Kayaks are traditional hunting boats invented by the Inuit people from the Arctic circle. You sit in them solo and move them through the water with a double bladed paddle.
Over decades, the sport has evolved into many disciplines, but all have a foundation level on flat water where you learn to control the kayak and make it turn, go straight and move sideways. You can even capsize it and right it yourself in a manoeuvre called an ‘Eskimo Roll’