On my soapbox!

sleestack · Since 07 Dec 2006 184 Posts Land of the Lost Stoked

PKH said it best, this time of year the SB is filled with all types. Best to be self-sufficent and know the skills of self-launching and landing, just do it downwind of the crowds.

If someone is a dick to me, then they get no help from me from that point on, unless of course personal injury is involved. . .then I'll bite the bullet and help out.

KingE · Since 27 Apr 2006 58 Posts Lake Wenatchee

The sandbar is a pretty big place but the instructor was taking up a lot of real estate with lines laid out parallel to the water and right on the ecdge of the sand while giving classroom instruction. It was kind of busy there whenever the wind dropped and everyone ended up downwind.It is NOT that the down kite was somewhere nearby. It was ON the instructors lines. and literally 10 ft away from the one guy in the area with NOTHING in his hands. The only real solution on Saturday would have been for us all to pack up and go home. The wind was exceptionally lame, but not dangerous. Just not posssible to stay upwind away from the classes all the time.

BTW there was no danger because of the line around my head. It just got there when I turned the kite over into the carrying position and I didn't have a third hand to do anything about it.

The whole thing was lame (and that's about all) because of one guy and his unwillingness to help. It did not ruin my day Laughing

!

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2624 Posts The 503 METAL

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

http://youtube.com/watch?v=imfbco0TTdc

Linedisiplin!

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

Gman -- that is burly!!!

trevorsmith · Since 25 Apr 2005 501 Posts PDX Addicted

Lessons learned today:

1. Learn to be self-sufficient kiter. Launch, land, ride without the help of others, and without endangering others during the process.
2. DO NOT expect others to come to your rescue when you need it.
3. Always help others in need of help or assistance.
4. Take lessons, and learn to self-rescue.
5. Kite and enjoy yourself every day.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Prime Directive:

1. DO NOT HURT anybody else
2. Do not hurt yourself
3. Have Fun.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Sounds good to me.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

So nice to have all the drama up there
for now,,
So what about people who may not be capaable of flying thier kite after you help them ?
Don't tell me to look for the obvious kook-a-rama ,
gear
I've seen plenty of crazy outfits on capable kiters ,me in some of them so that's no help.
Some kind way to help would be nice without putting everyone at risk.

When flying Gliders we had a rule not to talk to a pilot when rigging a plane.
We certianly would never help someone rig a glider without the proper knowledge
that he should be providing .
I would like to be polite
but somehow helping launch someone who doesn't appear to have a clue ,
seems stupid.
I always offer to help the unknown person who I'm going to launch,
How to launch,after watching to see if they know how to rig .

Landing someone is another issue .

We had one kook show up with too big a kite and got someone to launch him but after a short run came in and was standing in the surf about knee deep signaling to land him
It was was too funny he was barely visible he was so far away .
He managed to get closer and someone grabbed his kite ,I'm sure he thought we were all dicks

brokenlizard · Mon Aug 20, 07 9:46 pm

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

touche