Some Thoughts on Playboating
25 07 2008Over the last 4 years I seemed to have noticed a downturn in the number of play-boaters I see on the river. This time-frame has coincided with the evolution of creek boat designs. Without sales figures for both playboats and creek boats in front of me, I couldn’t comment if the two are correlated, but I think they may be. Runs that were challenging in older boat designs are now opening up to wide varieties of paddler. However, I’d be sad to see people completely give on play boating, for a few reasons.
Photo: Chrisina R. on Grannies Wave, Wenatchee
I decided to concentrate on playboating about 1 year ago, after I suffered a neck injury. The foremost skill it has taught me is to automatically to use a low brace, which is key to preventing shoulder injuries. This is HUGE, ensuring longevity of my paddling career. In addition, it’s taught me good boat control and helped me dial into using my hips, feet, thighs and my arse simultaneously. It’s helped build up my shoulder, abdominal and trapezius muscles. There is no doubt in my mind that playboating has helped me become a better paddler. I’ve noticed improvements in surfing, with edge control and river running with strength and endurance.
Photo: James at Spencers Hole N. Santiam
The best thing about playboating is that it’s often low consequence, no pressure. So, although there are 100’s of creeks in Oregon, that are very worthy of running, a day or two invested at the local park and play spot is a good compliment, in my opinion.
If you go even farther back, the downturn in the number of playboaters is even more dramatic. 8 years ago a good level on Neil;s would pack the eddy - now it’s usually just the guys you rode up with.
Probably some of those folks just creek now, like you say.
Some of it is for sure the pro boaters. There used to be a huge contingent of sponsored play boaters that would winter in Eugene.
I have to say, I like it better this way. A crowd can really kill a playboating session.
yeah, good comments. Is the down turn also that the # of pro boaters has dropped? Why are there less pro-boaters these days? I know i appreciate being able to have less pressure and more time at the playspots.
Don’t know much about how the pro-boater scene works. You’re the one plugged in to the industry
But yeah, there used to be like 8-12 pro boaters in town - Dave Grove, Tao Berman, Jay Kincaid, etc. All nice guys, and Jay would basically give a free lesson to anyone how asked (not much cooler than a world champ analyzing your skills). But when they all showed up at once it was pretty much lights out for the rest of us.