Andy Knapp wrote: Good post, Andy > Will this consolidation happen in the kayak industry to the same degree as > in some of the industries controlled by just a few players? There will > probably be a boom/overproduction/bust cycle just as there was in the > bicycle and ski industries, among others, leaving a wreckage of failed > businesses and cheap unwanted product. [...] > The pyramid-scheme nature of this consumer-driven economy will become > apparent when: > a) The baby-boom generation gets too old to buy all this stuff. The > handwriting is already on the wall for the outdoor industry; statistically, > the next generation coming up is the most sedentary and the most overweight > in human history. Look at the average age of those on this list. They are also a relatively poorer generation - larger student loans to pay off, fewer opportunities for jobs and advances etc. It's disturbing that they are so lazy (I refrain from using the term sedentary). The parallel with the ski industry is interesting. I was reading an opinion by a cross country ski writer last night. He said that the introduction of freestyle techniques (aka skating) has hurt the ski industry rather than helped it. The older generations (us) aren't as interested in it and the younger generation would rather an easier to learn and less physically demanding winter sport (read snowboarding). These kinds of things conspire against kayaking as an activity for the majority of the younger generation. The entry cost is quite high as others have noted and there is a reasonable level of fitness and aerobic capacity required to do much more than putter around a lake. Some would point out that building a boat can reduce the cost considerably, however, this goes against the younger generation's desire to have it all right away (it takes too long and is too hard to build). I don't know the answer - I wish someone did. I think our generation is certainly to blame for the problem with our youth. We collectively failed them if they turned out the way they did. There are certainly many, many examples of good kids, but there seem to be too many that do nothing but hang around smoking and complaining. We made the environment in which they live and should do something to change it if possible. It isn't just this mail list that is older. My paddling club is filled with members of comparable age, as is my ski club. The youth are left out or have dropped out of all sorts of these things. Sigh... Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Mar 05 1999 - 06:59:46 PST
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