Archive for April, 2009

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Kayaking has become a very popular sport through-out the world. It is included in the Olympics program. A kayak is a manually operated small boat. It features a covered deck as well as a cockpit covered by the spraydeck. The kayak is moved by a sitting paddler using a double-bladed paddle. Previously, the kayak was used by the native Eskimo, Aleut and Ainu hunters residing in the sub-Arctic regions of Asia, Greenland and North America. Modern kayaks are available in a huge variety of materials and designs for various specialized purposes. The kayak is also referred as the canoe in some parts of the world.

Modern kayaks are made up of various materials such as wood, fiberglass, Kevlar, fiber, rotomolded plastic or carbon fiber over the wooden or aluminum frame. They are available in various models that can accommodate single, double or even three to four persons. The modern kayaks are classified in various types such as sea kayak, surf kayaks, racing kayaks, whitewater kayaks, fishing kayaks, wavewalking kayaks and speciality and multi-type kayaks.

The sea kayak is suitable for one or two paddlers. They are having extreme stability, cargo capacity and more maneuverable. The sea kayaks are future classified as strip-built kayak, skin-on-frame kayak, recreational kayaks and sit-on-top kayaks. The strip-built kayaks are more similar to rigid fiberglass boat. But, it is very lightweight. The sit-on-top kayaks are used for diving and fishing. It can accommodate upto 1 or 2 even 3-4 persons. Generally, the seat of this type of kayak is above the water level which causes higher center of gravity.

The skin-on-frame kayak shows the similarity with the traditional kayaks in construction, material, design and technique. It is the lightest type of kayak that is used by Inuit people in Greenland for hunting purpose. The recreational kayaks are created for the paddlers who are more interested in photography, fishing or peaceful paddling in the lake. These kayaks have a larger cockpit and wide beam that offers more stability. The capacity of this type of kayak is limited.

The whitewater kayak is highly maneuverable. It is made up of the rigid material such as polyethylene. This type of kayak is smaller in size about 6-10 feet. They don’t need the inherent speed as they flow with the current.

The surf kayaks are also referred as the surf skis. They are long and narrow for surf breaking waves and surf zone rescue. The design of surf kayak is similar to whitewater kayak except a planing hull. The surf kayaks are about 12 feet long that increases the planing speed on wave. It is useful for having a good paddling speed to catch the waves.

The racing kayaks are specially designed for speed. They need to have the substantial skill to gain the stability due to extremely narrow hull. The slalom kayak and flat water kayak are sub-types of racing kayak. The multi-type kayak is of two types such as pedal kayak and inflatable kayak.

The modern kayaks are designed with Computer Aided Design software programs along with the naval design software. Modern kayaks are equipped with extra hulls to increase the stability, some are inflatable and some are having twin hulls. The length of the kayak and the rocker affect the maneuverability of the kayak.



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OrbitzTravel asked:


Be it by plane, train, or automobile, your travels contribute to global warming and impact the environment – but not matter where you’re going, there are simple things you can do to “Go” Green. Your Orbitz Travel Expert Jeanenne Diefendorf has tips on how to be “eco-friendly” on your trip. For more information, please visit eco.orbitz.com.

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Kris Koonar asked:


Rock Climbing is a sport that involves climbing precipices and scaling rock faces. Often pursued as a hobby, rock climbing includes the usage of specialized equipment and techniques.

Rock Climbing can be conducted using a variety of different variations and styles. Among the most popular styles, enthusiasts and athletes use traditional Rock Climbing and Sport Climbing. Given below is an overview of the variety of styles that can be used in Rock climbing.

Traditional Climbing

Traditional Climbing is a conventional method of climbing rocks. An old style of free climbing, Traditional Climbing involves climbing on routes without artificial tools and external support, to aid the climbers in their ascent. To engage in this method, the athlete need to improve on his technique, as the climber’s body and some pieces of Passive Protection like Nuts and Hexes are used.

With such low levels of protection and minimal usage of tools, traditional climbing is slow-paced and more strategical. This has made this form of free Climbing, become popular as “Adventure Climbing” in Australia.

Features of Traditional Climbing:

. Traditional climbing offers it climbers, freedom of technique and customization of rock climbing routes. This freedom is more extended, with the availability of protection and hi-tech equipment.

. This is the only style of climbing that emphasizes on technique and proper usage of safety equipment and protection. The style teaches the climber, distribution and positioning of tools with maximum efficiency.

