You may be surprised to learn that kayaking has arctic roots that stretch back millennia, with some researchers speculating as far back as 5,000 years. It is an incredibly refined sport, and we owe a debt of gratitude for the courage of the first paddlers.
Ancient indigenous cultures relied on these small, lightweight boats for coastal transportation and hunting. The designs changed subtley from eastern and western regions along the arctic circle. The kayaks that we typically think of today have their roots in the Inuit people of the Arctic, known for their remarkable seamanship. Through ingenious innovations and well honed skills, the Inuit developed kayaks from driftwood or whalebone frames covered with animal skins. The paddler was attached to his kayak with a “tuiliq”, a jacket whose midsection fit around the cockpit rim, melding hunter with their vessel. Along with the long narrow paddle, kayaks were individualized for the paddler and were essential for survival in the harsh Arctic waters.
The Scottish explorer and anthropologist, John MacGregor, is generally credited with being the first European to bring back a Greenland traditional kayak in the mid-19th century. In the following century, European and American enthusiasts began adopting and adapting the traditional Inuit designs for recreational purposes. Sea kayaking gained notoreity in the mid-20th century as people sought ways to explore regional coastal environments and remote waterways. Technological advancements, such as the introduction of fiberglass and durable plastics, revolutionized kayak construction, making the vessels more accessible and durable.
The traditional kayak paddle, known as an ‘aappaaq’ by the Inuit, is a tool crafted over thousands of years. It was designed for maximum efficiency while paddling in wind, waves and to help the paddler stay upright. Its long, slender profile allows the paddler to grasp one end with their fingers and thumb wrapping around both sides, giving an incredible amount of leverage for rolling up.Â
The technique for paddling is different than the popular Euroblade design, and made the best use of laminar flow over the blade. This can feel wobbly and fluttery at first, but once you learn the proper technique, paddling with a traditional blade is often just as effective and perhaps faster in the hands of a skilled kayaker.
Hunting was a delicate and often dangerous undertaking. Large prey could easily drag a paddler under, and rolling techniques were developed to right themselves in a wide variety of circumstances, often while holding other implements in their hands. They didn’t have the luxury we enjoy of easily releasable spray skirts so rolling up from various positions was a matter of life or death since the icy coldness of the water was just one way a hunter could perish. Necessity is the mother of invention, however, so a total of 35 different types of rolls were developed, covering any number of odd positions a hunter might find themselves in given the tools they used for hunting very large prey.
For the modern kayaker, even though we are not hunting prey anymore generally speaking, having the ability to roll up on both sides in at least one way, if not more, brings an essential ingredient to staying safe on lakes or the sea. It takes flexibility, focus and training and typically those disciplines will serve anyone well in life.
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