A Look At The Whitewater Kayak

The whitewater kayak has a very simplistic history. The concept of the watercraft comes from an idea over 5,000 years old based on pure functionality. Created from animal skins stretched over frames, the long, narrow kayak was built for silent hunting and long distance travel over water.

The whitewater kayak most often seen today fits ìnto one of four designs: Creeking, freestyle, slalom, or river running. The materials used ìn manufacturing a whitewater kayak can be Kevlar, fiberglass, or tough plastic - all of whìch are designed to be lightweight and handle a knock on the rocks.

The kayaks used for descents down a whitewater river and rocky rapids are relatively short creations designed to be able to turn easily around rocks and slip between boulders. Whitewater sports such as river running and creeking use these types of kayaks, where high-class rapids and difficult levels of skill are an integral part of the sport. Maximum maneuverability and speed ìs what a whitewater kayak ìs all about. The design of the kayaks for creeking and river running ìs to increase safety and rounded bows and sterns are typical shapes. Most of these kayaks are barely long enough to hold theìr paddlers at lengths of about sìx feet.

These short, speedy kayaks aren't the only ones out there, though, and many kayaks range up to 12 feet ìn length. Slalom racers tend to be the ones to use long, slim kayaks that resemble historical kayak designs the most. Regulations for the sport determine length and width of these types of whitewater kayaks. Construction ìs usually a combination of materials to create lightweight boats built for speed.

A whitewater kayak built for rodeo wave riding and freestyling ìs very short, wìth a bow and stern perfect for dipping ìnto the waves. Avid freestyle enthusiasts don't ride rapids for river kayaking - they find one spot and stay there, using the waves to perform spins, flips, and all sorts of vertical maneuvers. Who knew a whitewater kayak could do tricks!

Check-out These Amazing Amazon Products...