Here's one... are you ready for kiting in the water?

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

1) Do you know how to drag upwind to your board?

2) Do you know how to relaunch your kite in low/med/high winds?

3) Do you know how to self-rescue?

.... (please add more here)

If you answered NO to any of these, you are risking your life, and it may be a good sign that you should go for one more lesson. After seeing the carnage and rescue after rescue on Sunday, I have to wonder what people are thinking.

Jet Skis/Sea Doos aren't always going to be there to save your ass.

Bettyboarder · Mon Jul 02, 07 7:57 am

Oh thank you for posting this. Yesterday was crazy. Most of the people I have been picking up lately have no clue what they are doing and really should have a jetski or lesson to follow them. Just a guess but between Jim, Phil and I we probably rescued 10-15 people (including a couple windsurfers, thanks Jimbo) yesterday.

I love when I pick people up and they think that the city is paying me to rescue people or that I am with a school. There are not jetskis that are run by the city we are just fellow kiters.

Adam, lets put jetski rescues on list of things to talk about at the next meeting cause I know that I am getting tried of doing them but there seems to be a big need for them.

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Yeah yesterday was ridiculous. And it isn't even kiters, but windersurfers as well. I rescued two windsurfers who couldn't waterstart that were out in the channell. No idea what they are doing out there if they can't waterstart.

I am starting to follow Bandito on this one now. If it is a life or death situation, or there is no easy way for you to self resuce back to the beach I will help you out, otherwise, start self rescuing.

I actually rescued at least 8 peopole yesterday including the two kites that were floating and tangled down the river. A couple people were legitimate rescures, like the guy who's leading edge exploded and was trying to swim back with his nice anchor, glad to help out. But some of them are just utterly ridiculous.

My first rescue of the day happened just as I was pulling up, this guy is yelling at us on the beach for help, so I thought it was a serious emergency. I got there and his kite is sitting on the edge of the window in the water, and he is telling me he is too tired. All he has to do i pull on one line and the kite is flying and he can bodydrag back to the beach. So I start to help him out and ask him to wrap his lines, while I grab the kite. I was removing the lines from the kite and he starts tangling himself in the lines and lets go of the bar, so now I am drifting down river with a tangled mess floating around the jetski, I was not happy.

Oh and the kicker was the guys whos kites I dragged in from the river. They had wrapped and were floating down the channel. I dragged them in from pretty far out, and not even a thank you.

Don't get me wrong, we never ask for anything in return for the resuces, but a THANK YOU is much appreciated. Though one guy came down with a nice case of PBR though, so thanks for that Thumb's Up

trevorsmith · Since 25 Apr 2005 501 Posts PDX Addicted

forrest · Mon Jul 02, 07 9:09 am

Sucks that you were so busy rescuing people Nicole, but we all appreciate it. I have $20 bucks for your gas tank cause you never know when a rescue will be needed even for us accomplished riders.

Thanks for stepping up to the plate for all of us. Even though we aren't responsible for the well-being of other people who make poor decisions, we are indirectly responsible for keeping our fellow kiters alive so the "powers that be" don't shut us down.

It's this, or we'll just have to come up with more rules and from what I can tell, that's the last thing we want.

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

trevorsmith · Since 25 Apr 2005 501 Posts PDX Addicted

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

The Jet Ski rescues are definately appreciated. I had a Jet Ski rescue a friend that was getting swept away - big thanks to whoever that was!!

mystrygrl · Since 07 Sep 2006 95 Posts PDX/HR - What day is it?

did you wind up keeping that unattended kite you found on the WA rocks Betty? Strange that no one seemed to miss it... sat there on the spit most of the afternoon... but hopefully that kiter will surface (no pun intended)... and will donate to your KB4C cause...

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Was skimboarding hood river and downstream - crazy amount of flotsom an jetsom - one point I counted three kites blowin away, a self rescue to the washington side Thumb's Up

and Captain Kook flyin an ancient fuel 11M? no harness - as I swing by to offer some advice (wtf you doing) he loses kite and the rig drifts to an island of swimming kids - kooky gets back to rig in like slow motion and is sort of just sitting there with kite upside down - I sail over to grab his kite just in time for him to let go and nearly wipe out 3 kids.

Oh and the guy we carried out with a broken leg - someone said he was working on self launching? with 200 people on the sandbar seemed like you should be able to find a launch. Anyone see what happened?

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

i am astounded that you guys are doing water rescues without thought of reward, or even thought of covering your expenses. way beyond cool.

i do not mean to highjack the thread, but one thougt does come to mind.
what are you going to do about repeat offenders. everyone makes mistakes, i have been pulled out of the drink, and fell all over myself thanking the guy in the boat with the angel wings. . .

but then, i do not launch at the spit now with a lot of south in a dying wind, when everyone else is coming in. if i went back out in those conditions now, and couldnt relaunch, i wouldnt be looking over my shoulder for a rescue.

for me and mine, first rescue is free. second one is $100. third is $500?

whataya think?

jimmi

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

first is a big thank you, second is case of beer, big thank you and appology, third, add dinner and 2 gallons of gas, etc etc

Bettyboarder · Mon Jul 02, 07 1:32 pm

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Nice post on ikitesurf:

While I was self-launching at the east edge of the sanbar yesterday, I got gusted and launched 20+ vertical to come down on some rocks in about 2 feet of water. I wanted to give a great big thank-you to the 10 or so guys that carried me and my stuff all the way back to the parking lot, and especially to Adrian (?) who gave me a ride to the hospital.

I just have to say how great it is to be involved in a sport with such a tremendous sense of community and concern for one another. My season is over, due to a spiral fracture to the tibia and fibula that extends down to the ankle joint, but I will be out there again, ready to return the favor, or at least buy some beers for you guys if I ever catch up with you.

I have a completely new level of respect for the wind.

http://forums.ikitesurf.com/viewtopic.php?t=8492

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

beginer tip before you launch get some local knowledge of the launch site. Barge lanes dead spots where to launch from what the current does. eg Mosier the wind is very light and swirlly on the inside do not try to bring the kite overhead on the beach.

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Jul 02, 07 3:11 pm

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Jul 02, 07 3:14 pm