Pump up the Event Site

mmac · Since 15 May 2005 93 Posts SC

Why can't we pump up our kites on the east end of the event site grass and walk out to the sandbar? Evil or Very Mad

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Whats the big deal with a 2 minute nice walk from the spit. The event site is wide open now but in a month there is gonna be a zillion windsurfers with their gear spread all over the place - I think you are just getting in a habit that is going to cause unnecessary conflict.

Why even mess around - we scored the lotto with 40 acres of new sand (no mule) - be thankful

cgka · Since 18 Jul 2006 278 Posts Obsessed

Well said Gman. One thing leads to another. If locals are pumping up their kites on the grass and some dude fresh off the plane from Iowa sees that and starts rigging right on the grass because he does not know better the situation just continues to escalate.

Last summer there was no sandbar and it sucked for kiting. Take advantage of all the wide open space and respect the event site rules.

jack · Since 12 Mar 2006 215 Posts Stoked

spot on gman... i have never heard a larger contingent of whinning pussies... funny we mock windsurfers and cry about not being able to pump up on grass. how many times and in how many different ways does this conversation have to be had. walk to the sand bar pump up and have fun...

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

So if we choose to stand up to our rights to be on the event site
then we are a "bunch of whinning pussies"? And if someone
misbehaves then we are responsible for their actions?

I think the tone of the official(?) posts from the CGKA has been
somewhat unprofessional. At least they should list the names of those
who authored and approved it and perhaps even if the membership
voted to support the position the CGKA has taken.

-Hein

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

Hein check your PM

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

If you have something to say to me in regards to this issue.
Please say it in public.

I just think that you should sign your names and not use the CKGA login
to voice personal opinions or levy attacks on those who don't agree with
your position.

All I want and I think I speak for many less vocal kiters out there
is the oportunity to use the event site to pump up my kites and
hang out with my inflated kite while I'm not riding. There is no
safety issue here.

Yes, the windsurfing community made the event site possible. But
it is a public park. A public park should be accesible to everyone.

So I am asking the Port? Is the event site a public parK? If so
how can you limit it's use to just the windsurfing enthusiasts?

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

Thank you

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

maybe i'm interpreting this with a real optmistic attitude, but while reading over some of hte portofhoodriver.com's website on teh following page: http://www.portofhoodriver.com/Ordinance/Ordinance22.htm

i found this clause
SECTION 24. Spit Restrictions. The following activities are prohibited at the Spit:
a. No person shall windsurf from the Spit.
b. No person shall swim from the Spit unless the person is kiteboarding.
c. No person shall drive or park a vehicle or a vehicle towing a trailer with a total length which exceeds 22 feet.

what does 24a read? no windsurfing from our sand spit. Now, the port and all the windsurfers have kindly let us, park at the event site and walk out to the sand bar. I realize that windsurfers would never want to launch from the sand spit, but hey, atleast the port made it official that they can't. Anyway, I believe, they could disallow us from walking from the event site to the sand spit if they wanted. I also believe the event site is port property, but i could be wrong, it may just be managed by the port, i'm not sure. Anyway, my point is, what they have given us with regards to access from the event site, is all they are going to give us, and we should be thankful for what we have: two spots for us to park and kiteboard from, that is one more than last year Exclamation

is it really worth all the bitching or are people just bored and have nothing better to do? (i know the latter is my case, so bored at work right now) i mean, a non-kiteboarder friend of mine asked me last night what all the controversy was about. and i told him, a short walk of 600 feet, that is what all the stupid controversy is about. pretty fuckign trivial eh? i sure think so. I realize there is more to this issue than just the 600'x600' no kiting area, but i just dont think any part of it is cause for concern or all this friction on the forum that is being stirred up. The only people that are really getting screwed in this whole ordeal are the kiteboard schools, and oddly enough, i dont hear them bitching....

if you want to pump up your kite on the grass, what the hell is stopping you? at least for right now; eventually there will be sooo many windsurfers on the event site grass there will be absolutely no room to put your kite out, or you will get stopped dead in your tracks as soon as you pull the kite out of hte bag, but until that time there is only like 5 wind surfers down at the event site on any given day (and they are on the far end way away from us kiters) and the kite boarders who are just hanging around drinking beer easily outnumber them. so why not just do what you want to do until you're told otherwise Idea

I mean do you really think someone is going to come up and stop you from pumping up your kite when there is 50 yards of open grass that no one is using? Also, it takes like what, maybe 5 minutes to pump up your kite? once it is done, how can somebody differentiate whether or not you're coming in or going out, or taking a break and going back out? etc... The only way you're gonna get busted pumping your kite up on the grass is if you bust your kite out of the bag in front of someone who is watching for it (kinda like smoking a bowl out in public), that is not to say i condone the behavior but it just doesn't seem like it is worth all the bitching. Is all the bitching getting you anything Question

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

I want to pump my kite up by my car in the parking
lot and just walk across the grass to get out on the sandbar
where I can safely attach my lines and go ride.

When I've had a good session. I want to carry my
kite onto the grass and roll it up so I can go home.

Is that so much to ask for?

..

Pepi · Sat Apr 21, 07 4:18 pm

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

no, its not.

And I believe it's my right to be at the event site with my kite
as long as I'm not endangering others.

Is it possible to get banned from the port for voicing an opinion?

Slipin Lizard · Since 23 Sep 2005 88 Posts Hood River, Oregon

The thing with the Event Site is, its my understanding that kiting was allowed there in the past, was percieved as dangerous and then "confirmed" when a kiter collided with the brick restrooms buildings and seriously injured. What I heard, he was dragged up and over the building. Now, if that's untrue, someone please clarify because its certainly the urban legend that a lot of people have heard. This was also supposedly the incident that resulted in the Event Site being closed to kiting.
Last year, I don't recall anyone posting saying "why can't I kite/pump up/hang out with my kite" at the Event Site?". Certainly it wasn't the hotly debated topic it is this year. What I don't get is how does the sandbar being bigger translate into now the Event Site is or should be open to kiting? What does the size of the sandbar have to do with who has access to the Event Site?
I can understand the desire for better access for kiters, but I think a better way to approach this whole situation is to develop a site that is "kiters only" if that's what people want. People have written in talking about how much it will hurt Hood River if kiters go elsewhere, well, why not prove it and work with a town like Steveson, Bingen, or Lyle to develop a kite only site? The "Bridge of the Gods" event last year seemed like a big step in the right direction. Show communities how great it can be to work with kiters and how their town will benefit. Form some sort of kite center, park, whatever, but establish it in a new territory that is open and receptive, instead of wasting energy trying to battle your way into the Event Site.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

Perhaps I should broaden my scope.

I want to be able to pump up my kite
and walk around with it under my arm
anywhere on Port property. As if I
were walking my dog on a leash.

When I want to go ride. I'll head
right out to the sandbar where the
wind is clean, the water nearby
and I'll be less likely to endanger
others.

Or if its busy, I might ask one of the
Big Winds crew to toss my kite from
the crook in the hook. At the end of my
sesh over at the bridge or up at Wells
I'd come into the bar and get a catch.
Roll up my lines and head up to the
grass to unwind and stow my gear.

Life would be bliss and there would
be peace on the port.

..

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

sign, sign,
everywhere a sign.

I think everyone who
plans on kiting the
Gorge reads this forum.

Thanks to Famous Phillip!

Who is probably halfway
into a good buzz by now.