KID Cluster at the Spit today! Just a vent.

boarderchick · Since 10 Aug 2007 196 Posts Wherever there's wind:-) Stoked

My whole thing was about safety. The fact that kids were grabbing kiters, purposely crossing in front of them, and then blocking them was my concern. If there were a way we could figure this out that would be great. I was surprised that the Corp of Engineers didn't lower the water level for this week, and especially this weekend.

Anyhow, I typically woudn't vent, but there were about 30 kids there, and they were everywhere. Noone seemed to be watching them. There was one adult that actually asked one of the girls what she was looking for and requested that she stop kicking the kite lines everywhere, and be careful when people were launching and landing, as they'd stand in the way and right in front of the kiters. Then the dogs off-leash or even on-leash getting stuck in lines as kites are being launched.

I love the Gorge and love riding here. We have other places to kite, and we typically just get up and get out of there and go to Wells. Just so happened to be in HR yesterday during the day so went to the Spit.

Anyway, would love to hear any recommendations that we could all give to the CGKA to see how we could help keep things safe;-)

Happy Riding, it's a great day out........

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

At 3:30ish the guy who puts quarters in the machine that creates the wind inserted a fistfull of fury!

The wind jumped, and I mean major hops, into the 15 to 20 range. The spit at this point only had 2 guys rigging 13 meter kites.

Within 30min. est. the kiting hoards had arrived and the classes of kids were out and about.

Crazy conditions make for crazy results. I don't think that it is fair to just blame it all on the guys trying to teach kiting at the spit.

Let's keep it in perspective: the conditions were unexpected to say for sure. People were having to rerig thier 10's to 7's ect. This made for some very interesting situations.

On top of this the gusty conditions caused many, and I mean experts, to dump their kites.

Let's hope the guy who puts quarters in the machine had a cam on the spit and posts the vids a U tube.

Ron Very Happy

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

2005-2006 seasons I think I only went to the sandbar 4 or 5 times each year. That's back when it was tiny and it was a huge cluster fuck riding around. Then it got big and now I go 4 times a week on average.

Its fun going there because it’s a social center and it has a nice combo of flat water and swell riding, but crowds annoy me... Might have to switch back to old style.

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

i just avoid HR all together, unless its seriously off-hours.
thankfully the tricky launch at stevenson keeps people away.

Mocean · Since 21 Sep 2005 343 Posts Newport Obsessed

Ah, the coast.........

Never kited the spit
Never kited Stevenson
Never kited the Gorge
Scares me to death

10 people on a mile of wide sandy beach is a crowd here
You guys just have more consistency

(Note I'm trying out Blowhard's style of posting)

mschulz · Since 29 May 2007 530 Posts Reno, NV Addicted

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

I love these posts not long ago I remember some of you being the kooks..

and before the kooks asking the annual questions on this forum you were probably in the way of some ripper too... Twisted Evil

saftey first but maybe carry some of said fliers in your kite bags and let them read them when your walking out to set up, prior to trying to launch trough them.

I wouldn't give them the flier it would probaly be just trash in no time, just let them read it. Wink

never ridden at the spit theres plenty other good spots when the zoo is going off.

you really don't want to get to pissy on the tourists that are bringing the cash to town ....

you may want them to come back with more cash sometime in the future. Idea

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

I am the tourist bringing cash into town. Be nice to me plz Wink

Onad · Thu Jul 03, 08 4:55 pm

forrest · Thu Jul 03, 08 5:12 pm

You should probably go back and re-read the entire post, cause you sound like you've missed the point. You can pretend this is about better riders wanting all the room for themselves, but you have little insight into the problem cause like you said, you've never ridden here. You really are missing out, it's a pretty magical spot.

Sure, cash coming into town is priority number one, I'm not dense. I just see how this town's recreation industry is failing at the hands of the Port. So, how does a kiteboard instruction industry in Hood River expect to grow with such congestion?

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

nothing against you forrest, your always pretty positive with regards to the sport and the scene ect.

just throwing ideas out there.

to much writing in many posts definitely gets skimmed( balue) Twisted Evil

its about the instant .... brief well stated points to keep the a.d.d in the NOW when reading posts. Wink

guess what ther will be more people at every launch in most summer areas for the rest of the summer people...

make some new friends and enjoy it....

Ive been to the gorge plenty , its very magical everyone should go there Twisted Evil

happy 4th ...

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

I like people - some of my best friends are people - more people = better people watching - feel sorta jipped I missed the whole lord of the flies scene

kids with trainer kites boo hoo

crowds 4th of July - no way

the solitude of the coast is fine

but some times you need to jump in the mosh pit

Onad · Fri Jul 04, 08 5:59 am

Ahhhh Yes! Right on the $$ Gman!!

"But I can't throw my legit moves with all these "People" in the way...."