-----Original Message----- From: BaysideBob <vaughan_at_jps.net> >I just got back from the SF Bay Paddle-Fest > >Boats as far as the eye could see. >More vendors than enthusiasts (avoiding buy/sell terms), but when I left at >1300 there were cars lined up to come in. Perhaps a respectable crowd >finally >showed up after sleeping late. If not, I'd be depressed if my living >depended on >the kayak "explosion". > >I'm not convinced sea-kayaking is exploding. Perhaps the market is. People >buy boats and gear on a whim and a dream. Manufacturers pop up to meet the >neon-colored carbon fiber state of the art demand. Actually the hot market right now is low priced plastic "recreational" kayaks. >What happens then? Not >much. That's how gyms stay in business. People buy memberships and then >realizing it actually takes effort, they don't go. People that do show up >benefit from the funds committed by non-users. Same with kayaks. More time, >far more time, is spent talking, shopping and dreaming than paddling. I >spent 4 hours 2 minutes and 27 seconds paddling yesterday, about one hour >past my comfort level, and my aged body is still sore. I'll be on the water >tomorrow, and the next day. I know how this goes. An effort of will to get >there, joy once having done so. Sloth is the natural human state. > >Assuming there is a sea-kayak "explosion" there are two options: >Cope, or quit. > Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com Coping in Seattle (and warning those who don't yet see a problem elsewhere). *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Sep 26 1999 - 01:37:59 PDT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:13 PDT