To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
From: Bram van der Sluys <bvdsluys@direct.ca>
Subject: Re: baidarka Kayakers may safely agree...
Message-Id: <E11gBSW-00062Y-00@edam.direct.ca>
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 11:36:36 -0700
At 09:28 AM 10/26/99 -0500, you wrote:
>In message <00f501bf1fa3$a358cf60$bb33d2cf@default> writes:
>
>> My observations of this suggest that novices find kayaking easier to learn
>> ("C" stroke? What's a "C" stroke" :-) ) and they perceive the boats as safer
>> because of the decks.
>
>Oooooh! I'd disagree. I find that more people are afraid of kayaks
BECAUSE of
>the deck, and fear that they will get trapped. Many people feel that they have
>to know how to 'Eskimo roll' in order to paddle them. This explains (in my
>tortured mind, at least) the surge in popularity of the sit-on-top kayaks as
>recreational toys - you can't get trapped. Plenty of people think of
canoes as
>'tippy' but if they can swim they feel like they will at least get thrown
clear.
>
I've been watching this interesting thread develop since Doug first brought
it up but Philip, I'd disagree with you based on my own experience and
assuming I'm not totally abnormal should reflect at least in part the
feelings of many people. Twenty years ago when I was 35 I had a chance to
paddle a canoe on Lake Vermillion in northeastern Minnesota where I lived
for a year. I paddled around the lake for several hours (solo) and knew
enough about paddling to get where I wanted to go but I never found it to be
easy. I was always so intent on what I was doing, the lake and scenery
drifted by unseen. Five years ago I felt that maybe kayaking would be an
interesting method of travel and rather than blow 3 grand on something I
might not like, decided to build an inexpensive one to try it out. I was
never afraid of the closed in deck in fact I preferred it. The lower height
meant wind was less of a problem and paddling was a dream, it seemed to
require less effort but certainly required less attention. I liked it far
better than the canoe.
I still have the perception that a more difficult water condition can be
tolerated more easily by a more novice paddler in a kayak.
Another reason for the increase in growth may the the baby boom, right now
there are millions of people approaching mid 40's to mid 50's. Its a low
impact sport body wise, sure ones butt gets sore, but a thermarest pillow
sorted that and my sore lower back out very quickly. Most, not all, of the
people I meet kayaking tend to be over their forties.
I also have read tales of those who paddle the Bowron Lakes chain in British
Columbia where wind conditions frequently keep the canoers on the shore
while the kayakers continue on their trip. No claims were made as to the
relative capabilities.
Bram
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