Why do canoeists trash-talk kayakers?

[ian123]

Skooks,
Guelph is is Ontario... Canada...
I wouldn't accuse anyone of being insecure... lots of the kayakers in the local club will paddle a canoe in low flows... What I am saying is there is still the odd remark here and there... even if only in jest...
It sounds like you a have a wonderful group...

[Creeker]

tommy my badA$$ friend, you'll be truely as badA$$ as your rants when you can really do it all.... OC, K1, C1 and....... (if breathing isn't a priority go FullGnarlz and SQUIRT).

You'll never reach your full badA$$ potential till you really Openboat, OpenMind.

[markzak]

Just catching up here... and Larry's Post MADE.MY.DAY!

I actually haven't experienced true kayaker to canoe hatred. Usually they're just stoked to watch someone killing it in another craft style. I get the occasional "I don't know how canoes do this..." or... "wow...is that a C1"... sometimes they get pissed when I'm in my ME and clear out an eddy, but they swarm like bees and need to move along.

[fez]

just one question: how can I apply for TEAM ORIGINAL FORMULA

[Smurfwarrior]

TEAM GEL FORMULA! Wooohooo that stuff rocks.

[Larry Horne]

smurf. you tryin to pick a fight?

[Smurfwarrior]

Maybe

[ckingoc1]

I’m trying to understand why canoeists trash-talk kayakers so much. I learned how to paddle in an open canoe and spent a good 10 years paddling a Viper 11 in class 3-4 at least twice a week. I have spent the last 15 or so years paddling a kayak (though not as often as I would like) so I think I have a pretty good perspective as both a canoeist and a kayaker. I don’t label myself as one or the other. I am a paddler no matter what type of craft I take down the river. I feel fortunate to have learned in a canoe since I believe in order to be a really competent canoeist you need to learn to read the river well and to paddle efficiently. I don’t believe that this necessarily makes you a better paddler than someone who has only ever paddled a kayak since I have paddled with some pretty amazing boaters who have never been in a canoe. I must admit that I did my share of ‘trash talking’ before I started kayaking but now that I have a much broader perspective I don’t understand why. It seems to be very much one sided, with canoeists dissing kayakers much more than the other way around. I don’t know any kayakers who would feel the need to talk smack about canoeists. In fact I think most kayakers would think it was pretty cool to be paddling with open-boaters as long as they had the skills and a good attitude. I understand that ribbing your friends is fun, but trashing kayakers in general is pointless, unconstructive, and boring. One type of craft is no better than another. It is just the hunk of plastic that we each choose to slide down a hill of water in. It is the paddlers that make these craft come alive, and are we not all paddlers? If you really want to become a better one, open your eyes, broaden your perspective, learn from each other, and celebrate our shared passion.

Let the trash-talk begin…

-Skooks

Ok I must be really board.


Are you saying this is a one sided? Do open boaters say things like, lets go canoeing? Almost always I say go boat, or paddle. Kayaker almost always say I'm going kayaking. I even had them ask me if I wanted to go kayaking, then I say no but I'll go canoeing.
Also I've had kayakers I dont know ask me things like "can you fish in that"?(in a super fly) to which I say yes.
Now do we ask if there wearing panties under their dress, sure!


All that said we let kayakers paddle with us fairly often and rarely does a fist fight or hard feeling break out. Bottom line smack talking is fun!

[Lappie]

The most trash talk I have experience, as allways been towards canoeist from kayakers!!

[PincheLocoGringo]

I started out and was quite content to paddle the DeathYak. I swicthed to a canoe, not because it was the pinacle of whitewater, for two reasons.
1. Everyone I paddled with open boated and could offer advise.
2. I couldn't take the constant harassment for my craft of choice.
Now that I paddle a canoe exclusively, I enjoy smack talking with the best of them. But I generally only harass people I paddle with a lot and who enjoy the give-and take of it. When I paddle with a new group, I offer to let the yakkers try whichever boat I have, but normally won't talk smack.
But, like OC1King said, "Smack-talking is fun".

[RodeoClown]

I'm a proud member of "Team two coats of Original Formula" (Team Toof for short). Though the reviews I've been hearing for the gel formula have got me willing to give it a shot.

Either way, I DO buy it by the gallon.

[Sir Adam]

I'll add something to that last bit- as I agree Smack Talking IS fun... among friends. If y'all are just busting on each other it is all in good fun.

The problem is when someone doesn't know it's all in good fun, be it out on the river, or here on the interwebz. That's the reason we keep smack talk to a minimum here. More boring, yes, but hopefully more welcoming to newer paddlers from anywhere vs. just the ones that "get" the regional jokes.

The best bits to me are always the canoe to canoe, or kayak to kayak ones... as we've all heard all the digs before it can be quite entertaining.

[Craig Smerda]

Long Canoes versus Short Canoes... now those were some wonderful "debates" here on Cboats

[Lappie]

What's wrong with long boats

[FullGnarlzOC]

LONG BOATS?