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From: Shawn W. Baker <baker_at_montana.com> subject: [Paddlewise] Conquering Kayakers? Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 09:17:43 -0700 · This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:05 PDT

Jody wrote:
>Hi All,
>I recently pondered aloud to a group of sea kayakers that I had noticed a
>personality "type" that is driven and eager to accomplish a certain kind of
>outdoor "feat" such as circumnavigate a large lake, or be the first to
>paddle solo across a wide expanse, paddle 600 miles alone in a short number
>of days, or conquer some other outdoors challenge.  

While I can't explain the motivation people like this have, I do agree
that there are people like that.  My regular hiking partner is one of
them.  He's a highly motivated person, but what he gets out of the hike
is saying he did 25 miles and 8,000 feet in a day, while I say,"I
summitted a small peak, and just sat there for an hour, savoring the
scenery."  I can explain my motivation--spiritual and personal renewal,
but I don't understand the "conquering" motivation.  It would seem that
we're highly incompatible, and for the most part we are, but sometimes
its safer being with a partner you can trust, even if you're
"differently motivated", than if you were alone.

>I wondered about this
>because while I love to kayak (and bike and ski and snowshoe), I don't
>really have a need or desire to do this sort of thing. I'm happy just to
>paddle and while I would love to say circumnavigate Lake Superior, it isn't
>something I feel I need to do -- it doesn't have more appeal than other
>trips I can go on.  So part of my curiosity is -- what is this about? What
>makes people want to paddle to conquer? (I realize it's not just paddling,
>of course.)  The second part of my outloud musing was that it seems to me
>that, more often than not, these folks are men. So I wondered (and this got
>me into a bit of hot water since I'm female) whether there was some gender
>thing going on here (and *I* wasn't the one to use the word testosterone!).

I think there are a few female paddlers who are motivated to conquer,
but by and large, the vast majority of them are men.  I'm sure
"conquering" is not their sole motivator, but I'm sure it's a large
factor in a lot of guys' paddling exploits.  I can't speak personally
for her, but does anyone know what Audrey Sutherland's motivations are
for paddling such long distances?

Sometimes, I feel that small urge to conquer, but it's usually the need
to overcome some challenge within myself--I know I can't beat Ma Nature,
let alone even having a fair fight.  Some guys can play her game (but
not necessarily best her), but I'm not one of them.

Shawn

-- 
Shawn W. Baker          0                                    46°53'N
© 1999            ____©/______                              114°06'W
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\  ,/      /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
baker_at_montana.com    0        http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/
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