Re: [Paddlewise] [Fwd: White Water Recomendations]

From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk_at_rockandwater.net>
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 11:15:27 -0500
On Wed, Feb 28, 2001 at 06:42:15AM -0800, Steve Scherrer wrote:
> The problem with all of the boats that you listed is the fact that they are
> all serious displacement hulls.  The truth of the matter is planning hulls
> work better.  No manufacturer is introducing a dis hull boat, and except for
> a few old designs, no one is building them.  Why buy an obsolete boat?  Why
> not benefit from new technology and learn in a modern boat?

<chuckle> I don't really strongly disagree *except* that I am
very concerned that a lot of beginners are not acquiring strong
fundamental skills, and I think boat designs are part of the problem.
(They're certainly not the only factor, though.)

I'm not trying to get everyone into a 4-meter slalom boat (although it
has its advantages), but I don't think designed-for-rodeo-and-not-much-else
boats are the answer either.  I think that part of what we're seeing in
designs represents evolution and progress; I think another part of it
represents the influence of the tremendous success of rodeo in
promoting itself and its style of paddling.  Not that this is bad,
per se, but I'm not sure it's all-wonderful either.

---Rsk

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Received on Wed Feb 28 2001 - 10:25:40 PST

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