Surfski Knowledge Base

John Rybczyk
Aug 18 2020 #27421
Edited Aug 18

Perhaps you know of the famous Stanford Marshmallow Delayed Gratification experiment. To quote, “The experiment begins by bringing each child into a private room, sitting them down in a chair, and placing a marshmallow on the table in front of them. At this point, the researcher offered a deal to the child. The researcher told the child that she was going to leave the room and that if the child did not eat the marshmallow while she was away, then they would be rewarded with a second marshmallow. However, if the child decided to eat the first one before the researcher came back, then they would not get a second marshmallow. So, the choice was simple: one treat right now or two treats later.” Follow up long-term studies found that children who could delay gratification for the reward of multiple marshmallows tended to have better life outcomes as adults; better jobs, education, health and happiness.

What does this have to do with paddling? Well, when I go down to Marine Park to do the upwind/downwind laps we all love to do around here, I am the absolute worst when it comes to delaying my surfing gratification. While others will paddle upwind to the tunnel, or Clark’s Point or even Whiskey Rock before turning around to eat marshmallows, I can barely even make it to Post Point before I want to eat marshmallows. Today was the same damn thing. Am I doomed to a life of bad jobs and general malaise? I’ve spent the better part of the day contemplating this and this is what I’ve come up with, so far, to justify my behavior.

First, often the biggest marshmallows are right there in front of Post Point or out at the red can. I don’t feel like paddling upwind for two to five miles only to eat small and tasteless marshmallows for two to five miles to get back to the good ones.

Second, and I’ve been roasted by this a few times, I’ll somehow muster the patience to ignore the perfectly fine marshmallows right in front of me and I’ll paddle down to Clark’s or farther. Then, when I finally turn around, not only do the marshmallow suck there, but by the time I get back to Post Point, all the marshmallows that used to be there have been eaten I end up with NO marshmallows at all. Or even worse, all the marshmallows are coming from the west.

Third, sometimes, often even, the very best marshmallows aren’t down south at all, but are over by the outfall buoy or even further north. In that case, I want to paddle upwind only long enough to get myself off-shore a half mile and then it’s smore-city all the way to Squalicum Harbor. Of course, then you’re left with the paddle against all those marshmallows, none of which you can eat, to get back to your car.

Finally, it’s not really like the Stanford experiment at all because, by doing shorter laps, where all the marshmallows are above average, I can return for as many marshmallows as I care to eat.

So, I'm glad that I've sorted this all out, it gives me some hope that when I grow up, I'll turn out ok.

See you on the water, I'll be the one eating marshmallows sooner than later,

Johnr

David Scherrer
Aug 18 #27422

Makes very good sense to me……yup.
D

Dean Bumstead
Aug 18 #27423

The marshmallows were bigger by the buoy today.

Reivers Dustin
Aug 18 #27424

I will testify that John seemed to be on a sugar-buzz today. Lots of hooting and yelling and did not seem to have time to chat.

Eric Grossman
Aug 18 #27425

marshmallows dont often come like this but many treats used in experiments do and Im talking about the double or triple marshmallow, you know the conglomerate - especially rewarding when its chocolate covered almond nuggets or fortune cookies (esp. multiple fortunes!). This am before John and the other barnacles showed there was a slot 2/3 out to the red can directly to the end of the old dry dock that was so good for the modest wind - a triple marshmallow experience, maybe Beau can vouch for the triple LIP. hopefully more coming!
Stay well.

Kimberly Reeves
Aug 18 #27427

I just gained 5 lbs reading this post!

lori & beau whitehead
Aug 18 #27430

Eric, you were a quarter mile inside me, I was listening to music in my ear buds, yet I could still hear you hooting & hollering. I’m guessing that’s about the time you got the triple Lipp. Fun out there this morning.

tahalsted
Aug 19 #27432

Grand analogy; give us s'more!