Re: [Paddlewise] Magazines

On Dec 31, 2004, at 3:22 PM, John Winters wrote:

> Nick wrote;
> (Assorted snips)
> May not have made myself clear. I did not mean that surfing provided 
> instant gratification but that the mass market sought instant 
> gratification. Surfing, I believe provides more excitment. Should have 
> used more care in keeping the two issues separate.

Having done some kayak surfing I am hard pressed to see how board 
surfing could be any more exciting. The difference to me is 
imperceptible.

>
>> From my observations of surfing and surfers up here it does not 
>> appear to
> suit the mass market unless ones idea of the mass market includes 
> sitting out in the ocean on a board in sub-zero weather searching for 
> the ideal wave. Of course, maybe things differ in the sunny warm 
> south. As for a comparison between surfing kayaks and surfing on a 
> board it seems to me that for sheer excitement the board surfers 
> appear to get more bang for their buck and time. The fellow that runs 
> the surf shop also paddles and runs kayak tours. I will chat with him 
> about this to get his opinion.

While winter surfing may not be mass market, it does figure prominently 
in some surfing magazines. It may not make the cover shot but it is 
considered part of the sport. I consistently see articles about winter 
surfing in other non-surfing mass market periodicals.

I really think the perception that sea kayaking does not have mass 
market appeal is due in part to how it is portrayed.

I am not eager to see sea kayaking become a mass market sport. I do 
think it could never reach the level of surfing, but I think there is 
untapped room for growth.

>
>> As someone who believes in quantitative, empirical analysis, I must
>> admit that the good professor may be on to something. Judging the
>> quality of a magazine based on the number of articles written by the
>> professor sounds like a good, non-subjective metric.
>
> Do you mean more articles means "good quality" or more articles means 
> "poor quality"? :-)

Actually, I'm not sure. Maybe the Professor should seek a grant and do 
a study.

Nick Schade

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