Feb 10, 2013

Posted by in Beach Activities

An Introduction to Kayaking

What kayaking is?

Kayak is a relatively small boat that designed to be propelled by means of a double blade paddle and human powered. The word Kayak is came from the ancient Aleut name ‘Iqyak.’ According to the archeological sources, the first evidenced kayak was built by four thousand years ago by Eskimo. Ainus and Aleuts are also used this portable equipment. Alaska, Northern Canada, Southwest Greenland are the originated places. Most probably kayak is designed to propel by one man. However, two people kayaks are also made available.

Sea Kayaking

Today sea kayaking is a profession, a hobby and a sport. It is practiced by world spread. Yet originally it was made for hunting Seals and Walrus etc. in the daily routine of indigenous ethnic groups as I mentioned. First it was made by wood and treated skins of Seals. In modern day kayaks are made out of fiberglass, rotomolded polyethylene, Carbon-Kevlar, plywood or wood stripes covered with fiberglass, and foam core. Some other fabrics like canvas, Dacron, wood or aluminum frames are also used in building kayaks and help to better sea kayaking. Today rotomolded plastic kayaks dominate the market and used in sports events also such as Olympics. Also many sizes and designs are available in the market and they are suit to specific purposes such as fishing, sporting, hunting, military, and so and so.

Safety first

Sea kayaking needs to think about safety first. The primary safety device is the paddle. A well practice kayaker is used to check his paddle before start the voyage. Any additional paddle is also recommended to have with. What other equipment you need in kayaking, and going better?A spray skirt, personal flotation device (PFD), front and rear floatation with a wetsuit and dry suit are also need to successful paddling. As safety gears a pump, knife, first aid box and a throw bag with thirty feet of towline is recommended with you. Food rations and water and an emergency shelter are must with you if you planned to have longer surfing and longer day duration to surf. In an emergency; flares, whistle or air horn, flashlight, VHF radio, cellular phone, mirror and strobe are powerful safety devices and you are also advised to have with. Some navigation utilities may added with you, such as light at night, chart with a chart cover, dividers, parallel ruler, protractor, tide tables and a compass will assist you to a better navigation. Now you are ready to paddle and one thing missing. That is prior experience. Gather it by kayaking in coastal areas with the help of life guards.

Forms of sea kayaking

Kayak Sailing: Kayak sailing enhances the paddling experience and it is developed by people who are with good enthusiasm of kayaking. They are ideal for touring.

Expedition Trips: Recreational kayakers and people combine kayaking with wildlife watching are used to have trips with overnight camping.

Surf Kayaking:  It requires much kayaking skills and a wide range of sea kayaks are specially designed for the support of wave surfing.

Sea Fishing: The technological development solves the problems of some ergonomic problems that are associated with sea kayaking and fishing with kayaking has become a sport.

Kayaking Benefits

An aerobic and cardiovascular workout provided by kayaking. It strenhttp://costaricasailing.net/wp-admin/post-new.phpgthens your upper body and core. It is a huge workout for arms as well as your abs and upper back. You may burn around 375 calories per hour. It helps to weight loss and stress reduction though changing your life minute by minute. It shapes your body smarter and handsome.  Sea Kayaking can get you into amazing shape and can transport you into a wonderful world of relaxation. To have a very close relationship with Mother Nature and mediate against the backdrop of beautiful, uplifting sights and sounds. The rowing and paddling action is a form of training strength. Muscle strength is a clear benefit through the kayaking. It increases your endurance. When one kayaking his heart rate increases and it will be a help to improve his cardiovascular system as well as respiratory system by reducing heart diseases. Once you added kayaking to your activity list you are likely to enjoy increased your joint flexibility. Paddling puts your upper body in regular exercising and helps to strengthen your joints. You can also gain reduction in stiffness and pain associated with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Kayaking is a help to both emotional and physical well-being. Especially it is a kind of stress buster and you may be happy with much relaxation when you kayaking than having any other type of workout. One other important factor to notice is that kayaking helps to rehabilitate one who is suffering from physical or mental injury and his conditions may be well reconstructed when regular practicing kayaking.

Where to go for kayaking

What are you looking for by taking kayaking? Perhaps you want to see whales, seals, walrus or sea otters. An ice-burg, a coastal waterfall, a mountain near to coast may change your life. You are seriously curious about where to go for kayaking.  There are plenty of room for go for kayaking. You may see worlds’ beautiful places when you are kayaking with an adventure.

When you are looking to go to Mexico think about Baja Peninsula and there you will find sunset with a beautiful sight that you never experienced.  Go for looking seals, may amazed you. You can paddle through sandy beaches with pure wind and sea water. You can swim with seals and cajole with whales. You will be bathing with warm water with warm weather of Baja. Food can be easily procured from the sea, the weather is cooperative and views from the cockpit are as tranquil as the water. You can include your sights list many variation of places, such as Loreto’s Gulf Islands and Bahias, and you will be to spend your kayaking tour with healthy life style for a while that never forgettable.

