Re: [Paddlewise] New Boat-Let Me Tell a Story

From: <Strosaker_at_aol.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 22:34:16 EST
Jim,

You seem a little ashamed of your kayak being plastic.

Let me tell you a story.

I went on a coastal paddle with about 7 other kayakers this one time.  Along 
the 9 NM paddle up the coast, we had a strong tail wind.  As we ate lunch on 
the beach, the wind got a hell of a lot worse.  Then we all launched to head 
back down the coast against the wind.  After about a 1/2 mile, everyone but 
me decided to turn around and take a taxi back to the cars.

For three hours I slugged it out alone in a strong head wind with large waves 
breaking over my deck.  Finishing the paddle was a glorious moment, despite 
the misery I was in from the painful blisters on my hands and my sore muscles 
and joints.

I was the only one in that group with a plastic kayak.  Everyone else had 
fiberglass, and there were even a few carbon fiber paddles in the group.  I 
was using a cheap and heavy Aqua-Bound paddle.  One guy even had a new 
Current Designs Extreme kayak and a carbon fiber paddle. 

It all goes to show that 90% of performance is in the kayaker, not the kayak.

So take that plastic kayak of yours, be proud of it, and kick some ass!

Duane Strosaker
 <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/pirateseakayaker/index.html">Pirate Sea 
Kayaker</A> 
 
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Received on Thu Jan 20 2000 - 19:34:50 PST

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