C-Forum

From my Male pov, if you want to have more women paddling canoes, give your time and effort to help two or three get their "feet wet" (mentoring) and, if they have fun and improve, they will attract more women to the sport.
Locally we have an increase in women paddling canoes in ww, looking solid in class 3 and moving into class 4, organizing the trips, and working on the instructors cert. to pass it all along.

I paddle with more woman in OC1s than men, Lots of time I go paddling and it me and 7 woman and maybe 1 or 2 other guys. Lot of the woman started paddling OC2 and they loose there partner and they want to paddle so they learn OC1. I loan one woman kayaker my xl13 and she really like it. It is at her house right now. From my perspective they like the socialization as much as the paddling. They stop chat in the eddie and have a good time. There is this river that if it rains on Wednesday you can run it on Sat and Sunday We run it all summer it is a class II with 1 class III drop you can do the drop or go around. I paddle with a lot of woman kayakers also. Most of the guys are looking for call III IV runs and they do not want to do that.
But they are all now looking for harder stuff.
The social is just as important to them as the challenge and you have to give them the social

My wife ask me who you paddling with Sally,Marcy,Karen,Kelly Rachel,Susan ,Betsy ,Patty,and Paul

I just want to paddle and I am happy to have some one to paddle with.
They have all been improving and want to try some class III this year. I think the thing is you have to take the time with them.

... on the other hand Linda woke me up on Saturday morning saying you've got a phone call.

*** was on the line and she said that the Canyon has come up overnight and it is running a 4 on the mark, are you paddling or not?
(4 on the Mark is a class 3+)

I'm sorry guys, I went back to sleep.
She called later to say the run was pushy and challenging but good.
Maybe next time.

She paddles an Esquif Zoom. dam, that boat is tippy. I had to jump in it on short notice and paddle it out and the kindest thank you I got was that the only move I knew was brace.

In our club, the theory was for the guys to bring along their girlfriends. Apart from that, once we had a couple of girls who were serious about paddling (NOT socialising) more followed. It's harder for girls to break into a group that's mostly guys than if there's already girls involved.
Unfortunately, these days most of the girls are all about the socialising and pink boats. I preferred when I was the only girl in the club and paddling trips were about paddling.

there's nothing wrong with pink boats! Actually, my photographer's eye loves them most, since they stick out most and give colour to otherwise grey and white winter photographs



I can't agree with kiwi, but that might be because I hardly see any woman in any boat. I look for mates that are not only really good paddlers but sensible and trustworthy as well; to go on difficult rivers with so I can learn and progress into difficult whitewater. But many boaters don't fit this scheme, no matter wether they're male or female

And the ones that fit in mostly live so far away

One thing that I happened into this last year, was volunteering to teach OC1 at the Boater Chick Festival. This was the third annual gathering of this festival by women paddlers, for women paddlers. It was held on 3-4 different rivers near the North Carolina and Tennessee state lines, and they race-drink-freestyle-teach-drink-offer trips-eat-have band-and drink. And BTW the first time any open boating was offered.

If you have such a happening in your area, one of you guys might find it enjoyable, as I was basically the only guy teaching. Having the shoe on the other foot was really enjoyable, for I've often taught mixed or men only classes. And as usual (IMhO) found that women tend to go right for the finer details of finesse better than many (many) guys who'll muscle along thinking they are doing the lesson well. Having instructed women in climbing I'd seen this before, but found it even easier without some of the fragile macho male ego problems. If you have such a gathering, it might help to ask if any help would be appreciated.

Maybe find one of those "women into yoga paddling SUP's" groups that Richard eluded to in another post and offer an OC clinic for them. They already like the single stick.

jroneil wrote:I paddle with more woman in OC1s than men, Lots of time I go paddling and it me and 7 woman and maybe 1 or 2 other guys.

WHAT???

Just tell us where you live, I'll betcha a bunch of dude are dreaming of such a place.

We have quite a lot of women in our local club, but it's still about 75% man.

Want to paddle with girls, Go back to university.

Most Uni-Clubs seem to be roughly balanced as far as gender goes...

isn't team mohawk all girls?

I've long thought that boat weight and size were barriers to women considering OC-1. Most "entry level" boats have been 12' royalex boats weighing in the 50# plus range. Sure, a composite boat makes sense, but those are harder to find (and try out) and most folks are hesitant to go with a "fragile" boat (I know, I know). Same problem for kids. Thus, more end up in kayaks...

found that women tend to go right for the finer details of finesse

That is true women in most cases do not have the upper body strength to force it so they need the better skills. A guy can use brute strength with sloppy paddling. The are also a lot lighter in there boats and there boats are more responsive.

jroneil wrote:
I paddle with more woman in OC1s than men, Lots of time I go paddling and it me and 7 woman and maybe 1 or 2 other guys.


WHAT???

Just tell us where you live, I'll betcha a bunch of dude are dreaming of such a place.

I paddle mainly in NH and a lot of guy recently have asked to be added to my list

I've long thought that boat weight and size were barriers to women considering OC-1. Most "entry level" boats have been 12' royalex boats weighing in the 50# plus range. Sure, a composite boat makes sense, but those are harder to find (and try out) and most folks are hesitant to go with a "fragile" boat (I know, I know). Same problem for kids. Thus, more end up in kayaks...

we help each other with boats

As for up here, it seems tobe at about 50% woman in the group I paddle with, and I'm sure it will increase!
hope it will , they are fun to be around...

I think Richard has the right idea - for men or women - Cboating has to look like fun for someone to want to try it.

A "hey try my boat" in an eddy or at a play spot can be all it takes. That's how I got hooked when I was in a kayak and that's how I've gotten friends (kayakers and non-boaters) to try and enjoy an OC1 as well! For me, ncdavid was willing to help me carry my boat until I was able to do it myself and didn't mind cleaning up the yard sales. Lending boats, a little patience and willingness to help out and maybe even volunteering to go the extra mile and paddle something easier than you'd like to help a newbie become more comfortable goes a really long way!

In one post...
Good thoughts Agrestal,
refelcts my attitude. Thanks

Hello Turialba & Rica Rios; it has been 7 years but the memory is good.