Northwest Kiteboarding
Forum | Classifieds | Lost & Found | CGKA | Industry | Sensors | Forecast | Spots | Seattle | Decals | RSS | Facebook

Events | Photos | Search | Register | Profile | Log in to check your messages | Log in 

Windsurfers in the gorge

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Northwest Kiteboarding -> Gorge / Portland / Oregon Coast
previous topic :: next topic  
Author Message
kitebug

Since 27 Apr 2015
40 Posts
Hood River
 



PostSat Jul 04, 15 8:14 am    Windsurfers in the gorge Reply with quote

This could just be my warped view, but does anyone else notice that windsurfers point their boards downwind at you when you approach upwind. And by approach I mean still a couple hundred feet away. I always try to give windsurfers a lot of space, especially if they are downwind.

I noticed that when I cross anywhere on the river across from the launch at the waterfront park or get close to swell city, as I am tacking upwind, a few windsurfers will point their board downwind until I drop off and then resume back upwind.

I wonder if there is an unsaid pact to play a little chicken with the kiters to claim territory. I probably should just ask a windsurfer. I used to windsurf in the early nineties in the Gorge, and I suppose I'ld do the same. Maybe I'm just perceiving this wrong... often windsurfers have to fall off the wind a little in a lull just like a kite but it's not at the lulls.

Maybe I don't understand some rule of the river. How much space do you give windsurfers and do you consider them to always have right of way?

_________________
Be the wind

View user's profile Send private message
wylieflyote

Since 30 Jun 2006
1634 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster



PostSat Jul 04, 15 8:41 am     Reply with quote

Address this to Dangler.... he is/was the authority on taking out all comers a few years back Smile
_________________
CGKA Member
-------
Kip Wylie

View user's profile Send private message
kitebot

Since 20 Feb 2007
251 Posts

Obsessed



PostSat Jul 04, 15 10:56 am     Reply with quote

Pretty sure it is just you. Remember though, it's harder to get planing on a windsurfer, perhaps they were bearing off to get planing or to maintain momentum.

View user's profile Send private message
user124

Since 02 Aug 2012
390 Posts
Portland
Obsessed



PostSat Jul 04, 15 12:38 pm     Reply with quote

I've never noticed this either. And I actually make an effort to head downwind myself when crossing paths with a windsurfer as I think they are perpetually afraid of kites/lines dropping on their heads.

View user's profile Send private message
moondog

Since 15 Aug 2007
697 Posts
white salmon
Addicted

CGKA Member


PostSat Jul 04, 15 12:59 pm     Reply with quote

I notice this also at the Hatchery area. I believe it is a twofold statement. 1." I'm trying to get on a plane I have to go downwind a bit ". 2. "Hey this is a nice wave face, I'm heading downwind for a bit". There is definitely some territory issues. We are taking up triple the space on the water more or less depending on how low our kites get on our jibes.
Basically I'm just happy to share the stoke out there so when I miss a wave or some upwind territory because of a traffic conflict, I just say to myself: It's all good in the Hood". Go get some!

_________________
moondog

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
flipper

Since 17 Oct 2011
320 Posts

Obsessed



PostSat Jul 04, 15 3:03 pm     Reply with quote

I windsurf 10% of the time and if you are referring to yesterday, the wind was challenging to windsurfers. I was windsurfing at Swell and I found that a few times I was having a hard time staying upwind and I really wanted to keep the upwind position with everybody even if they were coming at me on their starboard because I was trying to regain ground.

When I kite, I feel like windsurfers are always pointed somewhat towards me even though I don't think they are.

I've also never heard beach-side complaints toward kiters at swell either.

View user's profile Send private message
ShiverMeTimbers

Since 26 Feb 2013
381 Posts
Gig Harbor
Obsessed



PostSat Jul 04, 15 7:30 pm     Reply with quote

wasn't an issue today. seems like the crowd was cut by 75% compared to yesterday. Everybody must have been getting their 'Murika on.

