why do so many canoers have a giant chip on the shoulder?

[oopsiflipped]

i know lots of folks who canoe and leave it at that. but more and more it seems that open boaters have little man syndrome and need to prove themselves to kayakers and the rest of us. what's the deal? get over it, or i'll be happy to give you directions to elk river falls.

[TheKrikkitWars]

I think it's something to do with the whitewater mainstream struggling to accept the idea, and "Otherising" them...

There's a grey area though, I feel I have to measure up to a certain standard of boating, because all my friends do, and they're all filthy buttboaters... I have however accepted that it's sometimes impractical, or just irritatingly hard work to paddle an Open Canoe, so whilst my canoing overall has an element of "proving myself", the open boating is just for me to enjoy myself with.

You're not inspired by a certain someone are you?

[OC1er]

I boat mostly with Kboats out of necessity, and we definitly rib each other quite a bit. The old "Dan would know since he spends so much time on his knees" and "what do you with the extra paddle, you should take your training wheels off, you're all grown up" stuff, pretty typical. I personally don't give a hoot what a person boats, I'll boat with 'em if they're good peeps. I've made a ton of friends thru this hobby, from almost all the different boat types. It ain't the boat, it's the river! It ain't the boat, it's the people! Jebus I wish it would rain...month off then pfd on the upper G? I'm screwed...

Dan P.

[xmas0c1c1k1]

I don't know if it's just an open boat thing I think it is a problem with the boating community as a whole. There seems to just be this plague of something to prove syndrome all over the community.

Now I will openly I am as big of a hater and asshole as they come and my "friends" (the people forced to be around me) but I really think the ego needs to be checked on the way to the river. I also don't think these forums help much in regards to egos

It's all about having fun in my mind. Frankly being a good/great kayaker, c1'er, oc1'er in the grand scheme of things is pretty trivial. Having fun accomplishing your goals and getting out and doing something for yourself is very important. So do it for yourself nothing to prove.

As i'm writing this I see the Esprit banner of 5 world class oc boaters and I have met 3 of them and they are some of the most down to earth guys i have ever met so...

[cadster]

Whitewater kayaking and solo canoeing are sports focused on individual performance. Rapids are good at punishing our egos. Telling oneself that you are doing something better or harder than a kayaker builds your sense of self-worth.

There’s nothing new about this situation. Maybe a change is that with improved technique and equipment more kayakers can be running class V rapids in a few years of paddling whereas most canoeist never will.

[oopsiflipped]

Now I will openly I am as big of a hater and asshole as they come and my "friends" (the people forced to be around me) but I really think the ego needs to be checked on the way to the river. I also don't think these forums help much in regards to egos

It's all about having fun in my mind. Frankly being a good/great kayaker, c1'er, oc1'er in the grand scheme of things is pretty trivial. Having fun accomplishing your goals and getting out and doing something for yourself is very important. So do it for yourself nothing to prove.

AMEN!!!!

What is so funny to me is that the the more I paddle, the more I am constantly humbled by the river.

[Craig Smerda]

Although I'm not a clinically trained psychologist I would venture to reason that what you've casually labeled as a "chip on the shoulder" may in fact be due to a certain subset of kayakers that seemingly have an unfounded and enlarged superiority complex over the open canoeist.

Exhibit #1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esw2pL6w ... =1&index=8

Personally... I could give two sh!ts less what type of boat people are paddling and most of the jawing back and forth is typically in good fun... although there are always a few exceptions.

[jscottl67]

You're not inspired by a certain someone are you?

Tina Turner perhaps?

[cadster]

Based on the L’edge hype, I get a sense that open boaters with short boats aren’t happy with the looks of their boats and open to ridicule.

These guys getting a L’edge might improve their attitudes.

[FullGnarlzOC]

It's called pride for your sport. At least that's how I roll.

Being apart of an overwhelming minority on the water, a minority, where most of the 'majority' has never even given it a try.... I feel 'destined' to show them the way of the OB. If that makes any sense. Do you know how many times we got to a honkin drop this past week...and we'd be looking at it, and someone would say... "I don't know man... I dont think this is a good drop for an open boat", ect.

For most of you....you have nothing to prove. Whether it be you were once a hardcore class Ver, able to navigate almost any waterway(maybe u still can?), or whether you do it PURELY for enjoyment. Odds are .... you have nothing to prove.

However, for some of us...and i'll just speak for myself, because I seem to be one of the only outspoken OBer left in this world....It's that 'chip on our shoulder' that keeps us getting better. It's that 'chip on our shoulder' that keeps us striving for things that many swear 'cannot be done', and it's that 'chip on our shoulder' that HOPEFULLY will expand the sport to new limits and new boaters.

[oopsiflipped]

eddy, are you just being silly or are you really a complete whack-nut?

canoes are inferior to kayaks. they have big holes that let them fill up with water.

i can only hope that you will take up crocheting next and your new mission can be to prove yourself the the knitters of the world.

[FullGnarlzOC]

Also notice, that people are usually a little more outspoken on forums. like someone mentioned above.

Usually when u get to the river... we're all about 'business.'


'Oops' that's for u to figure out. I'm probably a completely whack-nut to you. I'm a different breed.

[Craig Smerda]

eddy, are you just being silly or are you really a complete whack-nut?

He's young, green, confident and to his credit... he seems quite driven.

That being said though... actions speak louder than words... it'll be interesting to see where he goes in the future.

canoes are inferior to kayaks. they have big holes that let them fill up with water.

You'd best not be in our eddy when we're full of water after that comment brah!!!

[FullGnarlzOC]

thats wut im sayin craig... i think this forums r good for expressing what we dont express on the river... because we are too busy paddling (where actions speak).

I <3 cboats.

and i'm VERY green. Give it time, maybe i'll settle down... i dunno. Anyways....those r my reasons for having a 'chip on my shoulder'...and I don't know if I would even call it that.

[jscottl67]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJkY_IHP ... EF0CC57E7E

Awesomeness....when we get THERE maybe we could toot our own horns a little. For some strange reason, those that are there generally don't though. Hmmm.....