There seems to be a general misconception in Boulder that a kinetic sculpture craft is by definition "a boat with wheels". Its not hard to imagine why. In previous years, the main focus of the Boulder kinetics event was on crossing the Rez to get to the land portion of the event. And since most spectators never walked to the far end of the Rez to view the land course, they never saw it. Likewise, event orgainzers placed a high emphisis on the water portion of the course, and crafts in Boulder adapted to the challenge.

But, in other kinetics events around the country, this is not so. Water is only one element which must be navigated. The parent-race in California is 46 miles long. Most of that distance is covered on city streets. Some of it is off-road. And, crafts must climb a rather substantial sand dune. Likewise, in the Baltimore event, most of the course is on city streets and kinet-o-nauts must traverse a nasty mud pit. The kinetics event in Prescott Arizona doesn't have a water course at all.

The purpose of navigating a home-designed and home-built craft through varied terrain is to test its engineering capabilities while providing something interesting for the spectators to watch. Crafts can be tested in many different ways. Being amphibious is only one of them.  And lets not forget that the greater part of the kinetics equation is art. Mountain bikes and inflatable kayaks could meet all of the terrain challenges, but they're not very much fun to build or watch. They're not art. And the idea is to have fun with art.