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History & Athletes

The varied sport of paddling has a unique and long history that dates back thousands of years. Here you will find articles about the earliest canoes and kayaks, the canoe and kayak athletes themselves, as well as some interesting and zany facts about each.

An Illustrated History of Canoe/Kayak

Canoes and kayaks have been around since the beginning of human civilizations. This articles features an illustrated history of the sports that use canoes and kayaks.

Greatest Moments in Olympic Canoe/Kayak History

Olympic Canoe/Kayak is not without it's share of excitement, drama, and memorable highlights. It might also surprise you to know that canoe/kayak holds some overall Olympic records. Contained here are the Greatest Moments in Olympic Canoe/Kayak history.

Meet the United States Olympic Canoe/Kayak Team

The last members of the U.S. Olympic Canoe/Kayak team were finally chosen with just over one month until the games. Learn all about these athletes who will represent the United States in the sport of canoe/kayak in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Best of the Rest: The U.S.'s Canoe/Kayak Competition in Beijing

Of course we're all rooting for the canoe/kayak competitors representing the red, white, and blue this summer. But the fact remains that the competition is stiff and it's going to be a tough road ahead for our paddlers in Beijing. Here is a list of the most formidable foes that our United States Canoe/Kayak team will have to face in order to secure their place on the podium.

Past Olympic Canoe / Kayak Medalists

Find the names and times of all the Olympic Canoe/Kayak past medalists for the events that are still a part of the Olympic Games.

Prehistoric Canoe Discovered in Tampa

Pinellas County revealed a recent archeological discovery: An area resident located a 39-foot pine canoe which dates back approximately 1,100 years.

The Kayak and the Arctic People: A Brief History

This article discusses the origins of the kayak and the Arctic People's contribution to its development.

Ancient Chinese Canoe Discovered

Learn about the discovery of this canoe at the Kuahuqiao site in China. It is the earliest canoe discovery in China to date.

Kayaks and Whaling in Alaska

Did you know that kayaks were used to hunt the "bowhead" whale for at least 2500 years? This article will explain how kayaks were used in whaling in Alaska and the Yukon.

The Native American Tomol: A Ocean-faring Legend

The Native American Tomol is the oldest example that we have of ancient ocean-faring vesels in North America. This article discusses this wooden canoe.

New Inductees to the Whitewater Hall of Fame

Yes, there is a Whitewater Hall of Fame. Here you will find the 2007 inductees which included legendary kayak designer Tony Prijon.

Explore Paddling

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