Over at Xtranormal, a website that allows users to easily create animated videos, a number of paddling related videos are appearing. They take a humorous look at serious issues and debates that occur within canoeing and kayaking. Many of the videos are based on some of the actual silly online debates that have occurred over at paddling.net.

Pungo Kayak Expedition

A funny examination of the Dunning-Kruger effect:

1. Incompetent individuals tend to overestimate their own level of skill.
2. Incompetent individuals fail to recognize genuine skill in others.
3. Incompetent individuals fail …to recognize the extremity of their inadequacy.
4. If they can be trained to substantially improve their own skill
level, these individuals can recognize and acknowledge their own
previous lack of skill.

The above points, copied from Wikipedia, about the Dunning-Kruger effect spell-out the themes playing in the video. It serves as an excellent example of some of the dangers involved in rating your own skill level as a beginner in the sport.

Half Nut the Inuit Robot

A humorous poke at the American debate about rolling kayaks. The video shows the debate between kayakers who believe a roll isn’t necessary and those that do. It also pokes fun at the Greenland paddle movement in a way most Greenland paddlers will find funny.

Defective Kayak

A look at the frustration of beginners trying to learn the forward stroke.

Pammy Verses Nigel

A look at the quality control issues from NDK/SKUK. And a poke at the p.net user, Pamlico 140. It sort of covers the debate over composite vs. plastic.

How to Make Your Own

1. Download the free Xtranormal software or make a movie online.
2. Find a silly, bitchy, or an out-of-control thread on Paddling.net. Basically, any thread with over 100 comments. (And believe me, I’m not immune from silly online arguments.)
3. Summarize both sides of the arguments and turn that into dialog.
4. Put everything into the Xtranormal program and poof! You have a video.

Conversations in the Sauna: This Euro is Like a GP

An example created from this thread. Sorry, Steve, Melissa, Roy, Paul and Jeff and everyone else involved in the thread, but the thread makes a good parody.

Find more conversations in the sauna here.