Give a guy a launch?

flipper · Since 17 Oct 2011 320 Posts Obsessed

Launched two guys at the ES while I was setting my lines. When I was ready, I asked the closest guy if he could launch me and he said, "no, I'm setting my lines" and walked away. I asked the next guy setting his lines and he happily launched me.

Kinda left a bitter taste in my session, so afterward I launched and landed 10x's more kites than normal until my feet were thoroughly burned. Now I feel better. Smile

lloyd · Since 16 Aug 2007 108 Posts Hood River Stoked

I always hang out after my session and seek out kites to launch and land. Gotta put something positive back in to karma pool.

Jonpnw · Mon Jul 06, 15 5:40 pm **Launching & Landing is Fun**

I enjoy sharing the stoke.

A friend was recently out on the sand bar flying his trainer kite , on his way back to the event site a kiter asked him for a launch, my friend explained he was new to the sport and didn't feel confident launching a kite. The said "kiter" told him to stay off the "f-ing sandbar if he couldn't launch a kite"

Why do the tourists come with attitude ?

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 619 Posts Addicted

!! somebody actually said that?
you know people are crazy and then you find out they are crazier than you can imagine?!?!? what is wrong with these people and how do you help them?

HRnico · Since 22 Mar 2008 262 Posts Da Hood Obsessed

I learned to self launch long ago. I prefer to go farther down wind and take care of my self. Let the wacs fight in the foreground

wood · Since 21 Jan 2013 65 Posts

I have had the happen to me a few times. At first it bug me but after I thought about it. I let it go. The other day I was running my lines out when some ask me for a launch had the lines laid out but not hook up. Launch the guy went to hook up my lines and one line got taken 20 yards and under another kite and over another guys bar and lines. SO that can be an issue. I will say to someone after you run your lines and hook them up could I get a launch please or I try to ask someone before they start running there lines. IT WORKS.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2103 Posts PNW Bigfoot

JeffT · Since 07 Jul 2012 238 Posts Deep Southern Portland Stoked

Right on, Sasquatch.

soufy · Since 23 Jun 2015 2 Posts Beavertron, OR New Member

Related question: When assisting with a landing, do you generally park the kite on the ground or just hold the leading edge and wait for the pilot to unhook and come get it from you?

I have been doing the latter and got a couple of grumbles about being a noob (which I am), just didn't want to plant someone else's kite on a sharp stick or some other debris.

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 664 Posts Addicted

I rarely ride at the ES due to the crowds and attitudes (not everyone, just the few bad eggs). With that being said, the few times I do ride there I have a trick that seems to keep me in good spirits.

Rig away from the main crowded area (away from the water).

1) People won't be trampling on your lines
2) It's safer as the beginners won't be dumping their kites on you.
3) If no one is around you have ample safe space to self launch/land.
4) You won't get bombarded with a million requests.
5) This is the most important thing. When I am ready to launch, I look around for the guy/girl that rigged out of the main zone just like I did. I know this person will launch me (whether they are in the middle of tying their lines or something else). I may have to wait a minute as they secure their kite, however I know this person is like minded and capable. They don't feel the need to have the security of other kiters directly next to them. Also, when asked, I am willing to drop what I am doing and walk a considerable distance to help this same person launch or land. It's like we have this secret code that we were both willing to walk that extra distance just to get away from the crowds.

The key to this working is being comfortable in your ability to self launch/land if no one else is around. That being said, I always prefer a supported launch/landing as it is the safest option.

It has been my experience that the tourists with bad attitudes tend to hang around the front line while many of the nicer experienced locals tend to try to find their own space.

This is not to say that nice locals don't launch/land next to the water. In fact most of the kiters close to the water are probably nice locals. My point is that the tourist (or local) jerk is probably not going to make the effort to walk away from the crowds to the less crowded area because after all... They are a jerk.

Another point to be made... I have never once in my entire kiting life ever turned down the request to launch or land another kiter. It doesn't matter if I have launched 10 kites or am in the middle of getting a knot out of my lines. I will always secure my equipment as quickly as possible and immediately help out my kiter compadre. But, then again I probably don't get asked nearly as often as others either Idea

Sella · Tue Jul 07, 15 1:32 pm

All great advice above. I kite from the ES almost daily and can tell the stress typically comes from newer kiters who are feeling a bit intimidated by the whole scene.

A few tips...

