Clean Lines Paddlesports

I was on the Rogue a week or so ago, with relatively new river friends – folks I sold a boat to and generally clicked with but hadn’t rafted with previously. When they offered me – and the teen – a couple of spots on their permit, I jumped on it. I had already blocked most of the time off for a repeat lower Deschutes trip, and hadn’t been on the Rogue in a few years – the teen had never been on the wild and scenic stretch before. 

It was a great trip. The weather was great and the boating was an appropriate level of exciting. There were a couple of kids/young adults on the trip for some generationally-aligned interactions (“six-seven” made sense to someone) so the time at camp was enjoyable for all. We discussed food (are breakfast burritos without beans actually just breakfast wraps?) The folks we went with did a lot of other outdoor things besides rafting, so we talked a lot about the compare and contrast of our various hobbies. 

I learned about several new wind-powered sports which originated in the gorge.  Hydrofoils are now a thing. There are different wings for different things. There’s apparently a caste system among the wind sports. And I learned of similar striations and variations in the climbing and bouldering world. 

One of the things I talked about- being generally unfamiliar with these sports- was the perspective I have around uphill people and downhill people.  I can’t remember where I heard it and can’t claim it as my own creation, but it’s one I subscribe to. In general, “uphill people” in the outdoor sports world gravitate to activities that challenge them by conquering gravity and other natural forces.  Conversely, “downhill people” prefer activities where they maximize fun by leveraging or harnessing these forces as part of the action. 

Up/down people get along great. Some sports (single track mountain biking, backcountry skiing) have enough elements of both that everyone can find their joy. Rafting is one of the activities that feels very ‘downhill’ to me, so I see things like river hikes and other side quests being one of the draws for uphill folks – rafting is the means to the end, not the end itself. 

The phrase “it’s all downhill from here” applies to both groups, but it hits in different ways. For some, it indicates the accomplishment has happened. For others it means the best is yet to come. I’m firmly in the downhill crowd. I go up things to enjoy the trip back down even if in some cases the going down doesn’t go exactly to plan (see me unintentionally going down Cove Creek on the MFS backwards last year), but that adds to the excitement.   

The shop is going well. Not exactly to plan (my marketing skills suck, I’m afraid of payroll and that commitment to others’ income, and the really dry summer are all factors). But.  People are excited. They’re buying things. So. It’s all downhill from here – the best is yet to come.