Lynched
October 27th, 2006 | 
Author: 
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…
-lennon
I suppose it’s a good time for a preface. Gordon Brown is one of the most well respected and knowledgeable Sea kayaking coaches in the world. This is why when Gordon speaks, the sea kayak world listens. (Gordon, if you’re reading this, how’d you like that build up!??)
As most of us know by now GB started a bit of a fire in the traditional kayaking world during a recent podcast interview with Simon Willis by saying in reference to his new book, “Sea Kayak”:
“I have said quite pointedly that there is no place in modern sea kayaking for those [Greenland paddles]…The Greenlanders were a race of survivors. If and when guns came along, do you think they still used harpoons? And when outboard motors came along did they still use kayaks? And when nails came along, did they stop tying kayaks together? As sure as we are sitting here, if they had carbon fiber paddles, they would have used carbon fiber paddles…”
When I saw the sudden online firestorm rolling through QajaqUSA, I thought, “I bet neither Gordon nor Simon, were even slightly expecting this. . . ” Yep, that’s the power of our instant global communication world! One second you’re sitting nice and comfy talking to a friend and the next you’re being lynched by a bunch of strangers on the other side of the world. Ouch! Bloggers, Podcasters, and their guests may find a lesson in there that our words must be thought through, even if regularly mis-spelled.
My first thought was to re-iterate Rowland W’s assertion that one guy’s opinion is NOT the BCU opinion. The concept that the BCU is against traditional paddles is just plain silly. However, there are some silly coaches who are against traditional paddles. But that’s another story all together.
In reading what I have in the past from and about Gordon Brown, I think he’s another one of those coaches I’d sell my left shoe to get instruction from. I was curious what his take on the reaction would be. Although he has responded many times that he has a long history of using traditional paddles, I had really expected he would give a thoughtful defense or at least justification to the concept that “Greenland paddles have no place in modern sea kayaking”. It would at least be an interesting discussion.
I’m jaded. All you need do is paddle a couple days with Doug Van Doren to question such a blanket statement. Certainly Doug, Greg S. and others are intermediate to advanced sea kayakers. . no matter what Greg says. 
I do realize that there are many rollers who may not have the skills to do multi-day trips on rough waters. But then, there a plenty of NDK owners with the same problem. . . And hey, that’s not everyone’s bag anyway. If it’s an issue of materials, then we could argue there’s no place for a wood Euro either. But I can’t see an assertion like that being worth printing. Besides we’ve been seeing fast growth in traditional gear using modern materials. Superior’s Graphite paddles have been around for some time, and new traditional kit is coming out all the time. (can you say “traditional” and “kit” in the same sentence??)
Am I biased? Well, no more than anyone else who “goes both ways” as I like to say. My gut tells me they all go together. Beals & Lendals, Superior paddles & Epics all look great together. Nothing slicker than my black storm on the deck of my Explorer if you ask me! It all just seems like 2 sides of the same coin, and maybe the same side of the same coin.
So I guess I’m just confused and still wondering; “Greenland paddles have no place in modern sea kayaking”? In what way? Maybe, I’ll have to buy the book. . .
peace
Posted in 
Well said sir–and I’m not a Greenlander paddler!
Thanks–I just ordered my copy!
Of course, we still procreate the good ole ‘traditional’ way, don’t we, in spite of the more modern ‘artificial’ ways now available to many of us. Sometimes ‘traditional’ just feels good, so I’m sticking to using my Greenland paddle when it’s appropriate to do so and using my Euro when it isn’t.
I agree somewhat with Gordon. I think most Greenlanders now use modern tools like a motorboat and rifle for hunting because these are just much more efficient, and probably a lot safer. We have to consider that kayaking was not a sport or a recreational activity to native Greenlanders, it was their way of life, and they relied on it for their survival. Traditional kayaking might not be so popular in Greenland, if it were not for people outside of Greenland (especially Denmark and the US) taking a such keen interest in it. However, I see nothing wrong with paddling with any type of paddle, or any type of boat you like. It’s sort of like saying you shouldn’t use a bow and arrow or a musket for target shooting or hunting because there are high powered rifles around.
Here’s the question I ask, Isn’t modern sea kayaking recreation? Or is it something so serious that only certain paddles can be part of? That’s what struck me, How can something NOT be part of modern seakayaking? Other than maybe waffles. . .
And why not waffles?!!!!
They provide us with the energy we need to get up and go kayaking. And, if they are a few days/weeks old, we could probably use one to aid with a hand roll.
On another note, I wonder if Derrick’s “book club” will have the same impact that Oprah’s has?
Clearly the worst popular song John Lennon ever wrote. Should we take everything “SOMEONE” says so seriously?
Rob G
I don’t know Gordon or his history with the GP and the BCU but that statement did get a rise out of me when I first read it. Ironically, it wasn’t the Greenland paddle versus Euro paddle thing that got me fired up (since I use and enjoy both) but rather his assertion that carbon fiber paddles are superior to wood. From a purely whitewater standpoint, the best paddles in world happen to be made from wood (Woody Custom Paddles, Jimistyx, etc.) The wood paddles are stronger, warmer, and easier on the joints than their Euro paddles and yes they even come in bent shaft varieties. Many of the best whitewater paddlers in the world trust their lives to wood paddles over the much more brittle carbon. The only tradeoff is that a custom wooden paddle is pricey ($300-600) even by carbon standards.
