resistant to wear and tear.
The ancient tribes first used kayaks for hunting
In the early days, hunting was the main source of food. The ancient tribes regularly hunt fishes, whales, and other marine animals. To help them hunt better on the water, they decided to build different types of small kayaks. As a matter of fact, kayak actually means “hunter’s boat”.
The ancient tribes opted to use kayaks when hunting mainly because they can be controlled easily, small and very convenient to use as it is very agile and fast. Furthermore, kayaks are very quiet when moving on the water. They are used to sneak up around clueless animals in the wild.
Ancient Tribes built bigger kayaks
The first thing that comes to mind when you say the word “kayak” is a small vessel that is capable of transporting a single person. However, people during the early days actually built kayaks called “Umiaqs”. These vessels are larger and longer which can measure up to 60 feet in length. “Umiaqs” can transport an entire family together with their belongings.
Kayaking was introduced to Europe in the mid 1800s
Kayaks became popular in Europe during the mid 1800s. It was introduced in Europe as a soft-sided vessel for skimming across the cold waters. The Germans and French people were the first to give it a try. They used it for recreation.
Eventually, kayaking became a popular sport and slowly grabbed the attention of many water sports enthusiasts.
Although most people used kayak for recreation and sport, many explorers maintained its practical purpose by using it in the icy waters of North and South Poles.
1936 Olympic Games
Kayaking was included during 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Kayak races were highly anticipated by the public and proved to be a very promising water sport. It became more popular since then.
Improvement in structure and materials
In the 1950s, manufacturers introduced a more durable kayak by using fiberglass as a material. The change in structure made the vessel lightweight and much better to maneuver.
30 years later, another improvement was made. In the 1980s, manufacturers made kayaks out of polyethylene plastics. These made the vessel more durable and easy to control.
Different kayak races in the Olympics
Olympic Games featured a number of water sports that involved kayaking. The most popular is the 1,000 meter race and the 10,000 meter race. It’s an exciting sport that is enjoyed by many.
Modern day Kayaks
Kayaks have improved tremendously in recent years. The latest technology in manufacturing these amazing vessels made it much safer and easy to control. They now come in different shapes, sizes, and designs.
You can now use kayaks in different types of waters and is actually becoming more popular recreational sport in the sea. You can choose a kayak for single person or if you want to have someone with you, you can pick the other one that can accommodate 2 persons.
There are many places where you can enjoy kayaking. However, it’s very important to choose a location where you can have a proper instruction and guidance. Kite N Surf provides all your kayaking needs if you want to enjoy the beaches of Dubai. We have a fleet of single and double kayaks that you can use together with your friends and family.
If you want to try kayaking (we guarantee you will fall in love with this watersport), visit our kayak rentals and lessons page for more details. We’ll make sure you will enjoy your kayaking experience have fun in the beaches of Dubai.
In case you are planning to purchase a kayak you can visit our online kayak shop in Dubai we have a team of professionals who will guide through the buying process or you can visit our watersports online shop for more info. You can reach out to us through email at aloha@kitensurf.ae or call us at +971 55 800 6363.
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