On my soapbox!

kitebot · Since 20 Feb 2007 251 Posts Obsessed

I feel your pain, so many kooks. I've learned that just because someone's in a wetsuit and a harness that it doesn't mean they have the slightest idea what's going on when it comes to helping out in strange situations. Fortunately, these people are the exception to the rule, 90% of most kiters would've been able and willing to help you out.

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

My buddy had some instructor snatch his kite out of the air and drop it in the water today as he was headed out, completely tangling his lines. According o my buddy he said something like "this won't do" or something odd like that. It wasn't for safety reasons as his lesson was nowhere nea him or my friend. Very odd. And the wind sucked today too.

pdxmonkeyboy · Sat Aug 18, 07 11:30 pm

yeah everyone should be able to self land their kites but WTF people?

How much energy does it take to walk ten steps and land someone's kite?

Its weak anyway you slice it.

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

i go back to the old saying: "let it begin with me."

yes it true we owe each other a terrible loyalty, as sailors have for ever.

on the other hand, to pine about the behavior of others just leads down the road to becoming a victim. . .

the balance-point for me is to do what i can for others without expectations. tough to do somedays i will admit.

jimmi

tonyb · Sun Aug 19, 07 9:29 am

I see both sides of the argument here but based on the large number of "safety" threads this summer and the concern people have for giving the sport a bad image due to accidents I think we should err on the side of catching and landing a kite. I can self launch and land but it's always a little trickier and riskier than having some help. In the end, how much trouble is it to take 30 seconds to turn around to catch a kite, then go back to what you were doing versus all of sudden having to to help pick up the pieces because some little thing went wrong for someone - or worst case watch the ambulance come down again.

I've been frustrated at HR a few times before too; I've come in tapping my head for the landing sign and had to walk up and down the beach for 5 minutes trying to make eye contact and get someone to catch the kite. And these were not beginners on the beach who were turning their back to me or "conveniently" starting to do something else. I've kited a lot of different states/countries/places the last few years and HR is the ONLY place this has happened to me.

If someone is worried about not getting enough time on the water or that they're gonna miss the wind because they're helping somebody else tell them to get their ass out of bed a little earlier! Smile

Tony

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

I got your back Tony.

KingE · Since 27 Apr 2006 58 Posts Lake Wenatchee

I am the guy that caught your kite while still hooked to my own. You are welcome! Those two guys were an instructor and his student. The instructor was helpful to me also as well as setting a good example for his student. As I was standing there on his lines, with your kite and my bar in my hands, and one of your lines around my head, he said, "hey, just so you know, you have a line around your head" Evil or Very Mad

. I was so greatful for the free lesson that I was speechless Shocked

. The student finally helped out.(he was hooked into his bar). After you got your kite, I turned to the instructor and told him that it would have been easiest and safest for him to have caught your kite. His excuse was that he said you were just hanging out Question

.

I had a fun day despite the really stupid wind! Hope that you did too. you can't let the uptight folks that tend to be found in crowded places ruin your time.

Later,

Jeb

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2624 Posts The 503 METAL

jbruxer · Since 24 Jul 2005 398 Posts Beaverton, OR Obsessed

You're right, wind slither, I am totally whining! Why can't folks just assume that I can't handle my own gear and come fly it for me! Mad

I guess by now I should know that the gorge wind can be flukey and that sometimes kites fall out of the sky (and can't get enough wind to relaunch either).

I guess the main point I was trying to make was the fact that there were several bad things going on at one time, and it would have been nice if the person who was standing 10ft. away would have noticed the same.

Thanks again, KingE! I really appreciate it. For the two guys I referred to as douchebags earlier, I appologize! It was just the heat of the moment coming out!...but seriously, would 30 seconds have killed you?

