Re: [Paddlewise] Inappropriate For Modern Kayaking

On 11/8/06, Mark Arnold <mjamja_at_earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> This weekend I volunteered to help out at a local kayaking expo.


...snip...


> Still it is amazing to me that I can be in an area where kayaking is so
> popular and still feel like I am involved in some strange fringe sport
> because my choice of equipment is so different from almost everyone else in
> the area.  Well, to each his own.


It's easy to start thinking that PaddleWise is mainstream for kayaking
because, while we might debate details, most of us could paddle together and
more-or-less agree on what is fun. But, trust me, we're on the fringes of
today's paddling.

As I paddle around my lake I notice lots of kayaks on my neighbors' docks
and beaches and almost none of them would merit a second glance from anyone
on this list. And, frankly, I almost never see anyone out paddling them
either. Probably because they just paddle in front of their beach.

That's because we recognize our own. Pam mentioned to me that she was
paddling near the Tacoma Narrows and encountered some paddlers. They were in
Valley boats wearing drysuits and she was in her Mariner Sprite and in a
drysuit and so, quite naturally, they stopped and chatted a bit. It reminds
me of that Smother's Brothers song, "I could see by his outfit that he was a
cowboy".

>From a marketing perspective I suspect that many manufacturers would like to
move paddlers from one level to another in much the same way Detroit used to
try to move us from one model of car to another. From a plastic boat on flat
water up to (eventually) a kevlar kayak paddling Haida Gwai. But they need
to get them into the activity first and most of the people at many of these
kayak expos are aware that paddling is potentially dangerous stuff. So they
get them on the water in a cheap poly boat and let them discover the layers
of paddling for themselves.

Soon some are subscribing to Sea Kayaker and reading Paddlewise and thinking
about kayaks in a new light.

Others will keep their boats upside-down on their docks or in their garages
or backyards except for a weekend exursion now and then.

A few of them will try that plastic boat in a river and watch some hotshots
surfing a hole and move in that direction. Or one of their kids will.

Ya gotta start somewhere, I guess. :)


Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA
***************************************************************************
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.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************