Whitewater Kayaking: a Social World Investigation
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Illuminare: A Student Journal in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies Whitewater Kayaking: A Social World Investigation Jason W. Whitinga, Katharine A. Pawelkob, Gary T. Greena, Lincoln R. Larsona a The University of Georgia b Western Illinois University Online Publication Date: April 15th, 2011 Publication details, instructions for authors, and subscription information can be found at http://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/illuminare/ Articles in this publication of the Illuminare: A Student Journal in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies may be reproduced if 1)Used for research and educational purposes only, 2) Full citation (author, title, Illuminare, Indiana University, Vol. #, Issue #) accompanies each article,3) No fee or charge is assessed to the user. All articles published in the Illuminare are open-access articles, published and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Illuminare: A Student Journal in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies Volume 9, Issue 1, pages 1-15, 2011 ISSN: 2158-9070 online Indiana University, Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies Whitewater Kayaking: A Social World Investigation Jason W. Whiting Gary T. Green Natural Resources, Recreation and Tourism Program Natural Resources, Recreation and Tourism Program Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources The University of Georgia The University of Georgia 180 E. Green St. Athens, GA 30602-2152, U.S.A. 180 E. Green St. Athens, GA 30602-2152, U.S.A. Katharine A. Pawelko Lincoln R. Larson Western Illinois University Natural Resources, Recreation and Tourism Program College of Education & Human Services Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration The University of Georgia One University Circle, Currens Hall 400, Macomb, IL 61455, 180 E. Green St. Athens, GA 30602-2152, U.S.A. U.S.A. Abstract This exploratory research identified kayakers participating at urban whitewater kayaking parks as a specific recreational user group that had yet to be examined socially and recreationally from a managerial and theoretical standpoint. To examine the social world of whitewater kayakers, twelve participants were interviewed at whitewater kayaking parks in Colorado and Utah. The interviewer utilized naturalistic methods with a concentration on grounded theory techniques. Constant Comparative Methodology (CCM) was used during the data collection and analysis process. Triangulation permitted the identification of thematic findings across participants and sites to determine the relevant meanings and practical applications associated with kayaking participation, social aspects, motivations, and perceived benefits. The implications from this study suggest natural resource managers may attract non-participating user groups by taking advantage of the social nature and pre-established mores found in the whitewater kayaking community. Recommendations suggest other adventure-based outdoor recreational user groups may be examined using a similar social-based lens. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Benefits, Motivations, Recreation, Social World, Whitewater Kayaking Address Correspondence to: Jason W. Whiting, University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, Natural Resources, Recreation and Tourism Program, 180 E. Green St. Athens, GA 30602-2152, U.S.A., Tele: (706) 296-9666 Fax: (706) 542-8356 Email: [email protected] 3 Whiting, Pawelko, Green & Larson/ Whitewater Kayaking: A Social World Introduction often social in nature. For example, Schuett (1995) Outdoor recreation participation and public described the importance of the social aspects of land visitation have experienced a recent decline in whitewater kayaking by attempting to predict the the United States (Pergams & Zaradic, 2006, 2008). types of participation enjoyed by kayakers. Schuett This decline has been attributed to several factors found that many factors (i.e., classes, guides, in- such as changing population composition, age struc- struction, and skill level) could predict social partic- ture (Murdock, Backman, Hoque, & Ellis, 1991), ipation within the sport. Schuett called for continued socio-cultural demographics (Gramann & Allison, investigation into the social world of whitewater 1999) and income levels (Abercrombie et al., 2008; kayaking using qualitative methods to further identi- Moore, Roux, Evenson, McGinn, & Brines, 2008). fy factors contributing to explaining kayaking be- Resource managers have noticed that many land- havior. More recently, Galloway (2010) examined based recreation activities (i.e., hiking and back- the continuum of behavior of whitewater kayakers in packing) are especially affected by this national New Zealand from a social world perspective. Gal- trend (Pergams & Zaradic, 2008; Zaradic, Pergams, loway found that motivation and site preferences & Kareiva, 2009). In contrast, participation in water- varied by the specialization within the social world. based recreation activities remains strong and con- In addition to studies examining whitewater kayaker tinues to increase (Cordell et al., 2004; Jennings, participation, there has been substantial growth in 2007). Today, over 60 percent of the U.S. population the construction of urban whitewater kayaking parks participates in a water-based activity such as boat- that support a unique culture similar to that found in ing, swimming or visiting a beach at least once per skateboarding parks (Sanford, 2007). Urban white- year (Cordell et al., 2002). Paddle sports and adven- water kayaking parks may be especially conducive ture-based activities such as whitewater kayaking are to the social interactions between paddlers. As the becoming particularly popular. Increasing interest urban population continues to increase, these white- and participation in whitewater kayaking have water parks provide important recreation opportuni- helped establish its prominence in the field of out- ties to avid urban kayakers. Despite studies examin- door adventure-based recreation (Jensen & Guthrie, ing whitewater kayaking participation, there remains 2006). In fact, research indicates that this type of an absence of practical, qualitative investigations water-based recreation will continue to increase in into the meaning and value of whitewater kayaking the future and comprise a larger percentage of the in the lives of its participants. general outdoor recreation market (Cordell, Green & One way to gain this type of understanding Betz, 2002). is through studying the unique social worlds that are Despite the growth and potential future mar- built within adult play groups, similar to those found ket for water-based recreation activities such as in whitewater kayaking communities (Schuett, 1995; whitewater kayaking, limited research has examined Scott & Godbey, 1992; Scott & Godbey, 1994). A the sport and its participants.1 The small but growing social world can be loosely defined as an alternative body of literature that has examined participation in value structure that contains its own rules and sys- whitewater kayaking suggests that participation is tems that are adhered to by its members (Abercrombie & Longhurst, 1998). This social 1 In keeping with local parlance, the terms kayaker, world perspective could provide a unique opportuni- boater, and paddler are used interchangeably, and, in ty to examine interrelationships that may lead to in- all cases, these refer specifically to whitewater sights about the social norms, motivations and bene- kayaking. fits of whitewater kayaking (Scott & Godbey, 1992). Illuminare, Volume 9, Issue 1, 2011 4 Whiting, Pawelko, Green & Larson/ Whitewater Kayaking: A Social World By developing a foundational understanding of these access to many water-based resources has become a social factors, public resource managers may be able concern for public resource managers, and subse- to determine if the current recreational needs of their quently whitewater kayakers (Cordell et al., 1999). participants are being fully met. For example, in de- Hence, the ability to attract and retain participants in scribing predictors of social group participation in other less-used public and federal water-based re- whitewater kayaking, Schuett (1995) suggested sources, where whitewater kayakers may be present- “specific information that can predict and/or possi- ly underrepresented, may become a valuable strategy bly explain the role of the social groups in adventure in the future. Overall, an enhanced understanding of recreation participation will not only add to develop- the social world of whitewater kayaking participants ing theory, but benefit managers in service delivery” could provide a model for to assist recreation pro- (p. 43). Therefore, by focusing on the entire partici- grammers and resource managers with securing the pation process, public resource managers could po- visitation of existing kayakers and attracting new tentially assemble information about other socially participants. involved outdoor recreation enthusiasts or adven- Review of Literature ture-based user groups whose needs and preferences This qualitative study of the social world of may not be fully understood. whitewater kayaking was based upon the theoretical Insights from the social norms, motivations, perspective of symbolic interactionism. This per- and benefits