Kayaking is a proud sport that finds its roots in the traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Specifically, it was the common mode of transportation of the Inuit people of the far north and the arctic. Kayak translates from the languages of the Inuit people as “hunter’s boat” which serves to belie its primary purpose in the culture from which it originated.
The Inuit people are known for the fact that they have made their existence in one of the harshest climates on the planet. Agriculture was nearly non-existent for them due to the realities of their frigid, northern home. As such, being able to sneak up on prey and take them out quickly and without other, potentially more dangerous animals knowing was of paramount importance. Should a hunter fail, the whole tribe would face certain starvation and death. The kayak was a solution to this problem.
The shape and construction of the boat allowed a hunter to stealthily sneak up behind an aquatic animal and mount his attack before the creature noticed. In addition to this, it allowed hunting and fishing parties to quickly move from one site to another without having to portage a heavy ship which would drain their precious energy reserves in the bitter cold.
In the 1740s, Russian explorers came into contact with the various Native tribes in and around what is now the State of Alaska. Vitus Bering, a Danish explorer, realized that the local Aleut peoples were incredibly skilled at catching and dispatching prey thanks to their kayaks, and he sought to popularize the concept among other explorers and fur traders, while still maintaining positive relations with the Aleut.
The concept became so popular among European Settlers that by the 1800s, even the French, English, and German Settlers had readily adopted kayaks as a principle form of inland maritime exploration and hunting. It soon additionally became a sport of leisure, owing to its ease and accessibility. By 1936 when it was introduced to the Olympic games in Berlin, the sport had largely been divorced from its indigenous and survival based roots.
By 1950, Kayak construction was no longer wood in nature, and most Kayaks had been transitioned on to a fiberglass mode of construction. In the 1980s, polyester and polyethylene plastic constructions also became popular. Most Kayaks in commercial circulation today are made of some type of artificial material.
While kayaking is still performed by the Inuit in the northern regions of the Canadian territories and the Alaska Natives of the United States, it is today a popular leisure activity performed by people from all walks of life across the world. It is today an important source of leisure and tourism revenue. While it brings with it numerous benefits, it’s important to not forget the roots of the sport that all of us across the world get to enjoy today. Respecting the culture from which it came can give us a whole new appreciation and respect for the gifts we have been handed down.