The Sport of Kayaking with Recreational Athlete Laura Motes

When Laura Motes isn't studying to be a nurse, she likes to take her kayak out onto the rushing waters of the Broad River. A kayak is a canoe-style boat built for one or two people. These vessels are lightweight, floating mostly above the water, and are propelled by the rider via paddling. The person kayaking will use one paddle that has blades on each end, as opposed to canoe paddles that only have blades on one end. Rowing a kayak properly involves moving the paddle with both hands in a horizontal figure eight swing. While there are kayaks on the market in the last decade that are inflatable or have elevated seats, a kayak where the rider sits inside a closed deck is the most common.
Kayaks have been used by native peoples, especially the Inuit, since the 18th century. These stealthy transport vessels were ideal for Eskimos who were hunting prey. Now, the kayak is used as a sporting device. There are millions of people around the world who kayak for leisure, nature exploration, and exercise. Kayaking was introduced as an Olympic sport in the 1936 games held in Berlin. Since then, the fame of the kayak has grown, and there are over ten kayaking events in the Olympics. Laura Motes likes the challenge of kayaking, she appreciates the strength and stamina it requires to keep the boat upright and to paddle correctly. She also loves that it allows her to explore her surroundings.