When will the sandbar (hr) be ready for launches?

markamcclure · Since 20 May 2011 168 Posts Portland, OR Stoked

I haven't been to the ES yet this Spring. Any idea when the water level will be low enough for launches from the sandbar?

wannabekiter · Since 14 May 2015 269 Posts Hood river Obsessed

September

MasPedos · Since 05 May 2017 94 Posts Kihei Hey Hey

The water levels are high now but as demand for power and run off slows it's probably gonna be mid-June.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/dv?cb_00065=on&format=gif_default&site_no=14113290&referred_module=sw&period=&begin_date=2016-05-01&end_date=2016-09-14

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Sella · Thu May 18, 17 7:03 am

There is enough Sandbar now to set-up and launch from for a small grouping of kites. Crossing over from the Event Site can be a little bit of a swim, based on your height, but overall......no crowds.

Launching / landing from the Event Site has had a great vibe this Spring with many stoked / helpful people now that the season is finally filling in. Forecast through the weekend looks warm and booming. Flow is moving fast so if you lose your board....get back on that horse and get after it quickly and as always.....dress for the swim.

voy-tech · Thu May 18, 17 7:17 am

Watch out for the current while crossing between the grass to the sandbar. I've seen multiple people dragged out by the current and had the experience of needing to "self-rescue" myself when I got dragged out while coming back with a 15m kite after wind died one day.

cgka · Since 18 Jul 2006 278 Posts Obsessed

Typically, with mother nature's help, the sandbar becomes launchable around the end of May or the first week in June, henceforth the plan to move over to the Sandbar the first week of June. This also coincides with the CGWA Beach Bash event which is a windsurf specific event with demos, music and festivities.

2017 will be an interesting year for the waterfront.

As Voy Tech mentioned in an earlier post, the currents both at the crossing and in the middle of the sandbar are deceptively strong and has been catching more than a few people off guard.
Crossing over to the sandbar is also more challenging due to the deeper channel.

And, for those of you testing light winds or having relaunch issues in dieing winds, the currents across the sandbar are causing some swims back to the beach to be a lot longer than most have planned, so be careful, wear appropriate neoprene for the conditions, and be self aware.

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 798 Posts Opinionated

Until the sandbar returns, are there plans to bring back the rope line at the event site to keep spectators from sitting in the middle of the launching/landing area and the chalk lines on the grass to remind kiters to also keep the area clear?
They seemed to help keep the chaos down there a little less chaotic when it gets crowded.

cpc219 · Since 12 Jun 2014 296 Posts The Dalles Obsessed

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 663 Posts Addicted

Jonpnw · Mon May 22, 17 7:38 am **Crowded ES Launch**

The event site will be busy until the water level comes down. This can be a tricky launch with the fluky wind. Ask someone who is familiar with launching here to help you out.

voy-tech · Mon May 22, 17 7:47 am

And please don't throw the kite in the air when you're launching someone - wait for wind to pick it up, don't force it! Pretty much every time someone tries to speed the launch by throwing the kite in the air it just stalls immediately after.

treitz · Since 07 Jun 2016 83 Posts Hood River

I'm wanting to fly East of the little sandbar in the shallows (Between the sandbar and the kite park). Is it ill advised to taxi out to the sandbar and launch from there to avoid the event site launch crowd?

I'm assuming there isn't enough sand at the spit to launch and get you out there right now.

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1487 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

many options.
-- launch from the event site grass and kite over there.
-- swim over to the sandbar and launch from there.
-- launch from the old spit at the mouth of the hood river.
i'm guessing that since you have to ask - you may be a beginner?
if so - don't kite in the shallows unless you're an expert - it's dangerous for beginners.

treitz · Since 07 Jun 2016 83 Posts Hood River

I have a couple lessons and a couple of solo days under my belt, but yeah, not a ton of experience.

That was the area that I kited during both solo days last year (later in the season). I liked the shallow water.

Is this an early season advisory to avoid it?

Guessing you would advice flying back and forth on the West side of the sand bar instead. I just want to be out of peoples way.

sleestack · Since 07 Dec 2006 182 Posts Land of the Lost Stoked

[quote="treitz"]I have a couple lessons and a couple of solo days under my belt, but yeah, not a ton of experience.

. . .[/quote]

That basically equals NO experience. This coming weekend is going to be a cluster f@ck.

The shallow waters east of the sandbar are well shallow, but also kind of tricky to kite. Exiting water from the Hood River traveling east which is the same direction as the predominant wind coming from the SW/W. Wind and current traveling in the same direction cuts down on one's power. And the entire area is kind of holey/wind shadowed from Wells Island and the newer buildings.

treitz · Since 07 Jun 2016 83 Posts Hood River

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1487 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

The area to the west of the sandbar is good right now.
Because it's not convenient to launch form the sandbar - not many people are flying over there.
Kiting in the shallows in not forgiving. If you crash hard in the shallows it can be scary.
The majority of incidents requiring calls for an ambulance happened on the sandbar or in the shallows...... just saying.
FYI - I'll be the kook learning to foil just west of the sandbar yelling "Foilah!".