Hey guys,

I'm a a journalist at a Seattle magazine. I love kayaking but no one i work with knows anything about it. I'm pretty new to Seattle but it seems like there's some epic water around here. I know the big water season is right around the corner and I want to know who's hitting it. If you're a total badass, or you know someone who's is we should talk. I want to write about kayaking in Washington but I need to do it in a way that's exciting even to yuppies. LMK.
thanks.


Edited by dmatule - 13 Mar 2013 at 12:34pm

Three Words:

STOP PROMOTING KAYAKING.

this place is Whitewater Paradise, its true. And plenty of people can tune into it if the sport truly calls out to them. But as far as outdoor recreation opportunities go, whitewater kayaking is still surprisingly under the radar. Personally, I'd like it to remain that way. I'd like to see as many people as possible tracking up all the powder at Steven's Pass and other ski areas. Those are decoy activites to keep people from the real goods: PNW whitewater.

I know I'm in the minority w/ this viewpoint, but the rivers and creeks don't need any more traffic. River's got too many plastic shavings from people dragging their boats, seal launching, littering their half-assed outfitting (mini cel foam) all over after yardsales, ect.

"The industry" is healthy enough to keep inovating, contrary to what others might argue.

I'd say if journalism is truly to serve this sport in a noble way (instead of a parasitic way), it would focus on educating the new comers to this sport (and veteran boaters alike) on how to exist on the river in a more concientious way in terms of how they impact the river, and how they interact with fellow paddlers and locals alike.

JP is the Emmet Watson of whitewater.




Edited by JoesKayak - 13 Mar 2013 at 6:50pm

I agree with what jP said: "I'd say if journalism is truly to serve this sport in a noble way (instead of a parasitic way), it would focus on educating the new comers to this sport (and veteran boaters alike) on how to exist on the river in a more concientious way in terms of how they impact the river, and how they interact with fellow paddlers and locals alike."
Sometimes the "bad-asses" on the river are the guys running safety.

JP I love you man, let's go hit the Ohane...

That said, I remember you posting something similar about keeping Yellowstone illegal to kayak because you snuck in and did it illegally.  You wanted to keep too many people from heading in there.  There was a petition to make it legal and I wanted to post a link, but alas it's over, I signed it!

I respectfully disagree with your point of view.  In order to keep access to my favorite places on earth I will try everything I can to get more people kayaking.  I know you have a vision of kayak lifts and crowded creeks but that's never going to happen in my opinion.  The word "yuppy" also got to you in that post...

As we all know kayakers are much different than skiers.  Don't you think there are natural filters that will keep the masses away from the creeks that we both love like Robe, McCoy, Ohane, Jefferson and the Cispus?  I Don't think they will be crowded... ever.  Even if there were, we would have a leg to stand on to keep runs open.  More voices mean more impact.  Plastic shavings and foam outfitting ruining rivers?  Really?  If groups spread themselves out I cannot imagine McCoy being too crowded to run...  I paddled the Green in North Carolina and it was "crowded" but totally doable, totally different vibe and people from hundreds of miles away were flocking to the only class V available!  It's warm there!  Even in the U.K. creeks aren't crowded and kayakers are literally everywhere.  Kayaking is a class in public schools, I saw kayaks on cars more than here!  I saw more female kayakers in Nottingham over a weekend there than I have in my life here.  Easy runs get crowded but it's a tiny island with no mountains/glaciers!  The season is short except for planned releases, which there are plenty of.  Kayaking is actually promoted.  (Sort of, but that gets into a whole other can of worms, again small island and fishing is weird there...)

Back to the topic started here:
"Badass" kayakers are not like the "badasses" in a lot of other sports, so asking for them is not likely to get a response.  JP is onto something in that respect. 

I really do love that WAboater responded by giving another paddlers name

WAboater: I know I'm not alone in thinking you are the exact person that the initial post was aimed at!  I'd love to see a story about your paddling, I won't say much in public but your profession, paddling skills and attitude about the sport is unlike I've seen in any of the other "extreme sports."

The one thing JP may be missing is that there is a natural filter in kayaking.  Water will humble anyone and plenty of folks trying to become "badass" boaters get turned away.  Maybe something to do with breathing and ice cold water?  There is no money in kayaking, which I think keeps it more pure.  The risk to reward ratio is completely internal.  I love that about paddling.
 
Sorry if I've given away too much...  All this said, the attitude on the east coast was a lot different than here.  I don't want that kind of attitude here but I honestly think that the cold keeps that from happening.  How else could this mecca be so void of paddlers?  I encourage anyone to give it a try, it's the most awesome thing I've ever experienced!

I love this quote, that is spot on.

I sympathize with your views and agree that the waterways everywhere are taking a beating but frankly, I don't think most people could stomach getting into a kayak. Most yuppies might go out a couple times but will give up after their first big swim. 

Who cares about someone who is really good? Why is that so interesting to people? What about people that have a commitment to the sport in addition to other life roles? What about those that sacrifice everything for the sake of the sport of paddling and never promote themselves or what they are doing? For every pro kayaker who has an article written about them, there are ten more shredding just as hard in their own way, after or before going to a job, taking care of kids, etc.

The "check out how badass this guy is" mentality of kayaking media coverage in all forms is tired. How about getting an article out that articulates the magic of interacting with nature in your own way so that people can understand the beauty of the sport of kayaking. Maybe this will result in more kayaking, but I think articles like this would get people to think more about anything they do and whether or not that connects them to the world they live in.

Everyone deserves to feel these things in their own way. People just need to understand you have to earn it.

by-the-way, what magazine or publication is it for?

Seriously though - I think Sam Grafton would be an excellent guy to interview. He is a part-time medic/firefighter/river resuce guy who lives in Index - the heart of Washington's whitewater. Paddling is only one part of his life, as he dedicates the majority of his time to studying. He definately qualifies the 'badass' category - paddling the hardest whitewater in the state on a regular basis. His friend Rob would be very interesting, however, you would probably have a hard time with that and regret interviewing him in the end. It would be a lot of work.

After the last entry...  I don't know Sam well, but I do think WAboater has a point.

This thread was about writing an article.  No pictures/stories/articles about boulder drop are going to look as good in print as this:
http://vimeo.com/53755060

That is a good point about how putting a sport into a singular focus makes it less interesting, I had not thought about that but I agree.  I just wanted to add that I'm with Darren and think Rob would be a super interesting person to talk to, he was one of the boys and girls I suggested in my PM to journalist. Granted, interviewing him would be like interviewing a wild camel and I don't know if the Seattle Met readership is quite ready for him, but I don't think you can have a real article about PNW paddling without Rob.  Not that you can't have a good one with the other people mentioned in this thread, we are surrounded by stellar boaters who fortunately are also fun to boat with.  Have to love the PNW!

TastyWaves just delivered a national magazine cover story grade pitch.