In a message dated 7/6/2005 6:39:20 AM Pacific Standard Time, cjp129_at_earthlink.net writes: My train of thought (I think the engineer was asleep in the caboose) morphed into asking myself why are there paddling clubs, or any activity related clubs in the first place. In the old days, when we were wearing skins and other natural fibers, clubs were a form of insurance against loss of territory, cooperative hunting, language development, community planning, etc. In the age of synthetic fibers, clubs have evolved into a powerful social tool. Whether you chase a ball across a field of green, across nets strung over fields of red, clubs still provide a form of protection against loss of territory (standing in club); Cooperative hunting strategies (i.e. single and looking, but you must have a roll or I won't date you); Language development, (feathered versus non-feathered, skegs versus rudders, BCU versus ACA; Community planning, (where will we camp tonight?). It's also what you wear that says as much about you as it does the club you belong to. If I showed up at my moms house wearing fuzzy rubber pants and a fleece vest I 'm pretty sure the next question would be whether I had a guitar in the back seat of my car I can bring out and play. Social standing loss, immeasurable. But put me on a beach with my friends, the next question would be why the Chillcheaters, instead of Rapidstyle? Quickly followed by, How long can you swim in those before you die of hypothermia? Answer, I don't swim. Social standing, improved. Take the ultimate uniform of non-conformity: The biker outfit. It is a blend of the old school animal skin philosophy and modern corporate McDonald's like philosophy of absolute conformity to the goals of the bikers club. The bike, must be a Harley. The jacket, of course, must be black. All metallic surfaces must be chrome, including those teeth having had work in the past. Penalty for not singing the Steepenwolf anthem at 138am from McGilley's Tavern on Route 31, you must buy the last round-for everyone. Never ask a biker if he wants to supersize that. It's worse for kayakers, or almost. You forgot your PFD? No can paddle! What part of, bring a helmet, did you not understand? No, a fleece beanie stuffed with socks and gloves doesn't count. Where is your PFD knife? You must have a PFD knife visible at all times, there are board surfers on this beach with shaved heads and they are looking to expand their territory. Language development in kayaking really takes some skill to adapt to. When you pit boat builders with off-the-rack kayakers, heads start to spin. Casually listening to a conversation of one builder to another, I envisioned a scarf joint as some form of insulation wrapped about a board, to keep it from getting cold, I guess. So that's how they get those interesting patterns into the wood. There now is a use for Aunt Carmen's annual weavings other than the Good Will. Things really take a turn towards the interesting when whitewater boaters out of runnable freshwater show up at the same beach as the guys paddling with slightly modified 2x4's. This is the ultimate juxtaposition of the do it yourself people and the this year's new boat from Riot folks. The conversations, start in gasps, when a thick rubber, almost sleeping bag like garment is rolled down over the top of the head. It carves into the jaw line and bulges the eyes like a cod hauled up from 300 feet real fast. Then the arms slide through the sleeves and the garment drops down to the knees. Heads wobble over to the side inspecting the strange thing. It's a Tuilik, exclaims the bearer. Uh huh, I see, looks nice and waterproof. What's that there, is that a paddle or a volleyball net support? Got it at Home Depot! Home Depot sells paddles? No, the board, I had to carve it. Oh, ya it does look kind of hand made. Does it work? Looks great for poling off the bottom to get out to the break. Wanna try it? No, I got a pro deal and I'm only allowed to paddle with these carbon fiber, bent shaft paddles with injected foam cores. They're all the rage these days. Uh, Huh... As usual there is only one woman on the beach with a paddle in her hand. When her husband turns around all the single guys (3/4th of the paddlers), walk over to chat her up. She's got an offside roll, too! One says to the other. Thank God for fuzzy rubber, the other guy remarks. After a day of surfing the breaks an old fishing net is found and strung up between a pair of 2x4 paddles. A paddlefloat is used for a ball. The 2x4 paddlers seeming immunity from failing rolls earned them the respect of the foam-injected-carbon-bent-shaft-paddles-at-a-great-discount-because-of-their-club-so cial standing paddlers. Besides, there were a hell of a lot of board surfers down the beach looking to expand their territory and a couple of them got run over today. Far into the night over a mug of wine-like liquid from the cardboard vine, they bandied about the merits of rudders and neoprene, drysuits, the stickiest hole and the biggest wave ever surfed. Wolf howls rose from the distant camp of surfers dancing in crcles. They were clearly agitated. Hey guys, what do you think about starting a club? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. 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