I don't know how to put this without it
looking like I'm having a pop at someone, but I'm curious about canoers / kayakers.

They seem to be right up there with vegetarians and people from New York in being unable to conduct any conversation for more than a minute or two without wedging the fact they're canoeists (or vegetarians, or from Noo Yoik) into the conversation.
(username failed moderation, Mon 23 Apr 2012, 11:41, 2 replies)

I don't think I've ever mentioned it on here before
and generally the only time I'd ever talk about it is when I've met someone else who has told me they like canoeing

but then they would have had to tell me that they like canoeing first, so maybe there's something in it
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Mon 23 Apr 2012, 12:24, closed)

I'm generalising, and present company excepted.
But I have seen this a few times.

I shall relate a story though, which isn't directly mine.

We had a futures trader working with us a few years ago, and he was a bit of a lad, in a job that is notorious for wide boys. One of our clients organised a day of kayaking at some white water rafting place.

Apprently they all turned up in jeans and trainers (the place they booked at would supply all the gear), apart from one nerd who appeared in wetsuit, splash jacket, gloves and helmet, carrying his own paddle, and declared he didn't need any instruction, he was an expert kayaker.

Legend has it he rolled over almost immediately he hit the water, cut his forehead open and was carted off to hospital for stitches. The rest of them spent half an hour capsizing, got changed and spent the rest of the day in the bar.
(username failed moderation, Mon 23 Apr 2012, 12:45, closed)

I have 2 different kinds of kayaks.
Kayaking in my world consists of drifting extremely slowly downstream, steering with a paddle only when completely necessary and all the while drinking beer. The key to this is no effort and maximum beer intake.
The life jacket is used as a cushion so numb bum doesn't occur.
I sometimes wear a plastic cowboy hat to complete the serious sportsman image.
( Infidel , shit and wrong, Mon 23 Apr 2012, 18:51, closed)