Hood River Kiteboarding Guidelines - DRAFT

Garret · Since 07 Sep 2006 254 Posts Portland Obsessed

I know Jim has been working hard and has been doing a nice job, but he is supposed to have a new board of elected people to be helping him with the cause--- Lets get the process on and keep the momentum going Very Happy

And Phil I am wondering if this guide is your campaign manifesto? President? Laughing

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

Hey Garret, you post on this but not on the "Kiteboarding at the Eventsite......" thread? And yes, as soon as pkh gives me the green light, I will take it to the Port. They asked us to write it (the kiteboarding community, not specifically CGKA) and then they would take it from there. pkh knows we truely appreciate his efforts on this Thumb's Up

Garret · Since 07 Sep 2006 254 Posts Portland Obsessed

I think that is awesome- and yes a nice accomplishment. And honestly I saw that after I wrote into this thread. I am not saying that you guys are not doing anything- clearly you are. Wouldn't you like some newly elected people helping you out. Especially in light of the fact that one of your members now moved to Texas. It was nothing personal- but elections were promised almost a year ago--

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Here is another "suggestion", which will not be too popular with the more advanced kiters...again for the safety of the mass of beginner and experienced kiters....

"Suggestion" 2: Please be considerate of others, and do not use personal music systems while riding in the densely packed kiteboarding zone in the vicinity of the sandbar. The resultant hearing impairment may result in inadvertent collisions and kite tangling.

The word "Suggestion" does not sound so obnoxious as "Rule". I don't like rules, either, since official regulations or rules cast a "wet blanket" on fun, and fun is what the activity of kiteboarding is all about.

A better approach to take in the "advisory to kiteboarders" section of the brochure, would be to get the idea across that politeness and consideration for other people's safety is a paramount value, when sharing the limited and crowded space with others....and then, hope that the good example set by the looked-up-to "experienced" kiters will, through "peer pressure", control behavior at the site, rather than some other type of more "Draconian" enforcement.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

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

Not sure Kitezilla, that suggestion seems more like personal opinion. I am not sure I agree we should outlaw MP3 players on the water. Even though I don't use one myself I have considered it, and I have one for snowboarding.

Really what people should do is look around, and be aware of their surroundings. Most kiters at the sandbar have a locked in "tank style" riding where they are only focused on where they are going (or their kite.)

You can tell the better kiters because they are constantly looking around. Upwind, behind them, downwind. Its just like driving in a car, you need to be on the look out at all times.

I guess this was all part of the idea of the 100 foot buffer guideline, maybe there is a way to change it to more emphasize the being aware part.

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

Updated to include extended verbiage on "being aware" and also added bit about kite leashes:

http://www.nwkite.com/downloads/HRKBGuide.rtf

Given the formatting we are more or less at the point where I need to take away in order to add things in. So if you are interested in adding anything let me know what you think should be changed/removed so it can fit.

I'd like to get this done by noon tomorrow, so please get me any comments by then. Thanks!

Nak · Thu Dec 06, 07 1:11 pm

This is looking great. Thanks for all the work you're putting into this PKH. I know there's a lot of effort in getting everything down right and formated right. Thumb's Up

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

[quote="pkh"]Not sure Kitezilla, that suggestion seems more like personal opinion. I am not sure I agree we should outlaw MP3 players on the water.

Sorry if I used the word "outlaw"...what I meant to say, was:

""Suggestion" 2: Please be considerate of others, and do not use personal music systems while riding in the densely packed kiteboarding zone in the vicinity of the sandbar. The resultant hearing impairment may result in inadvertent collisions and kite tangling. "

I wanted to present this subject for discussion...pros and cons...from those who will be affected most by a kiteboarding ban, triggered by accidents which could be prevented, perhaps by "suggestions" on safe behavior presented in a brochure.

Also, it is my "personal opinion" that riders should have all their 5 senses intact while they are riding in high density kiteboarding zones. I doubt if I am the only one who considers the sense of hearing, a very important sense to be employed when kiting in a crowd.

There is no need for the kiteboarders to take any "Draconian" measures, or to make rules, or to "outlaw" any kind of behavior at the sandbar, in my personal opinion. We can depend on the Port and the City to do this, when the kiting accidents occur, no doubt, some of which could have been prevented by raising the level of kite safety consciousness, through, perhaps "suggestions", in a brochure. At this early stage of crowd control, we should emphasize the need for consideration for others...especially in a "crowded playground". No bullying need...Peer pressure may work better since it can be a very powerful motivator. My personal opinion is that peer pressure will exert a more powerful influence on what happens at the Sandbar, than will a listing of unenforceable rules and regulations.

