Kiteboarding and how WE are percieved by the Public!!

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

I'm a local and have windsurfed since the 1980's I've been living in The Gorge since 1999. I lived in Maui 1995 to 1996 and sailed at Hookipa when a cool german guy was launching his kite and ripping in light winds. Kiteboarding was on it's way!
Surprised

When I talk to my windsurfing buds they always ask about the safety of kiteboarding. Their major concern is their safety around the kite. I take the time to explain that they should always stay upwind of kites. I let them know I will always yield to them and go down wind of them when approaching on a reach.
Wink

I appreciate Shredbarbie's constructive response and her representing the interest of all kiters here in The Gorge. I did edit my post regarding the accident, but feel that it is important to have open discussion about the safety of the area where I like to launch! I'm going to continue to post my concerns as I bridge both the windsurfing community and the kiteboarding community.

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1781 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

So far I perceive you to be someone with an axe to grind

blancoh2o · Since 15 Mar 2005 1154 Posts Oregon Phishy

I thought we were the public!

If we are not the public, who are we?

Rolling Eyes

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon May 28, 07 12:56 pm **Re: how WE perceive you**

BigR · Since 05 Jul 2005 372 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon May 28, 07 9:00 pm

ummm, nevermind

boredbrain · Since 16 Feb 2006 352 Posts Hood River Obsessed

Where were you born? Local - Your a dork.

Get something good to say.

Glad you lived in Maui to, must give you supreme knowledge.

Oh and who cares what others think? Shocked

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

haha this is funny! Rolling Eyes

Bonetti · Since 29 Apr 2007 411 Posts So. Cal./Oregon Obsessed

Hell yea this is funny! I just like to ride!!!

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

Far from it! I'm just wondering at what point do we start to respect the zone? When I see somebody just flyin into the 5mph zone on a big holiday I wonder what the plan is?
I guess I'll just wait and see like 99% of most folks usually do.

Chow

forrest · Tue May 29, 07 6:30 am

It's possible that the person violating the no plane zone isn't a local and has no idea of the boundaries. I didn't see any signs either and I was looking for the 600x600 foot rectangle...

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

cheers to PDXMB, Cheers to BigR, and Cheers to boredbrain for their posts. Put this guy in his place.

Anyway, on Monday, i did not see any kiters in the no fly zone. That is not to say absolutely no one was ever in the no fly zone, but i was there from ~10am - ~6pm and generally kiters were respecting the no fly zone. I can't say the same for the windsurfers respecting the no planing rule, but whatever. This isn't the first tiem kiters have followed the rules and windsurfers weren't (the whole firelane thing back when we were pumping up at the event site), but i digress.

I do have a concern tho, and i thought that the marine deputy was going to place another buoy out in the water 600 feet upwind of hte yellow marker buoy on the beach? it seems like w/o this marker out in the water there is no way to police or enforce the no fly zone Question

oh yea, and ciao is spelled ciao. chow as a noun is food or victuals, otherwise chow is the intravsitive verb of to chew or to eat.

holly · Since 09 Jul 2006 440 Posts Hood River Obsessed

maybe you should go tell him that instead of posting some pointless post, and may be you should go back to maui if you think its too sketchy to kite in the gorge.

stop posting retarded articles!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I hope the public perceives kiteboarding as dangerous, because it is. Just like windsurfing, surfing, snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, wakeboarding.... basically anything except Golf you can get your ass kicked. That's part of what makes it fun.

As far as kites or kiters taking out innocent bystanders, I think we got to address that. Wasn't that part of the idea of putting the booth at the sandbar? that they could warn people that taking grandma and the kids out for a stroll on the sand when its blowing 30 knots and kites are all over the place isn't the best idea.

J.P. · Since 10 Mar 2005 638 Posts Addicted

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

This weekend was actually the first time I kited the sandbar. I was there late Sunday and kited there just yesterday. Had I not strolled down there on Sunday evening, I probably would not have been aware of the buoy location. The water level is lower than where the buoy resides and with people rigging around it and putting their gear in that area, it is just about impossible to locate it when you are in the water. I could see others not recognizing the boundaries. I really am only aware of the boundary concerns due to being informed from this forum. This forum is a powerful and beneficial tool for Gorge/Kite knowledge. If there were any signs indicating the rules I failed to see them on my way down from the sandbar parking lot.

stringy

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

Signs are still on the way