I will throw several thoughts on the state of the paddlesports industry into the debate. I have worked in the outdoor sports industry for 26 years, mostly for an independent retail oranization. As a former board member of the Trade Association of PaddleSports and its predecessor organizations TASK and NAPSA, I know the paddlesports industry pretty well. What is happening is the same trend that is consuming the rest of the US and industrial world economies. Just like the electronics industry, the home improvement industry, the agriculture industry, the team sports industry, and many others, the outdoor sports industry has been "discovered" and is going through a period of consolidation as capital interests see growth and potential profits. The paddlesports segment is no different, and with Old Town, Perception, Dagger, Mad River, Wilderness Systems, and now Necky Kayaks all being owned by holding companies, the pressure will be on for endless growth and higher profits. The rotomolding capacities of the above companies, along with those of Current Designs, and others in Tennessee, Minnesota, New Zealand, England, Europe and additional locations are cranking up for maximum production, requiring distribution far beyond the capabilities of the traditional paddlesports shop. The resulting boom will lower the prices- as well as quality- on some commodities, and draw additional participants into the sport. More participants can be good, if we build a constituency for the values of the quiet outdoor sports. How the industry reacts will determine whether the accident rate goes up significantly and invites government regulation and taxation. As in the other consumer industries, the efficient "cookie-cutter" chain stores will benefit, and the independent outlets will begin to dwindle away. When was the last time any of you bought a book, a dozen eggs, a hardware item, or a computer part at a locally-owned business? (The same thing is happening with the farm industry; family farmers however make more noise politically.) 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. But perhaps the core of the paddling sports will remain too specialized and esoteric for the mass consumer enonomy to touch. After all, paddling still requires at least a bit of physical exercise and the necessity to be away from the television set for several hours at a time. Athletic shoes and rugged outerwear can at least be worn to and from the shopping mall. 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. b) The federal government is forced to seriously raise taxes in ten years or so to bail out social security and pay for all the infrastructure investment that has been ignored since 1980. c) The rest of the world decides it wants its fair share of the dwindling resource base. The US, 4% of the world population, consumes 25% of the petroleum production, most of which becomes carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and plastic waste in the landfills within a year. What can you do? Joe and others have expressed the need to work on a local level. To preserve the integrity of our sport, we need to speak out for responsible use as well as access to the water. We need to give back as much as we take. Everyone wants "free" or "cheap," but sooner or later the free ride will be over. 1. Support a local club or trail organization. Help spread the message of safety and the environmental ethics of human-powered sports. 2. When you can, support your local paddlesports shop. Providing them with business will allow them to stock the specialized equipment the chain stores will never touch. Many of these stores will match prices within reason if you ask. (REI, though a chain, has a history of giving back to the outdoor community.) Before you buy a product, ask what the vendor does to better the outdoor environment and the paddling community. Volunteer to help with their local events and educational efforts. Get some satisfaction out of being a local guru or activist. 3. Remember that we will have to battle for the right to do our thing, whatever it is. The motor interests, the police interests, and the corporate profiteers all want to have control over the use of our recreational resources. Thanks for the soapbox time. Anyone else in the paddlesports industry have some thoughts? -Andy Knapp Minneapolis snowing lightly *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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/ ***************************************************************************
>> 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 >> ************************************************************************** * It's the same in the Twin Cities. At various times I have been active in the Minnesota Science Fiction Society (Minn-Stf), the Minnesota Canoe Association (MCA), and the North Star Ski Touring Club (NSSTC). All three organizations started in the mid Sixties, and all three are graying, though possibly for different reasons (science fiction fans tend not to be physically active). Probably the youngest group in the MCA is the Rapids Riders whitewater club, maybe because the thrill of whitewater is more appealing to the young, maybe because whitewater boats are cheaper than sea kayaks. I sometimes wonder what it was about the Sixties that caused these disparate groups to all start up about the same time. Maybe today's generation just isn't as interested in creating or joining organizations. Or maybe they don't have time enough. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 27 I can say I think my generation of Americans is the most screwed up ever. We don't want to lead. We don't want to follow, and we have a hard time belonging. Kayaking is probable growing because we are becoming a generation of loaners. We see the world screwed up and not getting better. Most of our parents are divorced. The percentage of people unmarried people in my generation is greater than it has ever been. We saw companies cut employees after many years of loyal service in the eighties. We don't trust our own government. We spend more than we make. No one is responsible for his or her own action (financial or criminal). We see the legal system as a joke. People sewing people stupid things. Criminal getting a way with murder because the paper work was not filed properly. The bill of rights being skewed to suit the moment. Please read http://jpfo.org/billrights.htm. I find 10, 1, 2, and 4 interesting in that order. We think there are just too many people in the world. We take more than we give back to nature (about half of us care). I don't think my generation could get together to fight in a war like WW2 or fight against war on like so many did in the 60s against the War in Vietnam. There are exceptions. Remember you are different, just like everyone else. I find myself looking for groups of my peers. Most of my friends have _at_ in the middle of their names. The only thing that makes my generation look better is the generation that is now in collage. Or maybe I am wrong. I can except that. The good new is when I am on the water or in the woods, I don't have to think about the rest of the world. Maybe that is why I hike, hunt and kayak alone ---Chuck Holst <CHUCK_at_multitech.com> wrote: > > > > >> > 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 > >> > > ************************************************************************** * > > It's the same in the Twin Cities. At various times I have been active > in the Minnesota Science Fiction Society (Minn-Stf), the Minnesota Canoe > Association (MCA), and the North Star Ski Touring Club (NSSTC). All > three organizations started in the mid Sixties, and all three are graying, > though possibly for different reasons (science fiction fans tend not to > be physically active). Probably the youngest group in the MCA is the > Rapids Riders whitewater club, maybe because the thrill of whitewater is > more appealing to the young, maybe because whitewater boats are cheaper > than sea kayaks. > > I sometimes wonder what it was about the Sixties that caused these > disparate groups to all start up about the same time. Maybe today's > generation just isn't as interested in creating or joining organizations. > Or maybe they don't have time enough. > > Chuck Holst > > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** > _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free _at_yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 3/5/99 9:23:53 AM Pacific Standard Time, CHUCK_at_multitech.com writes: << 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... >> There are still a few of us around.... Robin Lovelock (age 22) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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