Kayaking: five good reasons for the h2o sport







Photo of the Remarkables mountain range in Queenstown, New Zealand.

What is a kayak?
Together with the Canadian, the kayak is one of the main subgroups of the canoe. This is mainly characterized by its elongated shape and the view in the direction of travel. Kayaks are ridden with a double paddle in a sitting position with the legs stretched out in front. and advice on life skills, on the other hand, are used in a kneeling position and a single-bladed paddle.

The kayak was originally used by the Eskimos as a fast and agile means of transportation for hunting on the water. Precisely because of these characteristics, it has become one of the most popular pieces of sports equipment for water sports on rivers and lakes and has already gained many followers. We have compiled 5 reasons why the sport is guaranteed to suit you.

1. Kayaking is versatile


Depending on your preferences, you can choose from different variants, each perfectly adapted to different flow and riding conditions. We have listed the three most important ones below.

Kayaking: A wild pleasure
Image credit: Helioscribe / Shutterstock.com
White water kayaks are optimally adapted to the conditions in wild rivers. Due to the length of about 3 meters and the wide, voluminous body, you can not easily capsize in such a model and it comes out of rollers and backwaters better. Because of its stability it is popular with beginners.

Sea and hiking kayaks on the other hand are with 4 - 5 meters longer and narrower than the white water version. Since the danger of capsizing is significantly lower when sailing on calm rivers and lakes, more emphasis is placed on reducing water resistance with this type of construction. This means that long distances can be covered with considerably less effort. Above all, lake and hiking kayaks are suitable for quiet riders who want to enjoy the surroundings.

Freestyle kayaks are the shortest with 1.80 to 2.60 metres and are mainly used by professionals. Due to their outstanding manoeuvrability, waves, rollers and backwaters can be navigated with ease. This model is very unstable in the water and is not suitable for beginners. Anyone who wants to ride such a kayak should already have some experience.

2. Kayaking - a demanding endurance sport


Kayaking mainly trains the arms and torso, but the legs also have to work well to make optimal progress. It is an endurance sport that challenges the whole body. Long trips in particular are very strenuous and use up a lot of energy. If it becomes too strenuous for you, you can always take a break in a quiet place to recover. Most models have waterproof storage compartments for this purpose, in which provisions can be taken along.
Kayaking: Admire the beautiful nature

3. With the kayak in the middle of nature


Many sports rely on walkable and navigable paths or a fixed route. Orientation and navigation require concentration and often distract from the surroundings. With kayaking, on the other hand, you are guided by the course of the river or are on open lakes where orientation is very easy. This way you can enjoy the sight of nature undisturbed. Our interview with Peter Csonka and Nina Csonkova, the best freestyle kayakers in the world, offers an insight into this feeling.

With a kayak you can reach many special and nice places
Image credit: nadtochiy / shutterstock.com
That is perhaps what makes kayaking so special: A feeling. A feeling that hardly any other sport can offer. A mix of peaceful routes and wild rides in the beautiful nature of our world.

4. An inflatable kayak for more flexibility


Conventional models take up a lot of space and are difficult to transport. Spontaneous trips on vacation are therefore associated with a lot of work, especially with several people. If that's too much effort for you, you can get an inflatable version as a flexible alternative. These do not take up much storage space in the car when empty and are ready for use after just a short inflation with an electric air pump.

5. Kayaking - all year round


The kayak is a summer sport - at least that's what many people think. The cold air and even colder water discourages most paddlers, but it is actually possible to kayak all year round, even in winter. After some preparation, you are rewarded with breathtaking snowy landscapes, white-covered shores, and a soothing silence. This rarely has to be shared due to the few riders in winter.

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