you know you paid the wrong instructor

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge Â

10 each kite size is a different brand/model
9 they've got no storefront
8 the lesson involves trespassing on railroad tracks
7 the instructor is wearing an outdated Pro-tec rafting helmet(the kind raft companies give to their customers)
6 if after 3 lessons you still aren't riding
5 they bring you to Lyle and its not on a jet ski
4 they never mention kite etiquette
3 it's blowing 14-42 and they still go for the lesson
2 it's blowing 6-10 and they don't cancel the lesson
1 the instructor has a board leash permanently attached to his harness

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor Â

HAHA strapless, someone must have put their lesson right where you were trying to ollie your skim. Was the kite at 12 o'clock for like two hours? Where they right in the middle of where everyone wanted to ride, AGAIN?

So what's legality of actually taking people money and giving lessons in Lyle? Isn't that Forest Service land? How does the permitting work for that?

MikeZ · Thu Aug 08, 13 9:11 pm

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

The instructor does not know how to set up a 4 line kite and while he is struggling and sweating his ass off in his wetsuit for 30 minutes trying to figure it out, a kiter comes up and says this is a dangerous sport, you can really get your ass kicked. You should take a lesson. Oh no wait....that really happened to me during my lesson with Hood River Water Play in 2007.

Snowy · Since 30 Jun 2007 93 Posts Ocean Â

Bamboozled
Ugothosed
Laughing
Another instructor is needed
Eventually you will learn safely

Jonpnw · Fri Aug 09, 13 8:04 am **You get what you pay for**

There is enough reputable schools in the area. Don't learn from a kook

Sauve · Since 19 Mar 2009 97 Posts Hood River Â

Ha please tell me this really happened to you?

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor Â

Sauve, read between the lines. Strapless has seen ALL of these things happening.

I would add the following:
12) you are progressing faster than the person you just finished taking lesaons from.
11) If you had of actually watched your instructor kite for 5 minutes you would never of hired him to begin with.

Anthony · Since 07 Oct 2008 362 Posts Salem Obsessed **CGKA Member**

This tread is too good to past up. Yes, this did happen.

He spent most of lesson talking to his friends on the beach. He no longer works as an instructor; nobody will take him (Maui). He works at Kiddy Park helping kids on to rides. This is not joke!!

The equipment is not being maintained. 1. Spinner broke causing the bar to go to stopper and break. Chief instructor yelled that I was so hard on this equipment (HR). 2. Bar broke – when I got to shore and looked at the bar I could tell that it was fatigued and had dry area with no epoxy in the glass. (Maui). I worked for the fiberglass company for 7 years; I know fatigue when I see it.

I am at the HR sandbar and can tell the wind is blowing too hard for a good lesson. Instructor refused to cancel the lesson. (I have windsurfed for 30 + years and was a windsurfing instructor, so I do have a little knowledge of the wind.) I weight 200 lb and was using 5m kite. The instructor could not pull the kite to himself after a safe release demo. At least the sand bar was devoid of other kiters.

WindSki · Since 14 Dec 2012 411 Posts Portland Obsessed

NOTE, I’m rather sure one person here is a gorge operating instructor bashing another gorge operating instructor. Plus some people pissed that there are beginners at their favorite spot. Just an FYI

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor Â

yo windski, if anybody's instructor does more that 1 of the top 12 plus other stories then they shouldn't be an instructor.

a new #1:
"You don't know what a 'kook' is but you have a strong feeling your instructor is one."

And since nobody has answered my questions above here are the answers:
The FS doesn't permit kite instruction in Lyle. if someone is taking your money then they are operating illegally. Go get a lesson from a qualified instructor.

If Lyle is a place you like to kite, and you know how to access it legally and kite with respect to various users, come on down and enjoy the submerged logs, crappy conditions, little to no gawkworthy girls in bikinies, and great beer and food at the Corner Pocket. enjoy!

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge Â

How did this become about Lyle? I was just commenting on some of the pathetic "instructors" I've seen over the years. It seems that there is no shortage of people who are willing to part "fool from his money." I don't know why it bothers me so, but the caliber of some "instructors" is highly questionable. I've watched people take lessons for five days and still can't get on a board, when if they had gone to a legit school they would be staying upwind no problem. Please, if you are learning (and you should take lessons) take them not from the cheapest place, but a place with a proven record.

I think this forum should post school reviews, or is the the "no brand vs brand" bs that rules this forum.

And no, I am certainly no instructor. Have no interest, no desire. I will rescue anyone who needs it (7 boards and 3 tow ins this season) and will freely give my thoughts.

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge Â

Also, what an incredible lightning storm tonight!

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor Â

Jim Bison. Now that is an awesome instructor. I had my first kitemare in 5 years at parallel to Wells Island last month. He gave me a jetski ride all the way to the sandbar.

Saw him out riding 2 days ago kiting with one of his lessons at the mouth of the White Salmon. Every time I see one of those jetskis I feel like that person made the right decision getting a lesson from that school!

There are a lot of really good instructors at the Event site. Owen, are you still giving lessons? I hear you do good work too.

I have a new one:
"If your instructor is spending more time flying your kite than you are, then you either need a discount or need a new sport."

dangerD · Since 27 Jun 2005 223 Posts Bingen Heights Stoked

Sweet I have a whole crew of White Salmon raft guides that want the "crash course" and have their own Protecs.. You think Lyle is better than the Wunderbar? Anyone have any '05 or older C-kites we can borrow?

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge Â

anywhere other than the ws sandbar for beginners please.
I do have a 10m Naish Aero, I think 2001 or 2002, and an 2003 Amp that I would donate if I could watch the raft guides learn on it. Though if you're going to learn on those kites, might as well do it like we did: Launch from the Hatch and downwinder to Hood River Sandbar swimming most of the way.

lineman · Since 05 Feb 2009 170 Posts Stoked

My instructor told me to never be hooked in when launching..... Imagine how that worked out....