With all this talk about coverage for our sport and getting it into the "mainstream" in todays society. It makes me wonder what's missing from our sport that keeps it as it is today?
I've had several discussions with friends and paddlers about this, and it seems that our sport is not "EXTREME" enough or doesn't have that "extreme" factor. And there's also the topic of our audience not being able to see our races unless you're at the start or finish. Where's the appeal?
I'm not a forum or blogger guy. Just a dude that likes to paddle. So don't pose your questions back to me because I probably won't respond. Just want to see what everyone else thinks about our "extreme" or not sport?
north
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Submitted by AlfredVG on Thu, 04/03/2008 - 3:38pm
I think that if people could have seen you get smoked going between the Mokes in the Coastal a few weeks ago most of them would consider our sport to have an extreme element.
Maybe we just need a couple boats to end up splinters at Allan Davis every race to make it seem more extreme.
#1 Thu, 04/03/2008 - 5:28pm
AlfredVG said:
"And there’s also the topic of our audience not being able to see our races unless you’re at the start or finish. Where’s the appeal?"
Most of the extreme sports have done okay on televised sports...even with taped delay.
Shots taken from helicopter vantage points have been very good looking for many water sports. I think I saw some video of one of first Kaua'i World Challenges that had some helicopter footage.
There is also the technology that has made NASCAR popular with lightweight on board cameras as well and Rambo's efforts and others show how striking those type of shots are.
Lightest equipment would probably be some low power remote cams with heli-based transponder/link to production van. Been used for live skydives and similar stuff already with usual success...at least in rehearsals!
I am just observer but seems that part of excitement is the evident skill in getting the linked rides off subsequent swells and the occasional oops and odd wave with some one's name on it.
BTW has any more from that production for that proposed movie "Flying the Ama" been seen anywhere at events, etc?
Once that comes out and plays at some of the film festivals it could start to generate interest.
Have good weekend and good luck for any competitions this weekend, too!
#2 Thu, 04/03/2008 - 9:46pm
Some things just dont translate that well to video and non paddlers just seem to quickly lose interest as they cannot put themselves into the experience. A lot of the extream part is watching a guy do a backflip on a motorcycle and knowing that if he f-s up he will be severly injured, these things are happily missing.
As many here agree, it is a meditation and has a large inner component. There is something very primal, hypnotic and satisfying to me about paddling which fits the harley davidson saying "if you dont understand there is no explaination" I cant even explain it to myself, it is just beautiful to be on the ocean and be free...oc-1 free alone on the sea with the touch of fear and exhilleration that they must have felt long ago when they set out.
#3 Thu, 04/03/2008 - 10:39pm
Here
s my take on "whats missing" . Nothing is missing.The reason paddlings
not hugely popular to a wide audience is because its a lousy spectator sport. Dont get me wrong , Ive been a canoe racer for over 30 years and love this sport immensly but , have you ever been a spectator of a canoe race?. A canoe race to a non paddler is about as exciting to watch as watching the grass grow.Lets face it, we race at full speed at 8mph and that
s if youre real good. We sometimes travel pretty substancial distances at this speed.Try to put yourself in the shoes of a spectator. At the starting line , we leave the area and reappear hours later someplace else, In the intervening interval we are not even in sight.
Also , theres
no carnage ,spectators like carnage, when we wipe out, we roll out of the boat and get a little wet . To spectators this stuff isnt a good use of time.This all said however , spectators at least in Europe seem to have a taste for watching sprint racing within an Olympic style format. The spectators can see the whole race , it`s fast and all over quickly.
I think the World Va
a Championship races coming up this Summer in Sacremento are going to be pretty cool. From what Ive heard, the Tahitians love this kind of stuff.Any of you guys/girls going to Sacremento?
http://maineoutriggerchampionships.blogspot.com/
#4 Fri, 04/04/2008 - 1:51am
Paddling is more of a participatory sport, not a spectator sport. And as with all endurance sports, it goes against our current culture. Most people are lazy and have a 30 second attention span. Harsh but true. Paddling is growing but realistically will always be a niche sport except in places like Tahiti and Hawaii where it has a cultural history.
It would be nice if it grew in popularity, but at the same time, maybe the exclusivity contributes to it being a lifestyle and not just another sport.
#5 Fri, 04/04/2008 - 5:43am