Did kayaking fall back into the fringe?

I started paddling in about 1986/7. Boated a bunch and had a great time. By the time I moved to Montana in 1991 I was hooked and paddled as much as my time would allow. At that time there were still few kayakers in Bozeman.

By around 1996 it seemed that everyone I knew was getting into boating and the Gallatin (local run) was crowded every evening and it was a cool scene.

Driving home tonite ( I drive along the whitewater stretch every day) there was no one out on a beautiful sunny afternoon with the level near perfect.

So, did kayaking peak?

Is it back to being more of a less popular sport where you live?

Inquiring minds want to know.

BTW all the folks I used to paddle with? Most have moved on to something else.

I'm in the same shoes. I would say all the guys I used to boat with moved on. I think the issue is there are new kids doing it but the back fill numbers aren't as big as those moving on. I think in the hay day people were moving on too. But the in rush was huge. And most of that in rush were from weekend warrior types who have moved onto other things. Bike ski sup whatever.

I still get out about once every other month and I would say all the class 3 or 4 rivers are less crowded than they used to be.

I will say that the top end rivers 4+ 5 see more regular traffic. I think that is due to improved equipment and tons of beta on line. I remember when the green was this crazy mysterious death trap that you had to go with a long time local to survive. Now you can watch a thousand head can videos and know exactly what you are getting into.

I live in the southeast for reference.

Where I live in Central Colorado, it seems that every 4th vehicle has at least one boat up top. Almost as much as skis on racks in the winter. The SUP phenomenon has taken off like a rocket as well. Granted I live near Dowd Chute, Eagle River, Shoshone, Colorado and close to the Ark. A central mecca for whitewater boating.

The death of kayaking was predicted many moons ago.

20:24 for the answer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdfUkrbNvwA

Patagonia bought Lotus Designs in 1999
Patagonia exited paddling in like 2006-8

a nice summary of the boom years.

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Originally Posted by Hugh

Short answer: yes

Conway;4003078

Patagonia bought Lotus Designs in 1999
Patagonia exited paddling in like 2006-8

a nice summary of the boom years.

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Nailed it...

well no wonder its a cold/scary/wet/high skill lifestyle sport requiring huge amounts of time but not really that much money

where lots of people can jump on a sup or in a canoe and have fun the washout rate on ww kayaking is BIG and the sucessful paddlers the sport does attract are a fairly wierd personality type ( puts hand up) and frankly I am suprised every year that I find I am still doing it BUT we got a club with a cool play spot/fire pit /sauna and a local paddle shop so in spite of being in the middle of fucking nowhere the local scene up here is still pretty strong

' used to paddle as much as possible --
Gas was $1.20/gal.

I travel a lot less with Gas at $4.25/gallon ...

I am fifteen years Older -

I Miss floating the rivers . . .

I am looking to get into it, minus the theatrics. Have always loved the river and it is pretty accessible.

I was talking about this with my wife the other day. I definitely think it peaked, and it seemed to have had something to do with innovation. A lot was changing during the late 90s in terms of boat design that reinvigorated those who were already paddling and attracted a lot who were getting into it. It definitely seems to have peaked. I used to paddled at least once a day during the summer when I was in college. Gas prices have definitely hampered that, but I no longer work on the river either.

I also miss running rivers and the mystery/newness that it used to bring. Excited to introduce my son to whitewater when he's older...

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Originally Posted by sethschmautz

I also miss running rivers and the mystery/newness that it used to bring. Excited to introduce my son to whitewater when he's older...

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Amen Seth, for me its been a mix of being new to the kid scene and some poor water levels have just given me justification for missing the roadtrip and day on the river. My long time river pal and I were checking river flows this morning and it's sad to see the flows so low for June. Slow flows can make for a really long day and sometimes a walk to the car has proved faster and more exciting.

I still love the river and playing in the same swell section for hours in WW kayaks. I hope to do that with my two boys now 3 & 6. I got Fun1 from JACKSON kayaks last summer and the little dudes loved it. I just bought another Fun1 so they dont have the fight each other for boat time this year. I cant wait until the can graduate from the pool, pond, lake scene & experience surfing Whitewater. Nothing better than spending the day on river with your friends & family.


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Yes, definitely.

