Waterfront Recreation Committee: April 2, 2007 3:30 P.M. ?

Yardsale · Since 29 Mar 2005 387 Posts Portlanastan Obsessed

I just want a chance to run over Phillip, that's all I care about.....Is it OK for kiters to have collisions with other kiters?...... Hey I've towed in several windsurfers and kiters,(and conversly been towed in), and I love doing it, it is my pleasure and responsibility to help out my anyone in need out there. I also give polesurfers a wide berth....oooh that's alot of effort (sarcasm). Take the high ground and as King George once said to his citizenry, "...shut thy royal crumpet hole"..... Very Happy

Pepi · Thu Apr 05, 07 7:45 am

Yup, already had that kind of love at the Sandbar this year.

I already got clipped and bounced over at the Sandbar this year. There were only 5 of us there and I was on the sandbar adjusting my footstraps on my board before launching my kite.
No love was lost, we all continued on with a good session.
We were all competent kiters, but shit happens.

Pepi

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

i think the main problem is just the delivery of the message (it's not that we can't accept rules). if you could tell us the possibilities, or perhaps benefits of the decisions that are proposed and then decided on vs. coming at us with you can't do this, we won't do that, and you aren't getting this.... it's tough to win over a crowd with a bunch of negative words.

Yardsale · Since 29 Mar 2005 387 Posts Portlanastan Obsessed

javascript:emoticon(' Shocked

')

Mark · Thu Apr 05, 07 11:23 am **Tired of giving............**

I feel as though I need to voice my thoughts.

I wouldn't mind "sharing" the sandbar with windsurfers or whoever. But, where was the love last year? We couldn't even use the beach. They (the port, windsurfers ect) wouldn't budge. Now that things have changed we are the ones who have to give..?.. BS.

I have learned from snowmobiling/cross country battles that if you give an inch (lots of compromise) that they take a mile and you never get it back.

I personally will not antagonize the windsurfers and will rig on the sandbar. I will also go upwind right away to get away from the madness. But, that is my choice... it should not be the law or perceived law.
The sad thing is (for the most part) we want access when the wind is too light for lots of windsurfers anyway. There should be compromise on both sides....

The Port should get off its collective a.. and start opening up new area for us. It would be a win win for everyone. Lets start with expanding/ adding the event site. Lets see some plans for new parks for all to enjoy. Seems there is plenty of sand in the river to "move" and make a new park along the hook. I know this takes money and time. Set out some guidelines and estimates and lets see if we can work though the paperwork. Others have done it.....

If not if I fear bad blood is coming.

Mark

Pepi · Thu Apr 05, 07 12:55 pm

Let's see an organized kite community present itself in a respectable and organizational manner to the authoritative organizations.

Let's see a kite community that is not consistently talking about how all the current rules suck.

Let's start seeing some kiters actually attend community meetings that are primarily focussed on these issues.

Let's see some kiters step up to bat with Tekko, Shay and Jim to work together to make these things happen.

Pepi

sherrybohn · Since 16 Jun 2006 71 Posts

"The Port should get off its collective a.. and start opening up new area for us. It would be a win win for everyone. Lets start with expanding/ adding the event site. Lets see some plans for new parks for all to enjoy. Seems there is plenty of sand in the river to "move" and make a new park along the hook. I know this takes money and time. Set out some guidelines and estimates and lets see if we can work though the paperwork. Others have done it..... "

What do you mean by getting off our "collective a.."? What do you think we've been trying to do for the past two months? Do you think I enjoy meetings discussing the same safety and access issues over and over again. Do I enjoy trips to Washington DC, Salem and Portland to discuss these same issues while trying to balance recreation access (windsurfing, kitboarding, swimming, boating) along with the economic impacts that this situation has caused while trying to find the money to make this a win win for all. I'd really rather be concentrating on running my business and getting my time on the water but that is what I was elected to do.

It's more than guidelines, estimates and moving paperwork. It's about money.....lots and lots of money. Where do you propose to get the money to open up a new area for kiteboarding or to just "move" some sand to make a new park? Moving sand isn't cheap and last time I looked money doesn't grow on trees.

Yes, others have done it.....The Port of Hood River built the Event Site in 1989 with the help of organized individuals that worked though the system together to build and maintain a destination spot.

That's it....I'm done with my rant and about done with this whole topic.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Apr 05, 07 2:23 pm

Kudos to Sherry for not taking any shit. Working with big public agencies and ports and municipalities is very slow, boring and in general Suuuuuucks.

It would be great to have a kite beach with grass to rig, air compressors, umbrellas, hell, lets throw in a swim up bar while we are at it.

What's really funny is that people seem to forget that most of us avoid the damn spit like the plague during the summer.

Hmmm, lets see.....gusty wind, hood river death current vortex from hell, newbs, boobs and dogs all over the spit, pay to park, 14 y.o.'s pulling leashless kiteloops 10' from where you are rigging up, guys on ladders with camera's in the water flirting with disaster, mean ass logs in the water.... Sounds freaking awesome all it really needs is some broken glass Smile

Its a freaking zoo on a good day and this year, man oh man, its going to be freaking out of control!!! I think it may honestly self implode.

Mark · Thu Apr 05, 07 2:30 pm

Don't take it so personal. It's about the position you hold not you personally.

What I said was:
"Set out some guidelines and estimates and lets see if we can work though the paperwork"

We meaning all of us. Give us some numbers to see if WE can come up with ideas. There is power in numbers.

Rant over Wink

Mark

sherrybohn · Since 16 Jun 2006 71 Posts

Not taking it personal....I know it's just "part of the job" but I do just get a little tired of the rant.

Spent a good portion of the day in port 07/08 strategic planning and yes....the ever present delta was ONE of the many topics of discussion.

Summer 07 - what we see is what we get along..... with what ever mother nature decides to throw our way. Think cooperation.

Fall 07 - Spring 08 - plans to work with the numerious/various agencies/experts and such to find out what we CAN do to be proactive, the COSTS involved and HOW make this work for everyone involved.

My opinion, and it's only MY opinion, is the CGKA needs a unified voice/go to person(s), who is available year round, that communicates to and speaks for the orginization, who is willing to work WITH the agencies in order to reach consensis and compromise over the long run.