In contrast to Nick Schade's perspective that kayaking deserves more glossy magazine publicity, I'd like to say that I'm opposed to the attention that kayaking would receive if it was glamorized even more. The current level of kayaking publicity causes me to take a tow rope along even on the days when I go on solo paddling trips because of the likelihood of meeting beginners in trouble. I'm horrified when I meet people paddling sit-on-tops on the ocean, holding young children in their laps, without a life vest to be seen. When I see these boats being washed ashore by the surf, with swimmers and children in the water, it makes me wonder how much longer before kayaks are banned at our State beaches. On more than one occasion I've met hostile life guards who are against all kayakers because of the bad experiences cause by the inexperienced. Rather than glamorize the sport so that it has mass appeal, I would prefer to see it marketed as a serious sport for those who are willing to commit to the training required to be responsible. Don't gloss over the fact that there is risk involved in sea kayaking. Patrick Martin Moorpark, California
On Mon, Dec 20, 2004 at 07:27:43PM -0800, P Martin wrote: > Rather than glamorize the sport so that it has mass appeal, I would prefer to > see it marketed as a serious sport for those who are willing to commit to the > training required to be responsible. Something similar is happening in the whitewater area as well: the rise of artificial courses which facilitate "park and play" is pulling people away from rivers (and the long drive, and the shuttle, and the unpredictability of levels, and ...). Even major competitions are now often held on artificial courses (e.g., the Olympics) which is silly when so many wonderful and beautiful rivers are available. (Here in the US, an artificial course is being built in western MD, not far from the wild and scenic Savage, site of the 1989 slalom world championships and an absolutely superb location for competition...but which has not been used since the 1992 team trials. What a pity.) This is causing multiple problems, one of which is that paddlers who spend lots of time in these artificial environments are relatively unprepared for being on wilderness rivers -- where their cell phone won't work and it's a long hike to shelter/warm clothes/help. Another is that the sense of stewardship for the rivers is fading: there is a growing disconnect between paddlers and the rivers that they have traditionally kept watch over and helped to preserve, admittedly in part out of self-interest. But these concerns, whether they're valid or not, or being trumped by hype and marketing and money: the equipment vendors and the magazines make their money by appealing to the masses, and the rivers flow mute, with empty wallets. ---Rsk
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