One of the most exciting journies for a kayaker is whitewater kayaking. The kayak goes down rapids. Sea kayaking, also referred to as ocean kayaking, is also popular. Other bodies of water, such as lakes, offer the kayaker the opportunity to enjoy his sport.

Kayaks are a part of history. The first were built from driftwood and skins from animals. They were often modified. For example, the Aleuts modified the kayak to flow in the artic. In the early 1900s a student built a collapsible kayak. Hans Klepper, a tailor, purchased the patent from him and began selling them. In the 1930's kayaking organizations started to develop and organized the International Scale of River Difficulty. This is a standard to classify the difficulty of the rapids in rivers and it is used today.

In 1975 Tom McEwan, Wick Walker, and Dan Schnurenburger kayaked the Great Falls of the Potomac River. For centuries it had been feared and avoided. Two years later, Jim Snyder, Mike Fentress, and Phil Coleman were the first to successfully negotiate the Quarry Run in West Virginia. Coleman nearly died when his kayak lodged in the river's gravel bottom. Another first, in 1994, saw Kent Wiggington become the first paddler to tame the Class V1 rapids in Georgia.

Today people from all walks of life are learning to kayak. There are training programs available in many of the areas where there is water to allow for the sport. There are even large, training centres. One of these is in Denver. The sport is becoming so popular that there are many year-around training centres that offer classes from beginners to advanced.

Today kayaking has a variety of competitions. There is everything from the World Cup Circuit to small, local races. Professional kayaker Todd Wells, a 17-year-old, ranks among the top junior kayers in the world. Another, Clay Wright, has invented such moves as the cartwheel and the air loop. Professional Patrick Camblin invented the Bread and Butter just as Anthony Yapp came up with what is known as the Kay Y. The sport has come a long way. It now offers a variety of stunts and innovative moves.