Re: [Paddlewise] Magazines

On Dec 27, 2004, at 9:31 AM, John Winters wrote:

> Doug wrote;
>
>> I've never found that to be entirely true, though some repetition is 
>> evident
>> and probably necessary for economic viability. I know any time the 
>> editorial
>> staff reviews an article that is similar to a previous one, it must 
>> offer
>> new information or reword things to sufficiently shed new light.
>
> Since I wrote the comment that inspired Doug to respond I should point 
> out in fairness that most magazines focussing on a specific activity 
> do the same thing. As Chuck pointed out the magazine has to appeal to 
> beginners. You can't expect new subscribers to buy old issues to get 
> caught up. I don't consider the repetition a crime at all, I just 
> don't feel it serves my interests. Opinions will differ on whether 
> each article variant offers enough new content to make it worth 
> reading.
>
> Nick brought the subject up because he felt the tone (correct me if I 
> have this wrong, Nick) did not present a suitably sophisticated image 
> of the sport. I don't think he expected it to have the same content as 
> say, Marine Technology. I have no idea if a magazine with a different 
> focus would survive nor do I have any opinion on whether Sea Kayaker 
> properly fulfills a need. It has survived and I suspect that provides 
> a good measure of its value and success - to enough people to makemit 
> pay for its owners.

I don't see the enjoyment of going out for a day on the water regularly 
depicted in the magazines. I see skills tutorials, trips to exotic 
locations, and short trips gone bad, but not the kind of kayaking that 
I suspect the majority of skilled and dedicated sea kayakers actually 
seek out on a weekly basis. I would like to see more attention given to 
paddling where all those skills that we try to learn are actually being 
used successfully to have a fun day on the water. What I see in the 
magazines is good, useful and interesting, but I think there is an 
aspect of sea kayaking that has been left out and that would be good 
for the sport for people to see.

I go kayaking because I like being out on the water feeling the ocean 
move. I don't see it as a collection of skills to be mastered before 
moving on. It is not merely a way to travel around an exotic location 
inexpensively. It is not just an exercise in avoiding dying. I seek out 
places where I can experience the ocean in a way that it can only be 
experienced in a small kayak. I use the skills I've learned to enhance 
that experience. The magazines seem to depict sea kayaking as a means 
to some other goal not as the goal itself. I think it is a disservice 
to the sport to depict it as means to another end. I would like to see 
sea kayaking depicted as reason enough in itself to participate in the 
sport.

So, yes, I would like to see a more sophisticated depiction of the 
sport. I am not critical of repeating tutorial information for 
beginners. I am not critical of what is depicted, but the lack of what 
could be depicted. I will acknowledge that what I would like to see is 
hard to translate to ink on paper.

Nick Schade

Guillemot Kayaks
824 Thompson St
Glastonbury, CT 06033
USA
Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/