The second place I suggest you to go kayaking is Vanatau Island of Fiji. Put Fiji on your list of must-paddle areas. There you will have the experience to drink ceremonial kava with village chiefs. Tropical warm will bathe you and you will be much happier for a while with fishing in Fiji. Second by second you will be changed yourself with beautiful scenes from 709,000 square kilometers of Fiji and your kayaking will be an educational journey of Mother Nature. There are 300 islands awaiting your visit. Isn’t enough for go there?

Let me draw your attention to Costa Rica. There are 635 miles of coastline along with Pacific Ocean awaiting your move there. There you will see one of world largest national park. This makes one of the sea kayakers dream alive. White sandy beaches, endangered sea turtles, an evergreen little forest, rocky islets and crystal clear waters will rehabilitate your inner for forever.

Phuket is an island from Thailand. There you will find towering columns rising straight out of Phang Nga Bay which water filled caves are presented nature’s beauty for you.  Any kayaker will be spent more than their targeted time in Phuket. Narrow limestone passages are the places to kayak for a beginner with danger.

Hawaii’s Napali coast is a place to be introduced in my list within the ten places to visit for a kayaker. It offers sea kayakers golden, sand beaches, towering coastal cliffs, ancient ruins, pristine snorkeling and at-a-glance beachcombing.

Probably you may like to visit Puerto Rico. There one of places you may like to kayak with your modern kayak is Mosquito Bay. It brings you an out of world experience. Add your list a night to spend in there and you will see entire Milky Way when you are on the board to kayak.

When you are in Chile I would like to bring you for Chilo Island. Let me quote what amylva says: “Kayaking at the Dead Tree Valley is a unique and astonishing experience and a must when visiting Chiloé. To be alone in a kayak surrounded by dead trees; wetlands; and rare, endemic birds that stay quiet while you photograph them makes you feel transported in time. Four different rivers give you alternative landscapes to enjoy. All calm water.”

An island nation Sri Lanka is a first place to visit with your kayak. More than 900 kilometers are waiting for you with sandy lace of beaches for an evergreen jungle island. There you will kayak through many rivers inside towards the island with your kayak and return to sea with a collection of rehabilitative scenes of nature. Thank you very much for your patience to read my description on where to go to kayak and I turn to say with whom you may kayak when you are in Central America.

Best companies from Costa Rica for kayaking

Rios Tropicales of Costa Rica is one of the most popular kayak tour organizers in the region. Since its inception it encourages ecotourism. Their primary goal is to ensure that the rivers and natural resources of Costa Rica are available for future generations, and they promote this both through educating guests as well as educating the local community.

Another kayak tour organizer who is in the Costa Rica region is H2O Adventures. They also offer a wide range of kayak tour packages as offered as the Rios Tropicales to both local and foreign tourists within the country and sea kayaks too. It is based in USA and Canada while offer services through the Central America too.

One of the most renowned tour operators from the region to notable is World Expeditions. Since their coming to business in 1975 they offer high quality kayak tour packages for reasonable cost. It is one of an oldest tour operator in Costa Rica and have experienced than any other in adventure companionship.

Endless River Adventures is also engage in kayak tour organizing and it is mostly offer services to its clients in river kayaking. It is also mostly reputed company that should be added to this list when it is my scope to write you about sea kayaking.

To dos and not to dos

Some of things that need your attention in sea kayaking are here. Keep the power blade fully immersed and perpendicular to the water and Keep a constant alignment of the controlling hand to the nearest blade. Sit upright with your head steady and eyes on the horizon. Hold the shaft away from your chest with elbows slightly bent.  Place the blade as far ahead as possible at the beginning of the stroke without bending forward at the waist. Then you are ready to go ahead with your kayak. But remember that not to do any of the followings.Slouch or lean back in the seat. Hold arms close to the chest. Allow the pushing hand to go above eye level or across the center-line of the boat. Keep too tight a grip on the shaft. Juggle your grip to change the blade’s angle to the water. Paddle using only your arms. Keep the upper blade high in the air to catch wind and drip water on you. Apply power before the blade is fully immersed. Continue the stroke far beyond your hips. Lean back and forth or rock side to side as you paddle. Take the blade out too early, losing power—or too late, creating drag. Take your care when you are ready to launch your navigation by reminding these. These lessons are come from a well experienced kayak your operator and keep them in your mind as your guidelines to take kayaking.

Sea kayaking is well developed profession today due to contribution made by enthusiasts in early 1900s and early 2000 as well. In early 1900 Franz Romer, Oscar Speck and Hannes Lindemann contributed much to this precious sport by their world around journeys with a small kayaks. That the industry had much experimental evidence and so crafting developed much.Nowadays Jon Truck, Peter Bray, Trys Morris and Gemma Rawlings contributed significantly to this art and the Jon’s book on his adventure ‘Cold Oceans’ helped much to the development of the art of sea kayaking. There are a list of names should be added to this and they all made a great effort to develop the kayak as it seems today. What is your contribution?