i think EJ has hit the nail on the head here and has definatly got a point that the paddling world has had some splits and needs to cool down a bit and enjoy what we love.

www.jacksonkayak.com/jkstories06/story.cfm?article=200606183

i know that on the whole everyone who paddles is chilled out relaxed and loves a good time and that is for me one of the reasons why i love the sport so much. and i dont want the sport to split because i like the way you can move from one disapline to another and to be accepted.

i think that people should try to take up Ej's challenge,and make the world a better place.

Well done Ej

Peace.

That was a really nice piece of an article. I'm mostly inclined to riverrunning and freestyle, but quite interested to try slalom boating. It seems there's no better way to improve ones fundamental paddling skills than slalom. All the slalom paddlers I've seen are tremendous athletes and have top notch skills to pilot a boat.

I've done some touring boating and it's great to do in some remote and beautiful places. Sea kayaking is pretty impressive aswell. Never tried it, but im sure some day ill venture to there also.

[color=cyan:3192863e57]Nice...[/color:3192863e57]

Yeah definetly........peace

i just read it also, he really did hit the nail on the head. im not really into touring boating but i dont look down on people that do. kayaking is a fun sport and we should just have fun and be thankful that we can paddle.

[size=24:6c8af0a598]WORD![/size:6c8af0a598]

I think that this has been an unspoken sentiment among lots of paddlers as things have changed over the past decade.

The nice thing is, that in reality, most (I said MOSt) of the top pros have always thought along these inclusive lines. The marketing and advertising have pushed the perception of one disciipline over another; whichever was thought to be the style of the day.

The bummer part is that, because of such marketing tactics it's often been the wannabes that have the most negative attitude. They could be very good paddlers, but for some reason have something to prove, some desire to be "cool" so they fall in with classifying themselves to the detriment of others.

Back to the good stuff. The majority of the really good boaters here in southern New England are "multi discipline" boaters who have had SOME kind of racing experience (or have really approched creeking with the same type of training and enthusiasm), are big water paddlers when things flood for teh two weeks each year, and are park and play boaters when the rivers get low an the only show in town is something like the t'ville hole on the Farmington.

I go up to the Kennebec (Maine) each summer. Other than the clean water, fun river, and awesome people I meet up there, a super fun aspect is that the river can sometimes be like a history lesson in whitewater boating from the past 15 years. Tons of spuds of course, but there is a very strong squirt boat contingent (both old and new style boats). There are people in slalom boats, and older 11' plastic boats. I've even spotted a glass/kevlar piouette up there. The river is completely different, depending on your boat's length. Some waves are great for little boats. Others just seem to be made for long boats. I have raced slalom and enjoy doing one run in my slaom boat, then a second run in my Squashtail. It's like hitting two rivers in one day.

As far as the elitism of slalom boaters goes: that went away some time ago. For the past seven years, it seems that every time I showed up for a workout there were a couple of slalom boaters asking me to try one of my plastic boats. Any reluctance they EVER had was an issue of speed. Slalom boaters are addicted to speed and have a tough time giving it up.

That brings me to another point; that if someone is HAPPY with the type of boating that they are doing, and just into it at the moment, it does not mean that they are being snobs. I know a bunch of creek boaters who just prefer to go creeking and are not into playing all that much. But, they do not pass judgement on play boating.

The bummer is those that DO pass judgement. Fortunately I think that they are the minority and that most of us are just having a great time in whatever boat we are in.

[quote:60c06477c4="M0nkeymann"]i think EJ has hit the nail on the head here and has definatly got a point that the paddling world has had some splits and needs to cool down a bit and enjoy what we love.

www.jacksonkayak.com/jkstories06/story.cfm?article=200606183

i know that on the whole everyone who paddles is chilled out relaxed and loves a good time and that is for me one of the reasons why i love the sport so much. and i dont want the sport to split because i like the way you can move from one disapline to another and to be accepted.

i think that people should try to take up Ej's challenge,and make the world a better place.

Well done Ej

Peace.[/quote:60c06477c4]



This is an ironic quote from it, conmsidering the topic and where we're discussing it:

"Beware of the magazines, and [b:60c06477c4]definitely beware of the kayaker forums[/b:60c06477c4]."


LOL

DEFINATELY beware!!!!!

yeah I noticed that...

yea they also told me to beware of night swiming while drunk on a yacht with an albanian prince but you dont see me stoping. but anywho i think ej got it right when he said we all have to come toghether as a whitewater kayaking communtiy. AND BRING DOWN THE FLATWATER PADDLERS!!!! !

[quote:a1824e70bf="kayaker0678"]yea they also told me to beware of night swiming while drunk on a yacht with an albanian prince but you dont see me stoping. but anywho i think ej got it right when he said we all have to come toghether as a whitewater kayaking communtiy. AND BRING DOWN THE FLATWATER PADDLERS!!!! ![/quote:a1824e70bf]

No way, Flatwater rules!!!

I say we ALL band together and bring down the a-holes who wanna pollute, develop, clearcut around or otherwise mess with our water fun....

I think that EJ has said something important. Even if you are not a paddler, there are some people who don't like water (why I don't know) as long as you are enjoying it and not ragging on somebody else go at it.

[quote="

I say we ALL band together and bring down the a-holes who wanna pollute, develop, clearcut around or otherwise mess with our water fun....[/quote]

i think Kingstonmike is my new best friend.

love peace and kayak

Hi,

First post. Enjoyed reading the forum but as a newbie paddler, at an advanced age, didn't think I'd have any reason to contribute to any of the topics until now. Thanks MOnkeymann for posting this inspiring article by EJ.

I currently paddle a folding kayak and an Alpacka packraft (both of which probably makes me a rare breed here - from the look of the posts!). If you think they are not real river/sea craft, please don't eat me alive, please save it for another thread.

An interesting point made in the article above is that of trying different types of paddling. Once I paddled (and on flatwater - burn him alive!) the raft with its lightness (4lbs) and manoeuvrability and sheer fun. I became interested in playboating - which led me here. One form of paddling (possibly) leading to another.

You've got to try it to buy it. And you're never too old or too young to try.

Good article!

Thats an excelent article, but i think it overlooks non-kayakers. Ive seen a lot more bad attitudes against canoeists, rafters, Ikers and the like than i have seen against just different styles of paddlers. He could have done this simply because he runs JK, but considering the article it might have been prudent to add in a little something abou non-kayak water craft.

Great article, all too true. Ive often witnessed inter-discipline prejudices in kayaking (slalom vs playboaters etc) and even made comments myself (for shame). Ive grown up since and realised that we are all brought together by paddlesport and we all have a responsibility to give as much back to it as we can. Dont get mad at other boaters cos they dont paddle along the same lines as you, get mad at the people who are busy taking away our rivers, lakes and planet. Its vital to get involved with grass roots paddling, like clubs and schools, to teach and coach. Most people i know were introduced to boating by a coach, when they were kids, and i think thats probably the case for most people reading this? Wouldnt it be great to be able to do the same for someone else? Who knows, they could even go on to be the next EJ.
Most importantly tho, paddle because you love it.