Comments on: Water Always Wins: Why Kayakers Are Nice People

By: Blair

Blair — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:21:12 +0000

I AM CHARGED! I hope to paddle with you again sometime soon Irene. I know you’re predy big time now with the rivers you’re huckin, but when you go down The Sky or equiv runs up to BD level, I am 100% down! I also want to paddle Husum Falls this summer. Is that White Salmon? Can’t remember off top of my head. I’m in a Prius (haha) right now headed to Idaho. When I get back, I will be overdue for the rivers. Anyways, back to getting 45mpg on this road trip. Very blah out here. Poor Brown:Green ratio. Need more trees, bushes, and grass!

By: Irene

Irene — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:33:26 +0000

Thanks Blair, I didn’t see this comment right away but when I saw the Youtube video from ‘water always wins’ on Facebook I figured it was your channel. I love that Dan Parnell hole surf, I always meant to put it on here too. You are definitely charging, I am really interested to see what you end up on this summer!

By: Blair

Blair — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:29:16 +0000

Well that link I made above didn’t work so just Copy & Paste it:
http://www.youtube.com/WaterAlwaysWins

Or search YouTube for:
WaterAlwaysWins

By: Blair

Blair — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:26:13 +0000

I love that quote: “Water Always Wins”
I admire it so much, that I made a youtube account out of it which I’ll be uploading my whitewater experiences on to.
http://www.youtube.com/WaterAlwaysWins
I’ll be putting up that POV videos with my GoPro cam from the Pyranha Team day on that channel.

On another note:
I agree with Dennis about surfers. Not only can they be territorial, but I find some of the local surfers to be extremely egotistical and unapproachable. To backup my claim, I was in a local surf shop down in Westport and I couldn’t have been treated worse by the employees/surfers. Never again will I go to that shop. Way to be salesmen and promote return of business of your customers…

By: Dennis Walker

Dennis Walker — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:54:09 +0000

Irene – I recently moved from the coast of southern California to Raleigh, North Carolina. So, I will be doing more kayaking than surfing. My exposure to white water kayaking is very limited. I used to sea kayak and surf off the coast of Orange County. Now I am experiencing the joys of flat water kayaking the variety of lakes near my new home. Hope to make some tours out to the Outer Banks east of here and see if the alligators are more friendly than the short-boarders in the line-up at Salt Creek in Dana Point, Calif. (just kidding – a little) — Have a great kayaking season Irene and thanks for your posts.

By: Irene

Irene — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:10:41 +0000

Hey Dennis, what you said about surfers being more territorial kind of fits in with what I’ve heard as well – and of course with my vast surfing experience from watching “Blue Crush”. Yes, I don’t know what it is about water, but if you’re into it there’s nothing better than being on it and in it – that’s what I love about whitewater kayaking. Thanks for your comments!

By: Dennis Walker

Dennis Walker — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:05:42 +0000

I enjoyed looking through your blog and your brief article here. I agree with your friend’s comments. However, as a kayaker and surfer, I generally find kayakers a bit more friendly in AND out of he water than many of my fellow surfers.

Many (not all) surfers tend to be pretty territorial ON the water. Once they get out, they are more inclined to “mellow out” and engage their fellow adventurers in the experience.

In general, I agree that the power of water has a humbling yet calming influence on its practitioners. It may also be, in part, as humans we are composed of mostly water and water is a “natural” element for us.

Keep up the great work on your blog and hope you have great paddling adventures in your future.

By: Irene

Irene — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:53:00 +0000

Thanks Andria! That is funny about Lava – I can’t imagine how big those waves look when you’re actually in there.

By: Andria

Andria — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:21:14 +0000

“If you think about it, you could be a star basketball player and actually be unbeatable, since you’d always be up against another human being. But kayakers are always beatable – up against (or at least, playing in) a natural element that is stronger than they are. Eventually the river always reminds us of that – and apparently it’s really good for the soul.”

One of my favorite quotes ever! Exactly! It sure does keep me humble. And I had the same line through Lava…