unsafe and disrespectful activity in Rufus launch zone

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 663 Posts Addicted

Dear "brand name kite",

A white van with your brand name logo in large letters and out of country license plates was at Rufus doing a photo shoot today.

What appeared to be your team riders somehow thought it would be cool to do a photo shoot in the main launch area for approximately 1/2 hour. These riders decided to place a photographer at the east side of the launch zone while two of your riders thought it would be cool to do tail drags across the launch zone back and forth about every 30 seconds or so completely blocking the launch/land area. This is inappropriate behavior and this brand name should know better.

Perhaps they thought that all the people with kites on the beach (and in the water) gawking at them were simply in awe of their kiting skills. More likely they were wondering how to launch and land their kites safely. Your actions created an unsafe environment today.

There are many other options for a photo shoot in the Rufus area. They could even contribute to the local economy by paying a local fisherman $40 for a boat ride to one of the other beautiful scenic areas we have here in The Gorge.

There are mixed skill levels of kiters that launch at Rufus. While many kiters had the skills to navigate through the unsafe condition created by the photographer and riders there were other kiters that were impacted. I saw numerous situations where your team's riders scared or deviated kiters actions in unsafe ways.

Matt V · Wed Jul 18, 18 8:33 pm

You would not be doxing a person, but rather a irresponsible behavior of an entire kite team. Just put up the name so this definitely gets back to them. No one is going to think the name on the side of their kite encourages stupid behavior. This was clearly the irresponsibility of a group that should have known better and should hear about this.

I have a few "rag kites" ready to retire next year, along with some bars I do not use regularly for various reasons. I would have launched leashless and made sure that these "pro's" knew they needed to get out of the way.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2088 Posts PNW Bigfoot

It probably was the same company doing a photo shoot last week at Lot C towards the south jetty of the Columbia.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

wannabekiter · Since 14 May 2015 269 Posts Hood river Obsessed

Sounds kind of like lyle. Was there helping a friend get her water starts going.
There was a jack ass getting big air right next to the beach. He went back and forth 20 times. He was blocking people going in/out and beginners trying set their first rides.
I guess he needed a crowd to show off for. Yes I tried to get his attention on the water to tell him he was a dick. He never heard me calling him. Too busy showing off.

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

is this post a follow up to a conversation you had with them, in person, at rufus?

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 663 Posts Addicted

BCD131 · Since 26 Mar 2013 31 Posts

You're letting them off the hook by not naming names. Industry people are not going to look at this and say let's have a talk with our riders about this kind of behavior. Name names

Matt V · Thu Jul 19, 18 8:27 am **Re: In the way**

Matt V · Thu Jul 19, 18 8:35 am

windfun7 · Since 23 Aug 2015 40 Posts

Perhaps someone can get a video of this next time it happens and put it on Youtube.

luke · Since 06 Jul 2005 399 Posts Obsessed

appropriate permits are possibly required for commercial use of photos/videos from that property.

They could have shot this action yesterday:
from ikitesurf
"WATCH OUT for barges! There was a scary incident at The Wall yesterday with a barge hitting a woman's board and carrying it upriver dangling from its starboard bow for several hundred feet. The barge stopped and backed up while crew members scrambled along the deck to free the board and sail. As the barge reversed we could finally see the woman's head near the rig. She made it safely to the far bank with her board."

Sella · Thu Jul 19, 18 1:49 pm

Jbruck · Since 17 Jun 2016 43 Posts Eugene, OR

Apologies if I end up blaming the wrong person...but I think this may have been Sam Medysky et. al. riding for Airush? I think I saw him post on Instagram that they were doing a photoshoot at Rufus.

Pepi · Thu Jul 19, 18 5:34 pm

I think it could have been one of our brand reps.

I'll confirm and follow through with a discussion if it was.

Apologies ahead of time if it was a brand associated with our shop.

kiterbiker · Since 12 Jun 2010 65 Posts

I've seen similar incidents happen at Rufus at other points in time as well. A few weeks ago, a company was out there apparently testing some gear. One rider did a kite loop over my wife while her kite was down and she was bringing it back up near the launch. Their lines nearly crossed, it spooked her, and was an easily avoidable situation by the advanced rider.

As someone who has had a lot of sponsorship from outdoor brands, one of the first things we were taught was to respect the sport, others in it, and be good ambassadors of both the sport and the brand. Why is it that the kite brands do not seem to be teaching their riders this? This should be the NUMBER ONE rule for anyone who is representing a brand on any level.

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

Are you doods too lost in pee cee to call out
P O T I O N
C H O A D I O
?!?!?
I remember when this place had steez...

And by the way if you drive all the way to Rufus who gives a fook about watching pros for half an hour?
Sounds ok to me...