1. Be ready when asking for a launch.

Wet suit zipped. Harness on. Life jacket on. Helmet on. Bar in hand standing by your kite asking for a launch. By the time you hook in, check/clear your lines, adjust to the window, and give the "thumbs up" should be no more than 30 seconds. If you ask me for a launch while you're still running out your lines...I'll be long gone by the time you get organized.

2. Be appreciative / be proactive

I've really never seen a bad attitude for landing or launching and I actually enjoy the process because it's a stoke driver. New guys are nervous so if you see one standing around offer them a toss or tell them "whenever you're ready let me know." You can see their relief.

3. Be quick

Run to extend your lines as you launch and run to your kite after you land to secure it. When I land a kite I'll flip it and hold it down but the kiter needs to make the effort to come secure his own kite with their board. I hate putting sand on a kite because it's hard on the canopy and unnecessary, in most conditions.

4. Learn to self launch / land

It's the easiest skill to learn and removes the need for another human to start/stop your stoke. Plus it gives you the ability to rig far away from crowds and go at your own pace. The ES is 30 acres and by far the easiest launch in the Gorge. If you think the holiday weekends are a zoo...you're the problem. Besides, if you can't self launch.......how do you relaunch when you're in the water???

specialk · Since 07 Mar 2013 10 Posts pdx/hr/coast New Member

The best under taught skill in kiteboarding is self-launching & self-landing, i.e.
Know what to do in all of these conditions, and practice it!

1) when your kite is on it's trailing edge
2)when your kite is on it's leading edge
3)when your kite is on a wingtip
4)hot-launching, when your kite is on it's TE
5)hot-launching, when your kite is on it's LE
6)drift-launching, etc., etc., etc.

The more you practice all these skills in all the varied conditions, the better kiter you will be. You will understand the wind window, light wind, strong wind, eddies, rocks, buoys, and people surrounding you far better.

Self-launching and self-landing is a win win situation.

Always have a blade and always have an exit plan
Rolling Eyes

Matt V · Wed Jul 08, 15 8:52 am

Guy that told you to F-off did you a favor. Look at his kite and make sure you remember it. Out on the water he is going to be a problem too so when you see his kite, keep clear. If he goes down and needs rescuing, I would still help him. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU REALIZE he will be a danger to you while rescuing him. I have seen unfriendly people try to share their problems with others. Don't put it past him that if you insist on getting him out of the way of the barge, he may pull your release just to divide up the shame of his lack of skills. While I would do every thing in my power to help him, a "tool" of a kiter is going to have to ask me to put myself in danger before I help them. Good luck with this if you find yourself in that situation.

Rule of the sea is that any vessel must assist another vessel in distress. But make sure you are being asked for help from.

Another thing that I would say is that it should be a rule that the ready kiter has right of way over setting up kiter. Get the guy or gal off of the beach and out of your way so you have more room. Has nothing to do with being nice, just makes things work out better for everyone.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

I have seen the name "tourist" creep into the nomenclature. What is the definition of a "tourist"? Do you have to live withing 5 miles of the Columbia river? 10 miles? 20 miles not to be considered a tourist?

I dont live in the Columbia Gorge, much like many kiters. I picture a tourist to be someone walking around with a camera and Bermuda shorts. Apparently by "local" standards, I am considered a tourist. I can tell you that I don't consider myself a tourist and I would bet other kite boarders from the Puget Sound dont think they are tourist.

In my opinion, the acceptance and increased use of terms like this to ascribe a behavior to a whole group of people is a sign of the beginning of a localism attitude. On a different forum, a person suggested that "tourist" should stay at the ES and not kite at the other launches up and down the river. I am assuming he was local to the CG. So, the biggest ass I have run into was a local. How do you know the guy that said "No" was not a local with an attitude?

Maybe I am hypersensitive (not something my friends would ever accuse me of being), but I grew up experiencing Santa Cruz localism. It sucks. I would hate to see kite boarding go that direction.

Ok, now you can accuse me of being a drama queen tourist.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

"no, I'm setting my lines"

that's fucked up - appropriate response

"Sure!, just let me finish setting my lines"

spending more time at kook central now that i have to walk the silly foil out to the end to find deep water - carrying a super sharp large object is some incentive for folks not to tomahawk you but sure it will happen

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 600 Posts Addicted

ive never thought of launching and landing others as optional. Someone asks for either and i help out. I do find myself irritated at others that ask me for a launch and are unprepared or for a land and then act like im the kite concierge. with all that said, i realize im just being a bit of a hater and let it go. it takes all kinds to make the world spin.

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 664 Posts Addicted