Laughing

View user's profile Send private message
Matt V

Since 26 Oct 2014
462 Posts
Summer- OR Coast, Winter - My van near good snow
Explosive Diarrhea



PostSat Jul 04, 15 8:17 pm     Reply with quote

The wind that windsurfers see is totally different than what kites see. Though my experience is mostly from lakes in the midwest. Back when I was doing both, some days I wished I was kiting instead of windsurfing. And surprisingly, the opposite was often true too.

While kiting almost exclusively now, my best days on a kite see more complaints about the wind from the windsurfers. Some days I throw in the towel kiting only to hear what a great day the windsurfers thought it was.

One way for a kiter to see if it is good for windsurfers is to put the kite low to the water and keep it there. If it is steady along an entire tack, then the wind is good for windsurfers. If not, and you have to take the kite up to find power higher in the window, then it could be a bad day for windsurfers.

If you, as a kiter, find that is is impossible to make good jumps because every time you send the kite up, there is no wind high - well....Bad day for kiting - but could be a good day for windsurfing.

View user's profile Send private message
wood

Since 21 Jan 2013
64 Posts

 



PostMon Jul 06, 15 7:56 am    LOOK BACK BE FOR YOU TURN. Reply with quote

My daughter was windsurfing and got hit be a kite off wells island. No harm. But how many kiters do not look back when doing a turn this happens quite a bit. I kite look back twice and also look back half way through the turn where I have better vision. Be safe!

View user's profile Send private message
Matt V

Since 26 Oct 2014
462 Posts
Summer- OR Coast, Winter - My van near good snow
Explosive Diarrhea



PostMon Jul 06, 15 9:29 am     Reply with quote

Good point and something I need to work on myself. I typically stay away from crowded spots and will head up wind or downwind to give myself more freedom even if it means giving up the best stuff. This gives me a false sense of security when I jibe which has made me look like a kook on a number of occasions (never with kite vs windsurfer). One of the things I do to minimize jibing into another kiter is to downloop on the jibe. This puts me downwind of my original position quickly and then keeps the kite low to get under the guy behind me.

In thinking about that, that may not be the best thing to do around windsurfers.

View user's profile Send private message
Pepi

Since 16 Jun 2006
1831 Posts
Pure Stoke Sports
Shop Owner

CGKA Member


PostMon Jul 06, 15 1:17 pm     Reply with quote

It's all about riding and having fun on the same body of water.

Always smile, and keep spreading the stoke!


   foiling 7 5 15 5 doc3.jpg 

_________________
Pure Stoke Sports
Hood River, OR
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hood-River-OR/2nd-Wind-Sports/35891485558?ref=mf
www.Purestokesports.com

View user's profile Send private message
moondog

Since 15 Aug 2007
697 Posts
white salmon
Addicted

CGKA Member


PostMon Jul 06, 15 5:08 pm     Reply with quote

I'm glad you are finally wearing a hat Pepi, I get cancers removed every 6 months from my head because of my "lack of hat" the first 30 years of my life. It catches up to you in your 50's!
_________________
moondog

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
bulae99

Since 12 Jul 2006
1691 Posts

I give out bad advice.



PostWed Jul 08, 15 1:35 pm    Easier to go upwind on a kite than a windsurfer, Reply with quote

Just breath.
_________________
Hey, I'm being hahahahahrassed!

View user's profile Send private message
shred_da_gorge

Since 12 Nov 2008
1251 Posts
Local, not Low Cal
XTreme Poster



PostWed Jul 08, 15 10:12 pm     Reply with quote

Or you could just breathe. Wink

Others pointed this out - windsurfers have to point off of the wind to get planing. Just below Wells Island there is a wind shadow and you have to point off quite a bit, and then you can point up once you hit the wind coming from the north side of the island. Yes, you will see them change direction. More experienced windsurfers will just go upwind to Wells or the orange doors or the hatch where the wind is much cleaner. Others will go all the way across the river below Wells and have to deal with two different 'winds' in the process. These may be the folks you were encountering, and they do tend to hang out close to the Northwave or park launches.

View user's profile Send private message
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Northwest Kiteboarding -> Gorge / Portland / Oregon Coast All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum