The Family Adventure Guide - June Issue 2023 - Magazine - Page 10
THE ART OF
KAYAKING
Adventures
By Brenda Ferrari
Kayaks were first built
5,000 years ago by the Inuit
and Aleut to travel quickly
across the water.
BY EVELYN SOMERS
These tribes lived in
Arctic North America, and
their kayaks were made
from whatever kind of
material they could find,
such as skins, bones, and
wood.
Driftwood was used to
make the first kayaks.
Whalebones were used to
make the second kayaks. For
waterproofing, both types
were covered in
animal skins and coated
in whale fat.
Ancient kayak designs
were made in a variety of
lengths, just like those you
are familiar with today.
THE FAMILY ADVENTURE GUIDE- FLORIDA EDITION
“OPEN WATER IS A
HIGHWAY TO ADVENTURE,
BEST TRAVELED BY CANOE
OR KAYAK.” –
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Kayaks were first
introduced to Europe in the
mid-1800s for skimming
across the cold waters.
Throughout the north and
south poles, tribes continued
to use boats for exploration
while the Germans and
French used them for
recreation.
As part of the 1936 Berlin
Olympics, kayak racing was
added. In the 1950s,
kayakers developed lighter,
more resilient boats, and in
the 60s, fiberglass was used
to make kayaks.
Today’s kayaks are made
from heavy-duty polyethylene
plastics that can last as long
as 10 to 15 years if properly
cared for.
They come in an array of
colors, styles and lengths to
choose from.
THE WORD KAYAK
MEANS
“HUNTER'S BOAT”
OR “MAN'S BOAT.”
10 | June 2022 issue
