an illustrated zen thing
June 27th, 2006 | 
Author: 
Communion
Relaxation
Balance
Cheetos!
What’s this about? Well, I’m turning 41 in two days. Reed sent me my new cag in 5 days! Now that’s beyond amazing. . I’m finding a new way to play with my kayaks. Standing gives you a new understanding of secondary stability. Gryphon did his first trip around the lake in his own kayak. Oh, yeah, towing a kid three miles is exhausting! How’s that? After seeing that long discussion about commercialism in kayaking on QajaqUSA I thought I’d just post about nothing. . .
. . .nothing at all. 
Posted in 
That’s pretty impressive or are u hiding those ’splashes’ photos from us!
Nice!
Hi,
Splashes?? LOL!! I’ve sort of got the hang of it now. But the Acuta is pretty twitchy. One thing is sure, my dismount needs a little work.
)
Derrick, Looky,looky.
http://www.valleyseakayaks.com/anasacuta.htm
In the upper right hand corner, send them a picture, right away.
=8-}
yeah, I saw that. Hmmm, I wonder if all the NDK logos on my gear is ok!??
I enjoyed that post about commercialism on the QajaqUSA site. It raises a ton of valid points. I was thinking of trying to put it all together into an essay or something. I especially liked the post regarding “heroes” in kayaking and if we should have people we put up on a pedestal. I will keep my opinion on this to myself for a bit but if there are heroes in our sport, people we look to for guidance and inspiration, then I think you would be on the list Derrick. Your blog is first on every link list out there. I have spent the last year furthering my knowledge of the sport of kayaking, mainly Greenland stuff, and have learned a great deal from your site. We appreciate you being out there. I hope to run into you on the water some day!
Hey Matt,
Thanks.
But realistically I think people come here to see reports about “real” kayakers. I’m just a conduit most of the time. 
Thing is, we all look to others for inspiration, tips or whatever along the path to whatever goal we have. As a social animal we learn from others. It’s our nature. Like chimps using sticks to get ants out of a hollow log, we need to be shown how to do it. “No man is an island” as they say. Some people claim to be, but I’m not sure they could convince me of it. 
I have many “Idols/Heroes” in the sport. (Not that I’m going to start the North American Church of Holy Woolven’s anytime soon. . .
I do deeply respect them for their talent, instruction and the hours, weeks and years of work I know they put into getting where they are. I’m not sure why people have a problem admitting to that. Without mentors, teachers, instructors, etc., we’d have to keep running into the same walls, eating the same poison mushrooms, and walking the same paths over and over again. What’s the point in that?
Plus when we talk about “heroes” these days I think most adults mean that in a mature way. In that just because we admire someone’s ability or talents in one area we don’t necessarily make them out to be a god either. (Andy Warhol comes to mind. . .) I think we mean respect, not blind adoration. And respect for one another is a good thing. Well I’m sure there’s a little blind adoration as far as Freya, Shawna, Justine. . . are concerned but that’s another topic entirely. . .
)
I wonder, didn’t the young teens in Greenland many years ago admire great hunters!? Weren’t their elders respected for their wisdom? Were not stories told and legends formed? Were those great hunters treated differently than the average person? Were the elders treated with more respect? Did they eat first, get the best cuts or whatever? Would that not be compensation for their role in the society? Just some thoughts. No real points.
I’ll tell you one thing. With all this balance work I’ve been doing lately I’ve got a whole new respect for Freya and her trademark headstand. . . but I’m working on it.
41? So young to be already walking the decks like a Master and Commander of your own ship! Good on ya, mate!
(Said with big grin…) I don’t walk on choppy water (with or without a paddle!), I can’t stand up in anything smaller than an aircraft carrier (and I have the bruises to prove it!) BUT – Rob Gibbert and I both got our first handfulls of norsaq rolls this week on Anglesey!!! We are ALL learners (or dead!).
round here we had this guy named Paul Bunyan. . .Must have been a ancestor eh?
)
http://www.visitbemidji.com/bemidji/paultales.html
Great on the norsaq rolls!! I’m like 100% if i basically hand roll with the stick in the right hand. That’s that reach out and “smack” style. BUT if I lay my inside hand over the back deck and just sweep up in the more traditional style I’m more like 50-50. . Nothing off-side yet, but I’m working on it!!