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Aug 20, 07 8:32 am

Maybe kiteboarding is going to go the way of snowboarding. When I started snowboarding there wasn't that many people out there doing it so when you saw someone on a snowboard you were instantly like “Yo Dude!”, you banded together with the other snowboarders, shared your secret spots on the mountain or your favorite trick. Now, its not so much about boarding anymore as it is just being seen on the mountain, its about the color of your ski-suit, or how many $100's of dollars your goggles cost, its more of a fashion show really and one thing their is no shortage of is the attitude. The "though art cooler than thou" attitude.

So it only took a matter of time for those that can not expend the energy to recognize the fact that other people exist on the planet to come out of the woodwork. Should people run all over the beach catching my kites for me? No. Should I know how to safely self-land my kite? Yes. If your trying to land your kite right next to them should they make the effort to take their hands out of the pockets and grab the kite? Yes they should.

You know the worst part about this thread, its embarrassing.

bfar · Since 03 Oct 2006 25 Posts HR

Wow, I've been thinking the same thing all summer. As a newbie I've been envious of the "brotherhood" I've seen on the spit (being a long time ws'er). But now I see the same attitude you described. I have had similar situations landing lately as well. Can't waite to get good enough to hit the coast and other less populated spots!

Oh, by the way THANKS to all those who have retireved my board every time I got tossed and who catch my kite. I'm trying to play it foward everytime I'm out there.

And to those who ignore catching my stuff when I come in .....ahh your not worth it.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2624 Posts The 503 METAL

Monkeyboy, you might interpret my post as being selfish, but it's those that go out and demand the aid of others that are really being selfish. When you do this you are at best, taking up other peoples time, and quite possibly putting others at risk. (As evidenced by KingE wrapping a line around his neck!).

I am all about camaraderie in this sport. And to be clear, this thread is not about launching and landing people. JB was one of about 20 people who at any given time had their kites in the water because the wind was so variable.

The stories on this thread about instructors throwing kites in the water and letting air out of kites sound crazy to me. Still guessing, but I'm pretty sure at this point that the instructor you feel should have helped you was Carlos C (See pg. 92 of this months Kiteboarder).

And Monkeyboy, if you really cared about "embarrassing posts" you would have stopped posting a long time ago!

Twisted Evil

Buh-TANG!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Early season there's always less newbies and more core riders so I think people watch each other's back and there is more of a community feeling.

By late season there are way more newbies and lessons, fare weather kiters, and generally a lot of people start to get disgruntled with sketchy kiters and kites tomhawking into the sand. 99% of the time its hard to tell the difference between legitimate issues and people just being kooks. In general though, it wears on your patience.

Just the natural progression of the season... I'd say if it gets to you just move on to other spots, spread out and find your own uncrowded section of the Gorge.

A crew of us hit Roosevelt this weekend, it was pretty nice Saturday (though on the lighter side.) Acres upon acres of water with few people to dodge. It’s a haul out there but fun camping, we try to hit that place at least once a year, very fun. Then Rufus Sunday, there was crowd kiting if you were right out in front, but tons of open butter in the ponds upwind, and glassy swell downwind.

Cheers! Thumb's Up

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Aug 20, 07 9:31 am

I'm not saying that your post was selfish, I'm not directing anything towards you actually. I don't think that JB thinks that everyone should be on his beck and call either. But the story sounds pretty damn lame, the kite is right their and fellow kiters won't lift a hand to help?

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

PKH makes a good point. In general if there is only a small demand for help then people are very likely to help - however, after a while - when there is a very large demand for help people start getting overwhelmed and turn their backs - which then puts more pressure on people willing to help who then get burned out and start turning their backs.

This is just a pattern with life in general. Go to a place where there are very few homeless people (hard to believe I know) and see how much help they get and how people treat them, and then go to a place where homeless people saturate the area - people ignore them and just move on.

Helping people is a stress on our time and energy - too much stress and people just won't do it anymore.

Just random thoughts.

But I will always do my best to help out - whether it be an experienced rider or a kook - whether I'm rigging up or down - I'll do my best to help whoever needs it.