Kayak. It isn't a word that connotes paddlesports. It sounds more like the aftermath of a bad fish dinner. Even so, kayaking always seemed like fun to me-serene images of paddling gracefully along still waters. Of course, the possibility of spontaneously tipping over, never being able to right myself, and inhaling a half gallon of water is not lost on me either. But hey, what's a personal flotation device for anyway?
Recently, the sport has gained popularity. Pam Dillon, Executive Director of the American Canoe Association said in an e-mail, “Kayaking has just exploded in growth over the past six to eight years.”
Many business owners are seeing the effects of that. “I started my business thirteen years ago,” said Lamar Hudgens, owner of Barrier Island Kayaks of Swansboro, North Carolina. “You never saw a kayak on a car. Now, about every fifth car has one on it.” Bill Unger, owner of Black River Outdoors in Georgetown, South Carolina, agrees. “We started in 1994. You hardly ever saw any kayaks then. Maybe some canoes, but that was about it.”
Apart from other paddlesports like rafting and canoeing, kayaking has only gained public interest in the last few decades. But as a means for travel and hunting, the kayak, or qajaq, has been around for centuries. The Inuit and Aleut peoples were the first innovators to design this hunting boat. Its origin, most probably in Siberia about 4000 years ago, was brought to the Americas across the Bering Strait. These crafty little boats were made of animal skins lashed to wooden frames, usually driftwood, and often sealed with whale fat. It soundlessly glided through freezing waters making it easier to hunt and catch food.
Recreational kayaking, however, owes its debut to 19th century English barrister, John MacGregor. After designing his own kayak in 1845, he toured many of Europe's rivers and lakes. Since then, kayaking has spread from its Siberian beginnings to every continent. From as far north as the Arctic to points as far south as Australia and South America, kayaking is an “everyman” sport around the world.
Today, the average kayaker spends valuable leisure time idly paddling in calm waters while enjoying nature rather than catching up on the latest chick lit. “I think kayaking has grown in popularity because the general public has become more health-conscious,” said Pete Cortese, co-owner and guide of Coastal Expeditions in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. But it may be more than just those looking for a healthier lifestyle. “The boats are cheaper, more user-friendly,” he said, “and more accessible to the public.”
While the average participant is typically between 30 and 50 years old, kayaking is a sport for all ages with equipment that is easy to use. From kids to seniors, kayaking is enjoyed by every age and level of expertise. “While you often see a lot more women age 40 and over who are looking to increase their upper body strength,” said Kathie Livingston, CEO, President and Naturalist of Nature Adventures in Charleston, South Carolina, “we see a wonderful mix of genders and ages. It's very family oriented.”
Many people have been flocking to the Carolinas to enjoy a nature adventure in a kayak. Some come for the exercise, some for the experience. But all of them get a tour of the ecological treasures the area has to offer. North Carolina's protected inland waters are the largest on the East Coast. South Carolina is no slouch either boasting 187 miles of coastline. The mild temperatures of both states provide a near year-round availability for outdoor activities.
With coastal North Carolina, many people seek the Outer Banks. It is a chain of barrier islands with 130 miles of coastline surrounded by 900 square miles of water. “The Outer Banks are nice because the sounds separate you from the ocean,” said Bob Chestnut of Ride the Wind Surf Shop in Ocracoke, North Carolina. The Low Country area in South Carolina stretches along the coast from Pawleys Island in the north to the Savannah River in the south. “The Low Country,” said Cortese, “is one of the prettiest areas to paddle.”
Tourism in the Carolinas has a strong focus on their coastal properties. Inlets, estuaries, bays and barrier islands with their accompanying wildlife make for an enticing vacation spot. So whether it's something fun and new to try, an entertaining access to wildlife, or the path to a lifetime of healthy living, kayaking is a growing sport that anyone can do.