Maybe, we could slip in some more of the Texas kiteboarding philosophy, and suggest to the "Riders of the Sandbar":

KITE FRIENDLY, Y'all

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

Phil, thanks for the time and energy you are putting into this - its appreciated.

Regarding the music, hhhmmmm, well - to be honest I really feel that this brochure is geared towards newbies. Its giving them valuable information to keep them safe and everyone else around them safe. Do newbies wear headphones? In my experience no, they don't. Of course there are exceptions, but in all the time at the spit I can't recall one newbie wearing headphones - but thats just my experience.

Regarding more experienced kiters wearing headphones Confused

Dude, I don't know if thats something that we should try and regulate. First, do you think more experienced riders are going to read this? They will probably glance over it and then toss it in the back of the car. And even if they do read it they will probably just shrug, say whatever, and then put on their headphones.

Have there been any accidents due to headphone usage?

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

Since this is a hand-out and we don't want to waste more paper then necessary, the original proposal that the CGKA and Port agreed to was:

- You hand your money over to buy a parking pass for the day.
- Booth guy says: "Have you ever kited here before?"
- You respond yes/no
- If "no I have not kited here / I am not a kiteboarder" = He hands you the guidelines sheet
- If "yes I have kited here / I kite here all the time" = No guidelines sheet

So yeah we are not creating rules or trying to change the way experienced kiters use the spit. We are simply trying to curb the newbie / vistor kookfest that seems to be the biggest problem out there.

If there is a feeling that some rules need to be setup for all kiters at the spit then I suggest taking it up with the CGKA, but I am not going to put it into the hand-out because that was not the original intention.

Thanks!

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Here is an idea:

How about putting a survey form on the back of the handout, asking the Newbees and Spectators for feedback? The respondents could then deposit the handouts in a box at the entrance hut, when they leave.

This way, maybe people would not just throw the form away, as litter.

Make it simple, so people would be more apt to respond.....questions like:

...................................................................................................

(1) Was your experience enjoyable?

(2) Did you find the recommendations in this brochure helpful?

(3) Did you encounter any problems while on the Sandbar?

(4) Do you have any recommendations for solving any problems you encountered?

(5) We welcome any Other Comments:

....................................................................................................

From my experience with advisory brochures and handouts, I have noticed that most are "works in progress", and that as soon as one is finalized, and with the initial release and use of the handout, many previously silent critics come out of the woodwork, with changes, they would like to see made.

We can probably expect this reaction, and even, hope for it as a sign of interest, and therefore, should not print up too many handouts, initially. A pilot program might be a good way to initiate this project, and to periodically evaluate the effort.

The biggest problem, as with all surveys, will be keeping the pens on their retaining strings, at the booth.

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

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Dec 07, 07 11:21 am

I think the survey looks good and you have to bear in mind that you could edit and reedit this thing until the cows come home. It isn't a manifesto we are sending to the president, its a simple hand out.

In regards to the mp3 player comment, that is indeed a personal axe to grind and not something to include in a brochure. I doubt that any beginner would even think of trying to listen to music with everything going on anyways.

Besides, listening to tunes when kiteboarding can be sweet and I'm asking Santa for one.

boredbrain · Since 16 Feb 2006 352 Posts Hood River Obsessed

The reason I finally gave in to Kiting was the safety systems in 2005 got the JOB DONE finally.

I have 2005 Fuels with the 5th line attachment. Works fricken Great.

I have had 07 gear tangle itself, and the fricken depower line wraps around something wierd and your screwed. Lots of fun. Every piece of gear is inherently ready to fail and cause a disaster.

NEWER GEAR is great, it lets poor kiters get out in knarly conditions. How much safer is that?

Don't put a year or a last two years statement.

rest of my bitch has been deleted.

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

We're not making any requirements or demands that someone must use newer gear. We're simply suggesting that if a newb bought some old gear on Ebay, maybe they run it by somebody who knows a thing or two before continuing. I saw multiple scary situations develop last year from beginners using 2002 gear. Including the guy who got drug head first into a stump and had to be carted off to the hospital.

I totally agree that sometimes technology takes steps backwards, but overall the trend I believe is that things are getting better.

Trying to condense it all into one small sentence is the hard part.