Or... why do boat builders become great paddlers?
Psychic connection to the canoe?
Take a look at Karel, Kai, Maui, Mike Giblin and now the new kids, Luke, Keizo, Kelly etc. I think Danny also has a hand in shaping or paddle making.
Is it natural progression in the passion of canoe paddling? All I can think about these days is building a boat. Now with the doors opening in 6man, maybe clubs will build their own wa'a. Is this how they do in Tahiti?
Hmmm, thinking out loud here. DIYWaa.com
Submitted by joe on Thu, 06/03/2010 - 1:09pm
joe, if you take a look at the names of canoe-builders you listed, you'll also see a list of people who freaking LOVE paddling. In most cases, that includes the serious training part of paddling as well. Most canoe builders probably chose that livelihood so they could contribute their creativity to canoe design, as well as using their free-time for training. A good canoe builder knows paddling, and knows canoes. And serious paddlers are the ones who've put the time in to learn about those things.
#1 Thu, 06/03/2010 - 2:38pm
I would say that everyone of these guys would also state building boats for a living seriously has cut INTO paddling time.
Heads nodding : )
aloha,
pog
#2 Thu, 06/03/2010 - 4:10pm
seriuosly cut into their paddling time? i agree they're all dedicated and hard-working but they're not their 24-7. kamanu guys are all there busting ass and put in long days but they still train and they've got capable employees. OC, kai waa and now wainui get most of their boats built in china. give all those guys credit, love what you do AND get paid doing it.
#3 Fri, 06/04/2010 - 12:56am
Because:
Their experience gives them ideas, and
Their reputations give buyers confidence.
#4 Fri, 06/04/2010 - 5:00am
If your self employed it CAN be 24/7 and building things can get in the way of using them or at least bog down all the R&D type tinkering you would like to be doing instead of shop while out on the water. If you are making stuff for people and have waiting lists this never leaves your mind.
aloha,
pog
#5 Fri, 06/04/2010 - 8:39am
reminds me of that Thoreau quote, something like; Which would advance the most, the boy who made his jackknife from the ore he dug and smelted or the boy who purchased a rogers pen knife from the store, furthermore which is most likely to cut his fingers?
Yeah goto "people who freaking LOVE paddling" and let me add - work for it. Something should be said to that. I've tried a couple times to make paddling more of my life, but damn, its hard to get things to line up. I know a hand full of people that do, and hats off to them.
#6 Fri, 06/04/2010 - 11:50am
Very few great paddlers build boats commercially - towards the evening of their career: Karel Sr., Tommy Connor, also Oscar Chalupsky.
I agree with pog, either you build or you paddle. The exception is Kai Bartlett.
What is serious training for a competitive athlete ?
In my opinion, you are serious if you train more and better than your competition.
#7 Fri, 06/04/2010 - 1:09pm