Names Darling!
Published July 23, 2010 | 
Ziggy played for time, jiving us that we was voodoo
The kids was just crass. He was the nazz
With God given ass
He took it all too far, but boy could he play guitar
– bowie
So I got into this conversation the other day. The topic was “Names”. Do paddlers you read about in Sea Kayaker magazine inspire you to sign up for events or symposiums? Would you go any way? Maybe when you read that a certain paddler is going to coach it’s a great idea to attend to get instruction from the ‘masters’ so to speak. But what if the ‘Name’ is only there to present and preside? Should symposiums sort out the green M&Ms for the latest person to paddle across Boyizitbig Bay, or should they save the bowl for a couple great coaches instead?
Now let me be straight up here, I do like to hear about great adventures and I believe folks who do inspiring things deserve the kudos. Inspiration is also an important part of learning.. and marketing of course. I also don’t buy the “I’m not influenced by names, brands or culture!” meme. Even the best of us fall into the trap at times. Often we don’t even know we’re doing it. I mean, I’d like to claim rebel status too, but I know why I bought my first Rolling Stones record back in the day, and it wasn’t because they were an unknown pop group that I found in the bargain bin. Thing is, there is a standard today that says paddling events must have “names” to bring in the participants. Do they?
*Image from out in the vast sea of ABFAB marketing photos…
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12 Responses to Names Darling!
I’m totally convinced that a headline name to a paddling symposium doesn’t make that much of a difference to the final numbers of people who attend. The reality is that 90% of the “big names” in kayaking are only known to 10% of those who are average paddlers. The type of people who get all excited that so and so is coming to the local symposium are most likely were going to attend in the first place. In that case the return on investment for the organizer really doesn’t come to pass.
That being said, a big name in paddling does generate a lot of excitement amongst the faithful which in turn spreads to the fringe paddlers so maybe it’s helpful. As somebody who has organized several symposiums and instructor conferences, I would rather put my energy into making sure that the instructor staff was rock solid then then think about a bigger name if the budget allowed for it.
Anyways, it some random thoughts about it.
David J.
That you need Names might be savvy marketing by the Names…
I can’t say that a certain “name” would draw me to a symposium. I go there to learn and paddle with others who enjoy the sport as much as I do. I did choose to go to GLSKS partly because of the instructors who were slated to teach there that focused on traditional style paddling (well, that and the fact that I love Grand Marais as a venue). Some symposiums have more of a focus on a traditional track than others and my goal at GLSKS was to learn some of the different Greenland rolls as well as learn some more practical things. I will be attending Ladies of the Lake as well, but after attending LOL since its first year it has become more of a social event for me than anything, although I will make myself do a rescue class this time around. I have tended to focus on learning Greenland rolling in the past rather than do a rescue class, so my rescues right now are a bit rusty. So would a name draw me to a symposium? Not really.
A slightly peculiar and ironic question, given the context that this blog is obsessed with symposiums and ‘big names’ – I would argue that the heart/centre of the sport (on this side of the Atlantic at least) is completely elsewhere; it’s just people going paddling on the ocean doing their own thing and having their own adventures; most folk couldn’t give a hoot which coaches are going to which symposium, because they’re off paddling for themselves. They can be inspired by impressive achievements (round Australia etc) but these achievements (or indeed hero worship) don’t shape or define what our spport is about.
Mark Rainsley
Mark,
Thanks for your thoughts. I do have to say though that I think your comment that it’s a “peculiar and Ironic” question, more then simply being unnecessarily terse and intentionally insulting makes an assumption that I am not aware of my subject matter, or of the question I asked. Maybe it would seem particular appropriate and logical for this blog to ask this question given that “I (the blog) am obsessed with symposiums and ‘big names’” as you put it. I should note that “names” win races, paddle white water, and drop off cliffs and I could care less.. It’s not about names, it’s about stories and people who inspire us to explore.. explore our abilities and our world. I’m sorry you missed the difference, but thank you again for taking time to take a swipe at me while you’re here.
Beyond that, here in the states at least symposiums are pretty much the only way new paddlers can gather with other paddlers. We’re not a very social bunch here, regardless of what you may think. Most of us don’t know the guy next door or the guy 10 feet down the beach and most would not talk to them without good cause. So we have hundreds if not thousands of paddlers who really struggle to find instructors or mentors in the sport. What’s more, many of us don’t live near a coast but do have an interest in sea kayaking. Local (within a hundred miles or so) symposiums are one of the only ways to get people together with more experienced paddlers.
