Kayaking
Thousands of years ago, the canoe was invented. People carved out logs and sat in them. They carved out wood or sometimes used their hands for paddles. The canoe, although it is still here today, was modified. People used different materials to make them, and that was how the kayak was invented.
The Inuit people made kayaks out of sealskin. They sewed themselves into the cockpit, or the hole where you sit in. This may sound a little strange, but they did this so the freezing water wouldn't get in.
Today, kayaks are a little different. They are usually made from fiberglass or plastic. Kevlar is a very strong, lightweight, type of fiberglass. Usually competition kayaks are made of Kevlar.
Kayaking is fun, but you have to be careful, and safe when you do it. There are a lot of things that kayakers have to wear to keep themselves warm and safe. They need a helmet, so that if they fall, their head will be protected. They need a life jacket because they could possibly flip over, or be in an area that is hard to swim in. The life jacket will make you float.
Kayaking is a fun sport. There are competition kayakers, and there are people that just want to have fun and try it. No matter what way someone kayaks, they need safety protection. Maybe you learned a lot from this, and you want to try to kayak. Whatever you do, we hope you like it!
