strong, strong, currents

laura · Since 22 May 2007 111 Posts Stoked

Heads up, yesterday my kite went down maybe a 50 feet off the sand bar, it took me at least an hour and half swimming, dragging a kite that was in the current pulling me off the sandbar, to finally get back to shore. I was in less then waist deep water and was in full on swift water. I got swept off the bar numerous times with shore only another 50 feet away, I literally needed help to hold ground, I know the cold water seems like the variable that is most threating but it really is the current. Please be careful, thanks to Mike and Debbie for helping me out, please watch out for each other!!!

forrest · Tue May 20, 08 8:40 am

Yea, it's pretty damn dangerous out there. I spent some time securing the slider and couldn't even make it to the kicker even though it was chest deep.

hamlindp · Tue May 20, 08 9:02 am

I think the current is strong due to fast moving water Laughing

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David (>====<|> Shocked

---<

forrest · Tue May 20, 08 9:17 am

Glad you made it back to shore safe and sound btw Laura!

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

Back in the day there used to be a jug off the end of the little spit. My teacher told me to never go beyond the end of that or I would end up at the Wa. looking for a ride home. I did that about 3 times on my old 4 line kites.

Glad to hear that you are safe and yep that current is going to be there for a while.

twostates · Since 28 Aug 2007 101 Posts pdx Stoked

I had a long long session trying to get back to the beach at Stevenson last night. Big thanks to stringer for paddlin out on a surfboard to help out. Ripping current, no doubt. I got within 10 feet of the water line and the wind turned just enough to fill my kite and pull me out to the barge channel. Ended up on a fishermans boat thanks to lawnmower gettin him to go back out for me. Alls well that ends well, got a real good swim in.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Glad you made it back Jeri. Never fun to be floating around the river.

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Strong is right.

Jackie went down out past the red marker N of the spit..by the time she/we self rescued we were already way past the bridge and barely made it to the West side of Wells.

after 3 jet-ski's and 2 boats passed us, I used my Man vs. Wild technique and used my skimboard as a reflector and flagged down a kayaker from the "hook" to drag us across the channel. (thx Paco)

-careful out there!! keep the neoprene on..and keep an eye on each other!!

When the speed of the current out-weighs the wind, the re-launch gets pretty tough.

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

I almost had to try to stay downwind at stevenson this weekend

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

Yikes, this sounds pretty gnarly. Any idea if it'll slack off by the weekend?

forrest · Tue May 20, 08 11:03 am

Probably not as far as water levels but they will eventually taper off. The biggest issue has been the lack of strong wind. Strong wind will allow you to overcome the current.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Skim board distress signal - Genius!
That's gotta be a first

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

Sick photo gman. Is that you? Where are you?