There used to be four stores in Missoula where you could get a boat, and now there is one. The wave used to have tons of people every day at 4:30, and now there are more surfers than kayakers.

I do not paddle as much these days as I used. Now I like to get out on the class III and IV stuff I passed over in my younger days of hair boating.

it's still a pretty vibrant scene here in jackson. I still have 4 boats leaning against the house, the Pirouette gets out for the occasional flat paddle, that's about it. But i'm thankful that i got to learn in the 90's from bunion and others...

Video games & high gas prices.

Maybe just people I know, but it seems like a lot of river rats are gravitating towards rafting. It's easier, more social, and better for longer, overnight trips. I'm not really into either though, so I could be way off base.

Unfortunately, I'm falling into this category as well. Life is busier and I have a third kid on the way and just haven't been able to get out much. I can still do couch to class IV and feel comfortable on it, but feel class V dwindling away.

Started paddling in Bozeman during the TGR movie days which coincided with the peak, then lived in Colorado, now been in the PNW for seven years. The scene is smaller...especially here. It's weird how much whitewater there is here year round and how few boaters there are getting after it.

Olympus,

Just put those Fun1s next to the Lotus that I have dibs on and I'll pick them all up next time I'm going through SLC. :-)

My son has a few years before he's going to be ready to get in a kayak, but I'm excited for it. Keeping my eyes out for a good raft for the meantime. . .

Seth

That sounds like a plan to me. I'd love to see these kayaks go to good home when these little dudes grow into a bigger kayak.


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In the SE kayaking has been growing a lot the last few years. I'm in my 2nd year of boating right now but everyone I've talked to that's been in it for a long time has said it's getting way more popular. Maybe the year round boating season down here helps, or something.

Former SE boater that hasn't paddled in 2 1/2 years, but still hasn't sold gear.

I cranked it way back when the daughter was born. 3 years ago.

1. I just can't take a full Saturday to paddle when my wife's been home with the kid by herself all week, plus I want to spend time with them.
I could take an occasional weekend to go, but I really don't have the desire any longer. I keep telling myself ill get back into it. There is also the risk factor.
2. I've gotten more into fishing, which still gets me out on the rivers. I'm able to do it after work in the summers when I'm on the road, anyway, so it's not stealing family time.

The main issue with kayakers is that they are so dang flakey that getting them to do anything is a miracle.

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Originally Posted by scottyb

The main issue with kayakers is that they are so dang flakey that getting them to do anything is a miracle.

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I think it is still pretty strong in the SE (maybe because we don't have good snow and winter is prime creeking season). I've backed off some (at least the class V stuff) the past year or two, mostly due to enjoying mountain biking and some other things....and you just can't stay sharp paddling class V unless you do it every weekend (for us mere mortals that is). If you want a mix of things you enjoy in the outdoors, you gotta back off the paddling some, and it's hard to do.

Actually enjoying paddling some III-IV again though, forget how fun that stuff was until you try to go scare yourself shitless every weekend until it gets old.

Flaky, yes...especially the old people.

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Originally Posted by scottyb

The main issue with kayakers is that they are so dang flakey that getting them to do anything is a miracle.

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All the people I have ever connected with are eclectic to say the least so its not really an issue for me rather it is why I have the friends that I do ... we are all fucking nuts

they've moved on to packrafts. :)

No pack raft here but i do have a thrill seeker inflatable kayak. Nice to have in the quiver, particularly for folks who have never paddled before.

I certainly paddle less. Gas prices are a bummer and I have a great mountain bike trail system a couple hundred yards away. I can spend five hours to paddle a river for two or just go ride for two hours. I can hit the play waves in town but that's still a 3-4 hour production vs just riding for two. If I do drive up to the river we take my raft now. It's more social and the dogs get to go.

Many of my friends have had kids too which has put a damper on things.

On the gear side, there was a huge jump in boats for about 10 years starting in the late 90s. There doesn't seem to be huge advances anymore and with SUPs on the scene, even more people are looking at other ways to be on the water.

I don't really know much about kayaking, but these guys are still given 'er like its 1999

Worth a view to see what the youngins are gettin into

SUP to get the thrill and learning curve back, kayak 4+ and 5- to feel like you've still got it, and multi-day raft to get in the rhythm.

