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Kayaking is the sport of paddling a kayak.Kayaks have a covered deck and a cockpit, which is covered by a spraydeck to keep the paddler dry.
Kayaks are paddled from a sitting position using a double-bladed paddle.Kayaks originated from the Eskimos who used them for hunting and the name kayak means 'hunters boat'.
Kayaks were built from a framework of whalebone and driftwood with sea lion skins stretched over the framework. Kayaks were an essential part of Eskimo survival, necessary for fishing and hunting. There are also kayaks called 'Sit-ons' which have an open deck and are mainly used on the sea.
The British Canoe Union was set up in 1936 and is the lead body for canoeing and kayaking in the UK.In 1924, canoeing and kayaking made its debut at the Olympic Games with an exhibition regatta. Canoeing and Kayaking officially became full Olympic sports at the 1936 games held in Berlin, initially only for men with the women's disciplines being introduced at the 1948 London games.
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