Kayaking

For today's subject in our Outdoor Recreation is about kayaking. What is kayaking? According to the ever reliable Wikipedia, kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across the water. Well, what is a kayak then? A kayak is defined by the International Canoe Federation (the world sanctioning body) as a boat where the paddler faces forward, legs in front, using a double bladed paddle. My class was supposed to have a kayaking session at the Shah Alam Lake today, but due to 'technical' circumstances, which I really really don't want to elaborate, it was cancelled and most probably - I really really hope so - will be held next week. So, you will ask what did we do after the kayaking session was cancelled, we had a class in a class room of course! Our 'super-cool-and-calm-in-any-situation' lecturer, Encik Zainal taught us about kayak and kayaking in the class. I think he said something we hardly 'see' anything about what he taught us about kayak and kayaking unless we are out there in a kayak and of course, in the water.

Ok, ok. What did we learn today from our 'super-cool-and-calm-in-any-situation' lecturer, Encik Zainal? First we learn the history of kayak. The kayak was invented and first used by the native Ainu, Aleut, and Eskimo hunters in Sub-Arctic regions of north eastern Asia, North America and Greenland . The first kayak were constructed from stitched animal seal or other skins stretched over a wooden frame (made from driftwood, since many of their habitats were treeless).


John MacGregor a.k.a. the father of modern kayaking, is a British sailor of Scot descendants. Well, to make it easy, he is a Scottish. He invented the first modern kayak in 1865 and named it "Rob Roy". He then took Rob Roy to explore the Europe's rivers from 1865 to 1867. For information about John MacGregor, you can check out this page, http://www.paddleworld.com/mac-gregor.php.


The history of modern kayaking in Malaysia started in the 60-s by the British navy in Woodlands. The kayak activity was back in action in the 70-s especially around Penang and during the 80-s, the kayak activity was growing rapidly helped by the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Next subjects about kayak are about the size and how to choose a kayak, the stability of a kayak and types of kayak, which I'll write in my next blog.

P.S I'm still just a beginner about kayaking though! Better ask the experts for more information.