From a general PR move, this isn’t the best thing Gordon could have said. Many Greenland style paddlers prefer BCU certification over ACA since they formerly appeared to be more inclusive of the subsport. Having one of the head BCU guys dismissing people’s passion in such a casual way (without some firm reasoning) seems disrespectful or thoughtless at best. While we all have the right to our opinions, with Gordon it seems that he unfortunately is seen as the voice of the BCU whether he wishes or not (since he basically wrote the manual).
The first guy to build the first kayak and paddle, showed it to his neighbor, and his neighbor said “Hey that’s pretty cool, but I bet I could do it better.” – and so this argument began.
Harleys vs Hondas
Powerboats vs sails
Ford vs Chevy
Pick a sport, same argument. It’s what keeps life interesting, so long as we do not become disrespectful of each other.
Variety is the spice of life. I have many paddles. They are all different and I enjoy them all for various reasons.
I’d still like to hear Gordon’s reasoning behind saying that. His wife was saying something about it being a mis-understanding or taken out of context or something.
One thing that’s occurred to me: He said GPs have no place in *modern* sea kayaking–he did not say they have no place in Greenland-style sea kayaking. So if you define modern sea kayaking as playing in tide races or even journeying, *in modern, large recreational composite sea kayaks* maybe the paddle is not such a great fit for most modern kayaks. They obviously work, but some aspects of performance are admittedly lacking…they fit with low volume Greenland style boats much better–which was an entirely different thing, created and refined for hunting, not playing–and that’s not what you’d pick first to go paddle the Bitches and Dogs and Falls. So all this paddling 100yds off the beach and flopping around and even using a GP to go play in gentle surf for the day is sort of a fringe thing to the most cutting edge modern sea kayaking. Be the same thing if Laird Hamilton said something like “Wooden Longboards have no place in modern surfing”. Even if there are 500 guys carving surfboards the old school way and surfing the hell out of them and having a blast, it is a fringe thing compared to big wave tow-in surfing–but it’s still valid for them. Along that line, tow-in surfing is a small part (spectacular though it is) of surfing in general, like “modern” sea kayaking is a just a part of paddling in general.
Also, I’m not saying that GPs and SOF are limited to casual paddling and playing, clearly PCTIKS or whatever that gig Brian Schulz those folks out west there did earlier this year showed that you can takes these things quite far in big water. It’s modern kit in one sense, but not what GB was defining, I don’t think.
Just a thought. I’m not Gordon, but there’s my stab at maybe something of what he meant. My speculation.
Whatever.
Ya’ll have a great day–I’m going paddling! : )
Thomas
Thanks Thomas. Yep, that’s the vein I wondered if GB would go down. Making such a “curt” remark tends to get the hotheads going. It would be nice to hear the reasoning. I may not agree with any of it, but at least it would be a discussion and not a battle.
Yeah, I’m off to the pool today myself. Spending this winter getting my offside stuff working. .
I like Gordon Brown; he was very kind to me at a FL symposium.
I like my Greenland paddle; it was very good to me in heavy water on L. Superior.
Ross
It seems Gordon’s comments have caused quite a stir on the other side of the Atlantic. Good is my reply to that. Why – we should never be afraid to challenge, provoke thought and reflection.
Modern in my opinion is something which embraces change, evolution and actively promtes experimentation with new approaches. Greenland style paddling doesn’t (as far as I’m aware) have this approach – yes the Inuit knew a thing or two about sea kayaking but preserving and maintaining tradition isn’t modern. It’s not second rate or to be looked down upon – it’s a equal within the sport of sea kayaking but modern isn’t a term which I would use to describe it.
As to Alex’s comments about it not being a wise move for one of the ‘head BCU guys’ in terms of PR – I would be worried if they all followed an ‘agreed’ standpoint and didn’t challenge things – that’s one of the greatest strength’s of the BCU coaching scheme.
Finally bear in mind that the English language and the way it is used to convey meaning and expressions varies greatly from one side of the Atlantic to the other. That said Gordon isn’t afraid of speaking his mind which is a good thing
Just got back from a day on the saltchuck with my GP. I have paddled over 600 mile this year with my GP, and some of it in quite nasty conditions. I have to say I felt much more comfortable with my GP (I had a euro paddle on the back deck as a spare and used it to surf on Nootka Island. For me, Greenland paddles just work better! They are gentler on my body and more fun. I do remember feeling put out when Derek Hutchinson (the designer of two of my boats) would not let me take a class with him using my GP!
Now that I have a firm date for the book on the book shelves and all the final proof reading is out the way…. For the first time since that podcast I have had time to sit down and surf the web and see what controversy I seem to have caused. A number of the anonymous posters have hit it on the head. Now that I have a life (and a wife) back I hope to respond .
Any advice on where best to do this would be welcome as would any personal emails to info@skyakadventures.com
There was dug out canoe on the loch where where I started paddling which has been dated as 3000 years old – I’d love to see their paddles!
Happy Paddling whatever the flavour ( or should that be flavor?)
Remember we have been descibed as two countries separated by a common language
Very Best wishes
Gordon