Is the Koi Hobby a Non-Competative Diversion!?

[KoiCop]

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What Larry and Jim said.

I love koi shows. I do whatever I can to help out. I show in the smaller sizes (where even a retired civil servant has a chance to compete). I'm there from before they open 'till they have to kick me out. I try to meet and make new friends. And most of all, I try to learn something new from all the people I meet (whether judge, hobbyist or spectator) and all the fish I'm privileged to see.

Shows truly are education presented as competition -- and a chance to build friendship through fishscales.

[koiczar]

There have been some excellent points made here in the last several posts. Noteably, Bob, Steve and Don. You're all spot on. Years ago I felt that shows were nothing more than a venue for the very few with deep pockets to parade a $30,000 fish in front of everyones noses. They always win Grand Champion. The hobbyist who is new to the show scene usually forms one of two opinions - ONE - I'll never waste my time doin' this - I don't stand a chance
TWO - I can grow one to that size and kick that guys butt!! LOL

I finally realized a few years ago, that I had to put my ego away (hard for me to do) and resigned myself to the fact that I probably would never have or own a GC. A dealer once told me, "find your niche" in competition and enjoy it for what it is-a show"!BINGO - I finally got it. Now, I don't WORRY about who's gonna bring out the big guns - I look forward to it as an opportunity to see some really great fish that otherwise would go unseen.

I think that for my level of affordability in this hobby, I can compete up to size 5 or 6 and also in all sizes in a Young Koi Show where maximum size is 24" or so. I can't wait for our Young Koi Show in April. I think the competition is going to be extremely fierce/fun.

It's okay to be competitive as long as it is in fun. If you're going out and "buying a fish to win" just to inflate your ego (and you think that will gain you respect), think again.Do it for the educational experience, find out what it takes to condition your fish for a show, and sit back and enjoy the limelight if you do win. If you don't, look at the fish that did win, talk to the owner and find out what they do to get their fish ready for a show, then see if there's something missing in your preparation. Maybe there's nothing wrong with your prep, just the fish wasn't up to par or wasn't in condition to win that day. At any rate, find something you can do to help with the show, be it setup, teardown, benching, running the raffle or club booth for a shift. You don't have to know what to do - you'll be taught on the spot. Next time, you'll know what to do and will be willing to jump in with both feet. It's fun work and it's educational. Don't be afraid to say yes!!!!!!!

Mike

[Dwight]

[quote=KoiCop;69899]Why do you keep talking about growing the hobby and measuring it in terms of goldfish, watergardens and pond tours? Hasn't it sunk in yet that it would have absolutely no impact on 'our' hobby were all three to disappear from the face of the earth tomorrow!

We;ll I'm back and see that my club and statement drew a lot of comment. One I must answer and that is the dispariging of pond tours. I've shown my pond twice. The fish are all Japanese imported gosanke with original prices between $500 and $1000. Mind you they arn't at all crowded as many of the water garden/petsmart koi ponds are. Anyway each time I show my pond someone asks where I got my fis. Being a naturally helpful type I not only answer but encourage them to use my name whan contacting the dealer. Due to these quick little conversations our club now has four new Koi Keepers who were formally water gardeners/junk koi gardeners. I don't know if they went to my dealer or not and don't care but they have moved a little way up the ladder due to our useless pond tours.

Unfortunately this is our best means of spreading the word. The first time I went on one of these tours there were nothing but water gardens. Now each year there will be a few true koi ponds and the number is growing so I think we're doing our best to participate without competing at all.Sure we'd like to put on a show and yes some of us have been to shows. Hell I've even been to Japan and done presentations on Japanese breeders with lots of high quality koi in the pictures. We need to grow our base before we can have a show. In the future if we keep working ....who knows......" Koi in the Desert " maybe ?

[PapaBear]

And what you and your club are doing is filling an important niche in building the hobby where otherwise there would be a huge void. I'll let Don speak for himself, but in his defense I don't think he was disparaging you or your club. Mostly addressing KCOTA's attempt to hijack the thread by parsing posts out of context and changing the subject...again...and again...adinfinitum

[KoiCop]

Dwight, Larry smacked it square on the nose: Sometimes ricochets happen in gun fights but I was in no way shooting at you or your club. Sorry 'bout that.

You're a straight-up guy and I've enjoyed your posts here. There's no doubt we're on the same journey and both headed towards the light. Keep up the good work. Don

[Auntiesue]

Quote: Originally Posted by schildkoi Not only can one participate and be part of the action of a koi show through many of the jobs from club raffles to set up and tear down, even within the competition, there are many levels. Some people shoot for a given best in Size, or one of the "levels" of champions such as "Baby." Others shoot for winning a "Best in Class" in one of the non gosanke classes. Its doesn't take a GC potential koi to participate in a Koi show, and it doesn't take 1000s of dollars either. Steve

EXACTLY STEVE!! You hit it right on the head along with your previous statements. Personally, DH and I started to enter fish in shows simply for the enjoyment and the added element of being more a part of the whole experience. The atmosphere of a show is simply awesome. You get to ask lots of questions, learn a heck of a lot from folks you normally wouldn't meet locally and enjoy some of the best fish in the area which in turn sharpens your "eye". I can appreciate the GC just as much as I can appreciate any other fish in a show tank. Sometimes to me the best fish of the day is not the GC, but the tank that holds the well kept fish. Now that keeper I want to talk to and learn from.

Steve has told be before, and I have to agree with him. Walk up to a show tank and if you are "wowed" by what you see....excelland body, excellant skin luster, etc, (not necesarrily size) - learn from that keeper!!! No words were more truly spoken!!

By no means can we afford a GC, but low and behold this past spring, a Kohaku that we purchased and had transported down to Orlando took RGC!! It was an amazing experience. But not taking GC did not cause me to not appreciate the GC!! That was one awesome fish and I was thrilled to be able to see it!!

So for me, it's the learning experience. For a club to host a show, from my experiences it's all about educating the public and exhibiting the best of the best. It exposes the public to what these creatures are capable of. It enlightens the public, when they see this 6" fry at a pet store, what these fish can grow to. There are so many aspects to a club hosting a show and an exhibitor participating. For each it is a different experience.

Sue

[schildkoi]

I remember the first year you and Dick made that trek down from MN to OKC. I was simply impressed you brought your Koi that far!
One of the things that a Koi show offers that perhaps goes unnoticed is the fact that people are brought together from a greater greographic area. Whether its judges, water Q guys/gals, or simply other hobbyists, you get the interaction of a greater knowledge base than you typically can get from the local club itself. Not knocking the local club, afterall, they are the ones putting on the show. By getting invloved locally, and travelling to shows, and even entering them, you not only become part of the experience, you become part of the broader interchange of ideas and knowledge. A famntastic experience! Sue, You and Dick did it right and continue to!

Steve

[Dwight]

And if all the shows are too far away for you , find a pond tour and find someone with a proper koi pond and make them your teacher whether they want to or not.
Dwight

[koifishgirl]

You know Im just surpized we dont have a Koi-Bito-Club All the picture's of the koi that everyone own's in one building. Lots of members here have some nice koi. It would be nice to have a Bito-Show for Bito members

[Gail]

Quote: Originally Posted by koifishgirl You know Im just surpized we dont have a Koi-Bito-Club All the picture's of the koi that everyone own's in one building. Lots of members here have some nice koi. It would be nice to have a Bito-Show for Bito members

That sounds familiar .but not KB........