wee pockets of enlightenment
Published November 5, 2007 | 
I ain’t young
But I ain’t so old
That I can’t learn
To do what I’m told
Teach me, Teach me
Teach me baby
- the cruel sea
I agree with Mr. Brown in essence. The idea that people limit themselves to one small discipline within a sport or life for that matter is never a great thing. Especially if you take the attitude that your discipline is the only “right way”. When GB refers to “wee pockets of enlightenment” I can see that being a direct response to those who seem to place an almost “religious” aspect upon traditional paddling. It’s paddling for god’s sake! lighten up!
What I don’t agree with however is the somewhat limited point of view that traditional paddles are as he says, “unsuitable for what we do”. I have to wonder what part of “what we do” can’t be done with a traditional paddle. Maybe by “we” he means those paddling elite that most us great unwashed will never be part of!? I suppose though until more people get out there and do some serious expeditions with their traditional paddles this will always be an open question. In my novice experiences I can’t see the limitation. Gordon points out of course that he has many more years experience than most of us and I will give him that.
When i was planning my Puerto Rico trip I thought hard about using my Greenland paddle. When in Wales I went out a couple times using the GP, but I was never quite that comfortable with it. The problem of course was mine and not the paddle. I’ve seen too many good paddlers easily deal with conditions with their “lollistick” in hand. I spent a good long weekend watching Doug Van Doren leave me in the dust without breaking a sweat. Greg Stamer has certainly proven you can put miles under your kayak in all conditions with a toothpick. In the end I don’t think it comes down to what you do, only what you are capable of. In my case I knew that i just did not have the rough water experience with a GP to commit to it for my trip. Looking back though, it probably would have been just fine. Of course I also realize that if someone chooses to be a detractor, then nothing you do will change their mind.
In the OP interview what Gordon does say is that if he had that interview with Simon Willis over again he would have taken more time to clarify his point of view. Something he did do in the OP article. He points out that he has skin-on-frame kayaks and many traditional paddles. He points out as well that he has introduced many people to traditional paddling. He also states as I mentioned that his years of experience far surpass most of us. But I’m not sure that’s the point of contention. I believe the issue most people had was the caviler wave off of traditional paddling. The fact that he took something very dear to others and put it down as something less than “real” paddling. Mr. Brown points out himself that traditional paddling for him is exactly that, a fun way to fill time when he’s not “serious”. I’m sure that is what rankled everyone.
Here’s the bit that sticks in my head. As an instructor and teacher you have to be careful what limitations you put on your students. Somewhere in your head you have to realize that your views or limitations may be just yours. Someday some of those students are going to pass you by and show you that what you thought could’nt be done. . . can be. It’s you job to help them along their path, not lead them down yours. It seems to me it’s a much better idea to open doors than close them. I’m quite sure that as the popularity of traditional paddling grows we will see more expeditions paddled with sticks and more people flying down tide races in tuiliks. In years to come the idea that only Euros can be used for “what we do” will fade just like so many other linear ideas in the past.
I enjoy reading Gordon’s writings. I respect his experience and teaching skills. Lord knows he’s better at both than I’ll ever be! I even agree with him that some people do get lost in their “wee pockets of enlightenment”. I just think those little pockets exist on both sides of the debate.
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5 Responses to wee pockets of enlightenment
Can you scan the relevant parts of that article and post it please for those of us w/o the subscription?
Perhaps the OP folks would be amenable to a bit of free advertising in excerpt form and bless it with permission.
Greetings from Scotland Derrick.
It might interest you to know that I first saw a Greenland paddle in Gordon’s hands. He and his friend Duncan Winning (from his Garnock canoe club days) recently sea kayaked in Greenland on a quest to Illorsuit to track down the family of the maker of a SOF kayak that was brought to Scotland in 1955. This kayak formed the basis of the Anas Acuta and key aspects of its design are still seen in most British form kayaks to this day (including my Nordkapp LV).
Gordon does use a Greenland paddle but I do mostly see him using a Euro paddle. Three of my friends use a Greenland stick exclusively, Duncan Winning, Alan from the Solway and Sgian Dhu from Skye. However, most paddlers in Scottish conditions use Euro paddles, we are a very traditional lot! At a recent Scottish symposium expert Greenland rollers were having difficulty in one of the tideraces despite mastery of over 30 rolls. I love watching Greenland rolling but I too use a Euro paddle.
One last thing, Gordon has a sense of humour and shares another Scottish characteristic, we love winding people up!
It is good to be a member of a broad church.
Douglas
)
I think all kayakers should use there hands to paddle.Throw away all forms of paddles. It is by far the purist form of paddling . Going back 6000 plus years!According to John Ribowski of Bloomington Indiana. He also promotes using reeds of the “Miscoses plant” to build the purist form of craft.
I know Gordon and enjoy his wit and writings, but don’t understand what “unsuitable for what we do” really means. I’m looking forward to getting a copy of the magazine containing the article.
I used only GPs during my recent circumnavigation of Iceland with Freya Hoffmeister. The GP was certainly more than capable and we averaged 40+ miles a day. Was the trip “serious”? What does that mean?
I imagine that to the Inuit who subsistence hunted seals and even walrus and whales from their kayaks (truly a “serious” activity), often in rough seas, and then had to tow that game home, that most of our non-essential recreational kayaking “expeditions” would seem quite frivolous (but fun — they enjoy/enjoyed kayaking for recreation too of course).
I do agree with Derrick that care must be taken not to create artificial limitations and mental roadblocks. This goes for both sides of the aisle. Just look at Leon Somme. Rather than take the “well-known” advice that you can’t do the fancy Greenland rolls without a “stick”, he ignored these “limits” and now can do most of the rolls with his “lollipop” paddle.
Unlike Derrick, I haven’t seen a “religious aspect” to traditional kayaking. Maybe that’s what people think when they see a bunch of people standing around in black hooded garments… Of course, there is plenty of passion in the traditional ranks and the occasional “new convert” zealots.
If we always listened to those who told us what we can`t do, nothing would ever get done.You learn to paddle from your instructor and then you are supposed to go on and surpass your teacher, any way you can. I paddle with both Euro and Greenland paddles and have no trouble at all with either. I think that you should use whatever works in your hands.