Loraine Clarke Department of Industrial Design

National College of Art and Design

Dublin8

Questionnaire

A Study of Culture and Design in the

Sport of Kayaking

Please write in the appropriate answer, circle or highlight the correct option given

1. Age

2. Gender Male Female

3. Weight (Approx.)

4. Height (Approx.)

5. What is your specific profession? E.g. student studying physical education

6. What type of build would you consider yourself? E.g. Skinny, Muscular, etc.

7. What grade of paddler are you certified to be:

none 1 2 3 4 5

8. What grade of paddler would you consider yourself?

1 2 3 3+ 4 4+ 5

9. When did you begin paddling?

10. What are your two favourite types of paddling and why? E.g. Freestyle, long

distance, etc. (state in order of preference)

11. How often do you go paddling (approx.)?

7 times a week 6 times a week

5 times a week 4 times a week

3 times a week 2 times a week

once a week once every 2nd week

once every 3rd week once every month

12. Where do you store your kayak?

13. Have you been abroad paddling? Yes No

If yes please list where and how many times you have been there:

14. Do you think kayaking equipment is generally expensive?

Yes No

15. Have you ever learnt any kind of certified first aid course?

Yes No

16. Do you work during the year (even part time)?

Yes No

17. Do you have any of the following:

A) An educational background

B) A strong interest and/or understanding

And / or

C) An occupation

in relation to engineering or technical thinking A) B) C)

18. What is your favourite kayak manufacturer?

19. What is your favourite paddler manufacturer?

20. What it s you favourite gear manufacturer?

21. How easy do you find it to find kayaks to suit your body size?

Very easy Easy Ok Hard Difficult

22. What kayak do you own or paddle mainly at the moment?

23. Is there anything in your kayak when you are paddling? E.g. shoes, throw rope

food, etc.

Yes No

If yes, please state what:

24. How many beginner paddlers (less than a years experience) do you feel over rate

their ability? Most Half A few

25. People who overrate their ability are they mainly: Girls or Boys

26. How many people do you know that have been seriously injured in a kayak

(including dislocated shoulders)?

27. What do you think is the most common paddling injury?

28. Have you ever injured yourself on a portage?

Yes No

If yes please state how and describe the type of terrain:

29. When buying a kayak do you care what colour it is?

Yes No

30. Rate how much you choose the following for visibility:

(5 being very important and 1 being not important)

Cag 1 2 3 4 5

Pants 1 2 3 4 5

Booties 1 2 3 4 5

Helmet 1 2 3 4 5

Kayak 1 2 3 4 5

Paddles 1 2 3 4 5

Buoyancy Aid 1 2 3 4 5

31. Rate how much you choose the following for aesthetic and style reasons:

(5 being very important and 1 being not important)

Cag 1 2 3 4 5

Pants 1 2 3 4 5

Booties 1 2 3 4 5

Helmet 1 2 3 4 5

Kayak 1 2 3 4 5

Paddles 1 2 3 4 5

Buoyancy Aid 1 2 3 4 5

32. Circle clothing brands that you own (clothing off the river):

Rip Curl Animal Vans

Billabong Gravis Oakley

Immersion Research Teva Sweet Protection

Pyranha Robson Oxbow North Face Craghoppers Cebe

Cross DC runners Quicksilver

O’Neill Etnies Reef

Carhartt Element Convert

33. Circle any of the following magazines that you read:

Paddler Magazine Kayak Session Magazine Canoe Kayak Magazine Outsider PlayBoating Magazine

Canoe & Kayak UK Magazine Kayak Magazine

Wavelength Magazine Outsider Magazine

34. Are you sponsored?

Yes No

If Yes, please state by who?

35. If you own the following, what colour is your:

Cag - Dry Pants -

Booties - Helmet -

Kayak - Paddles -

Buoyancy Aid -

36. Do you try to colour co-ordinate your gear?

Yes No

37. If you could get the kayak you have now or that you want now for a €150

cheaper than it is and had the same performance ability but it was aesthetically

undesirable, which would you buy A) or B)

A) Cheaper and aesthetically undesirable kayak

B) More expensive, aesthetically pleasing kayak

38. How much do you fear going into a hole that will capsize you but will not hold

you in it?

Very much A lot A bit Not really at all

39. How much do you fear going into a hole that will make you swim but not hold

you while swimming?

Very much A lot A bit Not really at all

40. How much do you fear going into a hole that will make you swim and will hold

you while swimming?

Very much A lot A bit Not really at all

41. Do you have a strong fear of being underwater?

Yes No

42. Do you panic underwater?

Yes No

43. Do you like seeing footage or photos of yourself?

Yes No

44. What do you feel are the reason you do this sport?

45. Circle how often you experience fear while paddling:

Always Often Sometimes Twice a year Very rarely

Thank you for your time and patients

It is greatly appreciated and will be a great help to me

Loraine Clarke