[Paddlewise] Catch your breath....

Some years back I ranted on this forum that, while white-water paddling had
a plethora (e.g.: an over-abundance) of boats made for specific putposes
(river runners, creeks, surfing, play boat, etc.) and varying sizes, the
sea kayak field was still stuck with boats that, for the most part,
"tracked on rails" and carried a load.

I'd like to think that my rant had an effect on the industry because
shortly afterwards there was suddenly an abundance of flat-water (for lack
of a better term) boats designed to fulfill differing roles. I'd also like
to think that Paddlewise was so widely read back then that manufacturers
paid us a lot of attention. Of course, there was always Mariner in there
with numerous boats designed for different roles (and with perhaps the
first boats designed for smaller people but with the same handling
characteristics as the larger boats). And the Tsunami Rangers were getting
a lot of press with their big water escapades (often in Mariner Coasters).

So maybe we were moribund 5 years ago; we sure aren't now! In fact, the
change has been breathtaking. The Greenland Revolution, rock-gardening,
tidal stream paddling and one that I never saw coming: kayaks built to be
especially good at rolling. Often enough ONLY good at rolling with little
room to carry anything more than a sandwich for lunch.

I remain a firm follower of the Dave Kruger system of trying hard not to
tip over (but being ready for it in case it happens) but the sea kayak
community has moved from a group of people who perhaps had NEVER tried a
roll to folks who routinely roll just for the fun of it.

And Deception Pass - which was once a place to avoid - can now be downright
crowded on good tidal flows.

Probably most paddlers still use their kayaks for touring or sight-seeing
on nice days but an increasing number do lots more and often do it in a
kayak that they've built with their own hands. Pygmy kayaks is producing a
wider variety of kayaks than ever before in kit form and there are now
quite a few "workshops" that help us build a skin-on-frame kayak that fits
us perfectly in just over a week.

SUPs and surf skis will be forever out of my reach. I can barely stand up
on dry land and I am pretty sure that a surf ski and I would part company
quickly. But it's a lot of fun to watch those two communities grow and
prosper.

As I get closer to the big seven-oh I notice that I am paying a lot closer
attention to being more cautious out on the water than ever before. And
since my knee replacement made it possible to ride a bike again I'm
dividing my recreational time up between a lot more interests (RV'ing in
our new-to-us motor home, mountain biking, wood working in the shop,
kayaking, etc.).

Even our on-line community has undergone a change what with Facebook,
Google+ and a series of blogs and forums out there. None of us has the time
to devote to all of them and the change has splintered what was once the
only real international paddling group (Paddlewise). But a lot of us have
gone on to be influential in the field through other venues; including
print journalism.

It's been pretty exciting to be part of paddling and part of Paddlewise....
I'm sure we'll see a lot more changes in the future.

Craig
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