I think most of the joshing is all in good fun, however, there are times when I have to explain to kayakers that, yes, I *am* going to take a canoe through that and *yes* its not only a good idea, but it's been done before. Admittedly these are mainly newer kayakers (<2-3years) who haven't seen open boaters except on the Nanty. Some are genuinely perplexed at the idea of C-1 - you are sitting on your knees? Why? They straight up question your sanity. So I rattle off my prerecorded litany :
You sit *inside* a boat you could be trapped in?
I like the better view and don't like feeling like a little kid at the grown ups table
More leverage
My feet go to sleep in kayaks
It's what I started in - never saw the reason to change
the roll is simpler (didn't say *easier*)
I like the challenge
It's just more fun
If their eyes glaze over, I paddle off. If they "get it" or at least tolerate it, I'll paddle with them. If they look interested, I try to teach them to roll. And it is a pleasant feeling when I can pull off the same moves - even better when I do it smoother.
While we're analyzing your character (your online on anyway) under the thin veil of whether open boaters have a chip on their shoulder, here's where your chip gets me... the bashing of canoeists! Forget the kayakers.
What I appreciate about open boating is that many of the best boaters make time for all kinds of canoeists, without knowing or caring what their goals are. Maybe Paul Mason, Eli Hebert, Mark Scriver, Dooley and others like them were loud-mouthed and over-eager when they were younger and nailing their first class IV and V rapids, but I doubt it.
The stuff you spout here about C-1s/skirts sucking when you've never tried it; and the worse stuff, saying that anyone coasting on a brace through class II-III is harming the sport - that's where there's a chip on the shoulder!
All over the place there's class II-III canoeists who you'd call lame who are mentoring friends, leading clubs, working with scouts, etc., and those "floaters" will do more for the sport than you ever will if you only have time for the few with class V goals. People get real tired of hearing "I'm so much better than you".
So, the chip may not be about the need to impress or the need to get better, but it's the disrespect for other canoeists who don't share your exact goals. We all need to work together to give this sport a great reputation.
If you're going to last in canoeing, and help grow the sport, you might want to brush off the chip that has you looking down on all the schlubs (like me) who don't share your desire to crank up big-water class IV-V. These elitist, pissing-contest chips aren't unique to open boating, that's for sure, in fact, their probably more common in other sports, like kayaking, so maybe you do have more in common with those skirt-wearing sissy-stickers. I hope they don't convert you once they're all you have left to talk to and paddle with.
Pat .... were you low bracing that whole post? yeaaahhh you were.
It's not about the class level you are paddling at...it's how you do it. That's all i was saying when i was 'bashing' other canoeist so you say. Really was just tryin to fire people up, and get people boating better. And you don't have to paddle class V to do that.
Me? I'm not content being another 'face' in the crowd. Thats all. Still you can only take so much of what I say seriously... I mean... I self proclaimed myself as "Eddy McGnarlz" for F sakes....and I did that, when i was still paddling Class III. lol.
Lengthy - this is very entertaining... that's what im' talking about.
I think most of them are insecure. Everyone I've met who is into paddling (kayaks or canoes) are either really cool or really lame. Luckily almost everyone I have met this summer as I have been learning to paddle a WW canoe have been great! I am so appreciative for the support I have gotten. As far as the insecure jerks and people being really cool or really lame... same goes for cyclists, rock climbers and skiers.
....and you shoulda seen my rad line this weekend..EVERYone was like, wow dude that was SICK ..and with only one blade! i swear i converted half a dozen yakers cuz they had no clue ...
yada, yada, yad....da...da.....
Eddy don't take no sugar cookie off any of them. You are doin fine, you choice of boats suck and you are a Yankee, but you call an Spade a Spade all you want to. These people on here talkin about they didn't know dooley,eli when they first started boatin but they think they know who they were, they don't they are gussin. I did know them when they started. The fight between canoers (no not canoest, you might be a canoest, but we are canoers down here) and kayakers was goin on when i started in 1968 and I bet it was goin on long before that. you keep gettin in the butt boater face all you want. It is the butt boater who are always sayin how dead our side of the sport is, we nuthin but a bunch of fossels, no money in makin canoe let only build low skill butt boats. Don't take that sugar cookie layin down, some of these people on here paddled with their Kayak buddies and then their buddies make fun of them as soon as they are out of sight. Remember you can't trust a butt boat in a sugar cookie house with a muzzel on. AW (American kayaker) is butt boater and you see how they do us. Remember Eddy you are a Yankee so people exspect you to be an butt hole anyway. Also remember the guy who started this thread is a open boater who couldn't hack it and had to get a kilt.Also the Cali guy who is too cool for facebook,but lives in a state who keep elected bad actor as governors doesn't have open boat skill either so that is why he is down on you too. One final word Eddy I don't know if I mentioned this or not but you are a Yankee.
Creek season aint far off bring that big arss boat down here and we'll take you creekin, of course the last two yankee with big boat who talked a lot smack didn't pan out too well when the rubber hit the road. BTW you are a Yankee but you could be from Califorina.
Can anyone else tell from the tone of the recent discourse on this board that it's been a dry summer? This sort of "animosity" seems to be most prevalent on these forums when the rivers are at their lowest. But, since it's been dry here too...
FullGnarlzOC wrote:It's not about the class level you are paddling at...it's how you do it.
Yeah, we've seen your videos. You've got some work to do. Keep in mind that actions speak louder than words. Most of the best boaters are also some of the most soft-spoken and outwardly humble. Some come off as self-promotional on the interwebs, but that's largely a part of the "job." Promote/get exposure for your sponsors so they'll keep sponsoring you so you can keep paddling. You can call it being a sell-out if you want. I don't really care. I feel the same way about it as if someone tells me open boating is lame. I'm just going to paddle and have fun. If they think what I'm doing is cool, great, that makes me happy. If they don't want to try it, or don't think it's cool, it's no skin off my back, because I'm still having fun.
I'll also agree 100% that canoes are inferior to kayaks. But that does NOT mean they aren't fun in their own way, or don't belong in whitewater of any sort.
You sit *inside* a boat you could be trapped in?
I like the better view and don't like feeling like a little kid at the grown ups table
More leverage
My feet go to sleep in kayaks
It's what I started in - never saw the reason to change
the roll is simpler (didn't say *easier*)
I like the challenge
It's just more fun
Hey Mr Blackfly if Kayaks are better than Canoes, why isn't it Blackfly kayaks? New Hamshire that North of the Mason Dixon line isn't it? (see my post above). But hey we glad you feel that we do have a place in whitewater, but admiting we should be allowed on whitewater ain't going to help you get Lelands or Suttons seat on the AW (american kayaker) and we all know that the main reason to run for office in that Kayak club is to help sales of what every whitewater related product you are tryin to push.
I am sure comments like you posted above is really goin to help sales,I know i am goin to run out and get one of your Rodeo boats and tell everyone else too also. Ya your post will really help sales well that and the fact that Rodeo is dead
what's next...real life is inferior to video games?
maybe canoes are only inferior to kayaks when you're paddling one...but that could be because you're a kayaker. i'd suck in a kayak, so for me a canoe is superior.
don't take that the wrong way, just my perspective
skills? not so much.
