Ralph Diaz wrote: > >Certainly traditions have developed in an activity such as canoeing >and an aura in others such as the individualism and freedom represented >for some bikers. But tradition and aura do not make them right >in ignoring the dress for chaos point. > >What I find interesting is how sometimes dressing for chaos takes on >an aura intrical to the self-image of the sport. For example, I hardly >ever see a jet-skiier not dressed in thick flashy colored neoprene. >Even in the heat of summer they are generally in at least a shorty >neoprene suit with short pants legs at the bottom and short sleeves. It's just like bikers dressing for chaos (sometimes knowingly, sometimes not) by wearing heavy leather jackets and big boots. Seems ironic that some then, dislike wearing helmets. Snowmobilers seem to have the same mindset as jetskiers (due to same engines perhaps?) about dressing for chaos. I see very few who aren't wearing heavy leather or nylon jackets and full-face helmets that match their machines. I suppose it's as much fashion statement as it is preparedness, but they're awfully proud of their bright green, purple and black Ski Doo jackets, bright green and yellow Arctic Cat jackets, or hot pink Polaris jackets. Maybe we need red and black Klepper drysuits, or yellow and white Current Designs wetsuits! Of course, I think serious sea kayakers in general are less of the "I gotta make a fashion statement" mentality than others; if this is really the case then, we can share this feeling with people new or inexperienced in the sport and say,"who cares what that drysuit looks like--wearing it is just the right thing to do." > That clan also is absolutely faithful >to PFD wearing at all times on their machines. And if given an >opportunity they wear the stuff around on land when going for a >hotdog or drink. If only we could convince them that 4-stroke machines were "cool"! Shawn -- Shawn W. Baker 0 46°53'N © 1999 ____©/______ 114°06'W ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\ ,/ /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ baker_at_montana.com 0 http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Nov 12 1999 - 07:42:10 PST
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