Kayaking's E-Networks

The Internet plays a major role in kayaking networks. The internet allows paddlers to group together in meeting places to talk about past experiences or new rivers that people have found. These sites such as Northeast Paddlers Message Board (NPMB) not only gives paddlers room to express their attitudes about different boats, and trips, but also is a site for E-Commerce where different users can list their boats or equipment for sale, or post what they would like to buy. BoaterTalk.com leaves room for resources and reviews as well as allowing suers to post pictures and videos. Although these sites are primarily social sites, they also play a role in paddler safety. River conditions change hourly, and if something dangerous appears on a river, paddlers will post an urgent notice advising others of the change.

Another key role these sites play are advertising space. Major whitewater companies place banner ads on the top, sides, and bottom of nearly every page throughout the site. Amazon also places ads for whitewater books and calendars under the title "NPMB Recommendations."

To take a look at these sites click below:
Northeast Paddler's Message Board
Boater Talk

Playboating

This is one example of a whitewater kayak called a playboat. This type of boat is used to do various tricks either while going down a river, or at a certain point in the river called a "playspot," or in the ocean waves. The boat itself is much different than other whitewater kayaks in that they:

• have less volume (smaller) to increase manuverability.
• abrupt edges to help the paddler get the edges underwater.
• very flat hull to help the boat spin in tricks and provides a flat surface to surf on.
  

Playspots are holes or waves mid-river that playboaters find to perform tricks. Some standing waves in rivers are very small and are formed when the water rushes over a rock in the river bed and creates almost a permanent ripple. Other standing waves are wicked huge about 20 feet tall, and look like the river ate a bus. Examples of tricks done are cartwheels - the boat spins 360 degrees vertical, a Blunt - Front flip combined with a 180 etc.

The advantage the internet can give to playboating is by letting people access sites designed around playboaters. Although this seems basic, if the internet wasn't around, it would be extremely hard to figure out exactly what playboat fits you as the paddler. Playboats are specifically designed for different weights and heights, which are not printed or user friendly on the boat. The internet also allows playboaters to gather in an online network and share information about different playspots and hidden rivers, and online instructions and videos.

Introduction

Many people don't know that whitewater kayaking exists. Or, if people do know it exists, they have no idea what that means. This blog will be aimed to introduce whitewater kayaking to the class, and hopefully educate peers about a very gnarley activity that goes on behind most of the sports spotlight. So to begin whitewater kayaking is done in a small rudimentary kayak. Not many frills in the boat, just a sturdy design and metal grab loops in case something goes wrong. The boats themselves are small in size, ranging from 6ft to 8 ft on average to allow for maneuvering. The necessary equipment is a boat, paddle, personal flotation device, helmet, spray skirt, booties, some sort of swimwear and a river knife. There are different types of boats as well, for the different types of rivers. there are river runners, an all around boat, playboats for freestyle, and creekers for running the gnar.

Feel free to ask questions or leave comments as I post.