Although it always feels good to get the simplicity of living out of the back of your kayak again for a weekend.

Yeah, people get hurt and scared. But there will always be new boaters.

I agree that gas prices play a role. Also, in a bad economy fewer folks have the kind of time it takes to learn to kayak.

College students in the late nineties thought they'd find a good job regardless of grades and majors. I remember thinking how amazing one could live while working very little and mostly boating. A few months of heavy seasonal work would set me up for months of boating every day. There are a lot of local shops that have gone under since the peak of the short boat revolution, 2002 or so. Those shops employed boaters, but more importantly they supported a culture of paddling on a community level.

think it's bigger - been noticing many places that the "feeder sports" - flatwater kayaking and canoeing don't seem as popular as they once did.

There was a good article several many years ago(late 90s Outside mag?), it may be mentioned in here, of the death of kayaking. Although it seemed premature at the time its premise is probably true for any sport. Things spin up and spin down per the nature of people.

White water has always been fringe, talking to friends in the industry they say touring or sea kayaking carries the white water stuff. Far more people live on the coasts and will do the lower impact touring gig than go for the extremo killer death run.

I myself have been tempered with age and only do up to class 4 and often lesser steams that I passed by in my younger haste to tame the gnar gnar. Still boating but certainly less of it, luckily I have been able to fill in with other things.

Long gone are the days of composite materials, epoxy and endless sanding/grinding to achieve that supreme hull with which I could make luv to the water goddess. Nowadayz its more I drive by and wave but she does not notice, however there are glints of past glory and that old feeling comes back.

https://vimeo.com/5351487

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Originally Posted by skiJ

' used to paddle as much as possible --
Gas was $1.20/gal.

I travel a lot less with Gas at $4.25/gallon ...

I am fifteen years Older -

I Miss floating the rivers . . .

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This is the boat I find myself in as well. Also had a kid who is now 8. I used to have no problem leaving my pretty wife for 8 hours to get a few laps on any given river or creek half a state away. At one point just before we spawned my wife (a CPA) told me "We" were spending more money on gas that anything else in life other than housing.

I still have gear and try and go when the local stuff runs, but that still only means a few times a year. It's a lot less fun when your gripped by class 4 stuff that used to be a mellow good time.

Miss it. Love it. Always felt like boaters were tribe. Hopefully when my boy is grown I still have the urge.

I don't know, I'm in my mid 40's and I just got into it last season and since then several of my friends have joined me. I live in the SE and have friends that are instructors and it seems to be growing rather than shrinking at least around Asheville but again, I wasn't doing it 2 decades ago. I spend most of the winter skiing in Colorado and then try to get in a couple days paddling, MTB and at least a day at the MX track so it shares time with other sports. I guess it has replaced climbing as I rarely do that any more. My 9 year old is getting into paddling now so I'm sure I'll be doing it for years to come. My wife and daughter enjoy class I and mellow IIs in our IK so we get out every so often with the family.

They all bellyak now.

Yes, every Jerry is now paddleboarding. Many actually get up, paddle for a bit, then get tired and sit on the board for the rest of the time. It’s so hip.

It seems as other outdoors sports have become mainstreamed (namely climbing) kayaking has gone further into obscurity. If you think about it, going down a river in a plastic boat is inherently WAY gnarlier than skiing, climbing, etc.

For example, if you crash on skis, you may be broken, but you will come to a stop and may not die. If you swim out of your kayak and are unable to get to safety, you drown.

Kayaking is just inherently gnarly and is definitely not an accessible sport. Whitewater kayaking has a relatively small, regionally-specific community, lots of gear and training to get into and enjoy, etc. A sport like climbing requires minimum investment of money to get into, has a much larger, dispersed community, and is generally far more accessible with many gyms, classes, etc.

I boat far less than I used to, but still like to associate myself with the obscure little tribe, which probably likes being labeled an obscure little tribe.

Nowadays, I view it more as an alternative to hiking - running/floating a remote-feeling II-III without seeing another person is pretty awesome.

Personally, i don't boat anymore for two reasons: 1) we live in a location with a pitifully short and almost non- existent season without driving a long way. 2) i promised my wife no more hard class v when we got married.

I miss it.

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