. Traditional climbing improves a climber’s capability of making quick strategical judgments. It also insists on teamwork, as it is carried out in groups, usually with a leader and be-layer (the one who retrieves the tools after the climb).

Sport Climbing

Sport climbing is the only form of rock climbing that includes investments and sponsorships. A professional sport, this form of rock climbing includes predetermined routes that have permanent bolts and anchors attached on the rock wall.

In sport climbing, a rope is used to assist the athlete. The rope is attached to each athlete’s climbing harness with the belayer handling the loose end. Generally, the distance between each bolt is eight feet but can be decreased to improve speed. At the peak of each route, an anchor is placed to accommodate a variety of equipment.

The element of danger in Sports Climbing is greatly reduced as the sport highlights the gymnastic and athletic aspects of Rock Climbing. Though Sport Climbing does not include strategy, it does require overall development of stamina, strength, and flexibility.

Mountaineering:

Popularly known as Alpinism, Mountaineering is a form of climbing that involves climbing mountain slopes and trekking trails. It requires athletes to scale higher altitudes, which may last for days and even months.

There are three basic forms of Climbing based on the condition of tracks:

. Rock Climbing, or rock-craft that is popular among amateur Climbers.

. Rock craft includes climbing rocky slopes and avalanches.

. Snow and Ice Climbing, experts prefer snow-craft, which is also known as, Snow and Ice Climbing and it involves a more dangerous Climb as it includes routes with glaciers.

. Mixed Climbing is a combination of rocky and icy routes. It is an extremely hazardous form of Rock Climbing that requires training and experience.



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travelvideo asked:


Nicaragua is a terrific country and great for Adventure Travel especially Ziplining in the rainforests of Nicaragua, the next hot Central American travel spot. In Nicaragua, the rain forests are thick and authentic, rain forests that are beautifully preserved and ecologically healthy. Join us for an adventure travel to remember as we skim the rain forest of Nicaragua, perfect for adventure travelers eager to Zipline across the canopies on a slender wire. Our Travel Video Postcard Nicaragua …

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Richard Staunton asked:


Why do you need an inflatable river kayak in the first-place? It may be the case you already enjoy kayaking but don’t have a place to store a standard kayak. Or if you enjoy kayak fishing you should definitely invest in one. There are many places where one can find an inflatable river kayaks, it’s just the matter of looking in the right place. Here are few companies that you should try out.

Sierra South

Sierra South have a vast selection of new and used inflatable river kayaks and rafts for you to consider, and at affordable prices. You should check out their Dagger Agent 6.0 which is one of their best sellers, the Agent 6.0 is the latest play boat design from the Dagger. The rocker front and back allows one to do front and back surf as well as traditional moves.

Another Dagger kayak that we rate is the Dagger Agent 6.2. The Agent 6.2 is basically an upgrade from the 6.0 and at the time of writing was retailing for hefty $1000. No doubt it is pricey but in our opinion well worth it because it is an inflatable river kayak that you know is going to be durable and should last you for years.

Clavey

You would likely have heard of Clavey if you have purchased an inflatable river kayak in the past or are an experienced kayaker. They offer inflatable kayaks as well other interesting gear such as white water rafts, touring kayaks, camping equipments, gear bags and other kayaking equipments which you will find useful on your kayaking trip.

Zebec Boats

If you don’t mind looking through a large collection of inflatable river kayaks this is the company for you. They feature number of kayaking brands, including the Sport Bug, which is one of their best sellers. If you haven’t heard of the sport bug, this kayak has built-in transom, self bailing floor, patch kit, collapsible aluminium oars, foot pump, carrying bag and it also comes with 5 years warranty.

These are just a list of few retailers and companies that you may want to look at for a durable inflatable river kayak, so relax and browse through their selection before deciding which one is the best for you. If you want more input you should visit a good kayaking store where a well-trained staff will be able to help you determine your needs and suggest the best kayak for you. A quick list of criteria’s to consider are how many people will be using the kayak which can help you decide number of seat you need in the kayak. Also consider whether you want to buy a kayak or would you be better off renting one, which could be a better option for you. This basically depends on your enthusiasm for the sport and whether you are willing to participate regularly otherwise there is no point of buying a brand new inflatable river kayak. You can find more information on inflatable kayak on various web sites on the internet.



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