Idea for CGKA / Port - Sandbar Handout for Newbs

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

Hey what about creating a standard leaflet to hand out to people at the sandbar next year. They could be given out at the booth to folks who are newbs / visitors. Wasn't part of the plan with the booth to help inform kiters and non kiters alike of the dangers of the spit?

It could go like this:

1) Booth person takes money and asks: "Have you ever been here before"
2) Person responds: "No"
3) Booth person hands over the leaflet

Perhaps we could put stuff on it like:

- Knowing how to self-rescue is mandatory
- There is no city provided lifeguard, or jetski service
- Self teaching with no proper instruction is strongly discouraged (prohibited?)
- Winds can be gusty and fickle, rig kite sizes accordingly
- Launching or landing directly upwind of others is dangerous

On the back we can have the map of the sandbar with no fly zones and black hole (no wind/strong current) areas marked.

Basically just load it up with everything you would want to tell a newb or out-of-towner who you don't want kooking up your beach.

Hey maybe we save paper and make your official "ticket" to get in as well.

Just some ideas... The jetski and self rescue information is the main info I'd like to get out there. I think people really think that the couple bucks they pay to get into the spit somehow goes to the skis (ha.)

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

It's a good idea. However as devil's advocate, I think others may have an issue doing this though as if this information is listed and distributed, it may look as if the party, who distributes the info, becomes liable in the event something happens to the person who recieved the info.
Another idea would be put up some signs on the way in on the straight stretch of road that would display the same information.

stringy

Bettyboarder · Fri Sep 14, 07 2:13 pm

I like this idea alot. Maybe we could talk to the port and see what they think and also find out about the legal issues.

Maybe the flyer could be the like the sign with all the zones/suggestions "kiteboard at your own risk"...ect

tonyb · Fri Sep 14, 07 2:53 pm

I like your idea. I think the point of telling people that there is no jet ski or lifeguard service maintained to rescue them is a must.

We had discussed something similar with Renee last year at Stevenson and she had suggested a sign that lists similar type things but label it "Considerations for Kiters" rather than rules or regulations. It would be in the same vein as the sign at Bob's beach that encourages you to think about wearing a wetsuit and the danger of hypothermia.

It seems obvious to me that kiting is dangerous but maybe the kite at your own risk signs are needed. Are there really people out there who think that kiting doesn't have some inherent danger in it and that they aren't 100% responsible for their own safety?

Tony

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

signs are great but people seem to look right past them. All the colorful kites catch the eyes a lot more I guess.

I swear that big sign with the map of the spit was there for long time before a lot of people noticed it.

tonia · Since 15 Jun 2005 209 Posts The Gorge Stoked

I think that's a great idea, Phil. We, the kiteboarding community, represented by CGKA, should present that to the Port in the next couple of months. I think that there should additionally be a disclaimer in buying a parking pass (maybe there already is) that states that you are responsible for your own actions, rescue, blah blah.....

Also on the flyer should be a list of the Kiteboarding Schools represented at the spit and their phone numbers. Sometimes, during lesson hours, the on-site schools are not available, so a quick-access sheet with all the school #s would be key.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

Anything that helps newbs to better know the lay of the land is going to be a good thing.

Maybe add the flier to a web presentation linked to sites like this and CGKA and CGWA so that there is more information for the folks who are interested in safely kiting at the spit.

Great Idea Very Happy

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

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

Sounds good Jim... I'd be happy to be the point person on it if you don't mind handling the Port communication on it.

I think this thread would be a good place to collect ideas on it so if anyone has them, post away.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

I'm in.

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

Excellent! I will gladly handle communication with the Port. I will float the idea by them for initial comment this week- they will want a few days to discuss it internally, then they will get back to me and I will post their viewpoint.

forrest · Sun Sep 16, 07 12:18 pm

We need to include info on the kiddie pool. Joby has a good system that he told me about yesterday as I was hogging the kiddie pool... Smile

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

sorry i've been out of the loop guys.

-Adam

dangerD · Since 27 Jun 2005 223 Posts Bingen Heights Stoked

Just to Clarify the Rules:
There is NO POOPING in the Kiddie pool
But it is ok to piss in there if you're discreet

Bettyboarder · Mon Sep 17, 07 7:39 am

Here's FL's kiteboarding guidelines might be a good place to start

http://www.fksa.org/showthread.php?t=4605

shredbarbie · Since 17 Sep 2005 97 Posts Hood River, OR

The idea of a handout flyer was presented in a meeting to the Port Spring 07 -- I think the meeting was March. If you want it to get something done with kiting, go into the Port and push it through -- it takes walking in there and having a kiter manage the project. I presented a ton of text last year for stuff like this. It's a low priority for them. Kiting community needs to do the push.

Better text signage was also brought up. I submitted text to CGKA and CGWA, but the only sign produced by the Port was the visual aerial of the sandbar sign (which is great for presenting the map, but not ideal for text guidelines). I bet $100 almost no one reads the text on that.

Oh, and the 'no kiteboarding, pumping, etc.' at the Event sight were an obvious priority. Be the (polite) squeeky wheel, take action and volunteer your time. That's how it will get done.

Also, submit action items to CGKA and they can push for this stuff.

-Kirsten

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

pkh,

The Port thinks it is a good idea! They have wanted to do this with our input in the verbage. Please feel free to design the flier and I will pass it on to the Port, and they will start handing them out once they start collecting money again. They were quite happy with this, and hope we follow through with a proposed flier in the near future.