Next I have to say that in all my travels I’ve learned that people in California, Georgia, UK, wherever.. all have their own particular styles and experiences. If you can make different symposiums you’re open to new concepts.. (sometimes safer ones). I could tell you some of the things we thought were great here in the mid-west were archaic compared to what was going on on the coasts. However, at least before the internet, if no one traveled we were really cut off and stagnant when it came to learning. What’s more, small groups of paddlers are limited in their knowledge and skill to the best of their group and frankly without an outside evaluation you have no idea if you are really as “good” as you think you are.
Maybe the best argument is simply financial. Symposiums are more cost effective for students. They can pay a couple hundred dollars for a class locally that may or may not have great instructors or just pay a bit more for a weekend that is filled with classes and well recognized, usually certified and experienced instructors. Not to mention “Peer Reviewed” LOL! The point is, Symposiums offer quality and value.
I totally agree with you that most paddlers don’t care about attending symposiums. Most people don’t care about kayaking. Most “paddlers” don’t care about wearing a life jacket or taking a class either. Our emergency services can tell you all about that. Thing is, a lot of people do care about kayaking, gear, people, adventures and the rest. 5 years later and folks are still reading right along. While something is not for everyone (or for you), it does not mean it’s inherently “bad” or of less value. It may just not be your cup of tea… and that’s ok too.
Mark comment reaches deep… I have lived decades and practiced sports on both sides (UK and North America) and it always struck me that, when British magazines were talking about the ethics of a sport, American magazines were talking about which tool would allow you to go farther or faster (France was in-between). As if the focus on one side was personal practice and achievement and on the other side owning the best equipment.
I do not mean to say everyone is like that, just that the type of commercialization and the buzz around the sport led to such bias. This was very obvious 30 years ago – it might be less so now in magazines, but still persist in actual practice.
The Names story fits this paradigm: here in North America we easily think expertise can be bought (or at least enormously helped) by buying the best boat, paddle, instruction etc… hence the seemingly importance of Names… and the endless discussions on which boat is best on the forums (yes there are some in the UK but less so, and there the nature of the exchanges is also a bit different). Mark’s observation of typical British behaviour (just go paddle, and less worshiping of technology and Names) is in line with this paradigm too.
For what it’s worth…
Certainly the states is a gloss and glitz led society when it comes to sports and general marketing. But it’s not everyone of course, and there are plenty who make jokes here all the time that you don’t need to know how to do anything if you can afford the best gear. I see a lot of value in having great paddlers who have real world experience, who are also great teachers at events. Especially given that our world is full of paddlers who have never put 10 miles together in one go.
I think there is a line in there somewhere between the value of experience and worship. 
Derrick, instead of “worshiping” the word “focus” would likely have been more appropriate. There is no doubt in my mind that symposiums are useful: good value, and going to some I have been blessed with excellent instructors, an opportunity I would not have had in my local pond (ok, it’s bigger but still fresh water!). Some were very well known, but were there just simply as instructors. As you say, the best of them fulfill a role by pushing our envelope. In the end, “Names” might be more in the mind of the organizers…
So to go back to your question <>, would not it be just a simple case of chicken and egg? Like I need bigger names to have a wider reach so as to support the bigger budget the bigger names I have invited will cost me?
As for the UK/US comparison it has truth but also limits: such as that one of the prime symposium (with big names) is in Wales and that currently the most “stardomized” paddler is German…
I’m not sure, but I think “stardomize” might be a bad word! LOL! Good points all. I think we’re all sort of agreeing that “Names” that are good coaches do add something to the event, but “star power” in of itself is probably not worth the added cost.
I think that if one wants to start comparing UK to NA paddling/socializing styles, one can’t ignore the use of clubs in the UK for helping to bring new paddlers into the community. At least here in Canada, paddling clubs are only there for those who are into paddling from a competitive perspective.
In the UK where there seems to be a greater culture around clubs for both rec and competitive paddling, I wonder if that would explain the lack of symposiums (or the needs for them).
I wonder if symposiums are North Americas version of UK clubs.
That’s a good point David. We have clubs here, but at least in my part of the country there seems to be a lot of aversion to them. Plus there is a lot of social politics that go on within them that quickly suck the life out as they break down into smaller and smaller groups of folks who have something they don’t like about the others and on and on… Symposiums send us home again before we can get sick of each other!! LOL!
Wow … ask for people’s opinions, then slam them when they give them.
Interesting.