Poor behavior at the Event Site :(

cgka · Since 18 Jul 2006 278 Posts Obsessed

NW kiteboarders,

I was just speaking with one of the managers of the Port of Hood River to thank her for the use of their board room for our elections on Saturday night. They got a call yesterday from a kiteboarder who was concerned about the behavior of some guys on Saturday. Supposedly the guys were not very careful with their lines - had the lines too close to spectators watching, and they were drinking beer while getting ready. When they got ready to ride, they threw their beer cans on the grass and took off on their kiteboards. The kiteboarder who called the Port expressed his concern that such rash behavior would jeopardize our ability to continue to use the Event Site for kiteboarding. He indicated he was a beginner of two years and said how much he enjoyed the off season usage rights.

CGKA would like to move forward in our progression, not backwards! If you see this type of behavior taking place at the Event Site, please Self-Police it like we did all last season with the No-fly zone.

CGKA will be asking the Port and Waterfront Recreation Committee for additional usage rights in another month, lets not spoil our ability to be rewarded for good behavior. After you witness such events and Self-Police the wrong-doers, please post it here. Listing names would be the best, but if nothing else say what they were wearing and what kites and equipment they ride. Its easy to figure out who are the bad actors.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Lets have a great season!

Jim Grady
CGKA - President

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Saw this guy at the event site saturday hmmmm.......

actually sounds like some tall tales from disgruntled windsurfers - who would do that Snaggle Carpus?

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Mar 11, 08 6:51 pm

THAT'S THE GUY!!!!!!!!!

He was driving a subaru with spray painted rims- so you know he is trouble!!

jahmbi · Tue Mar 11, 08 9:25 pm

YAH I EVEN SAW THAT DUDE ON MY BEACH AND HE WAS EVEN IN WORSE SHAPE THAN THAT Laughing

HE WAS ACTUALLY EVEN GIVIN A BIKE TO RIDE Laughing

TROLL

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

windslayer · Since 30 Apr 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Thanks Jim for the update. However, shame on another kiter to have narked!! They could've posted it right here, or said something in person at the time of "misbehavior". Now the port has amo for further postponing our usage of the event site if they so chose. And really kiters,whom ever you are...........come on......garbage can pleez!!!!

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

hey guys,

I know this is none of my concern, but really if someone else reads your comments, they have no clue it is Phil on a windless day in Maui.

I mean we have to be watch what we are writing as we know some of the people trying to ban kiting here are reading the forums to see what is going on, and they would not hesitate to use it.

Also take any concern seriously, and remember that a lot of volunteers keeps spots open all over the country. Don't give them shit on top of it Smile

sorry for the dower...
a.

Onad · Wed Mar 12, 08 6:14 am

I completely agree!! Jim took the time to pass down an important message (as the CGKA president) from the Port and you guys don’t take it seriously. Many eyes watch this site. Come on G-Man!! Think about!!!

Bettyboarder · Wed Mar 12, 08 6:58 am

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

Hopefully if the HR Port is reading this they take into account this is a forum that is meant to be fun as well as informative. I thought Gman's post was hilarious, but maybe its because the joke was on me (more me, yes!!!) Wink

On being good Event Site users - I didn't see the behavior Jim described, but I did see a couple of sketchy launches on Sunday which I think resulted from the southerly slanted wind that day. The wind at the event site was real flukey and it made launching and landing difficult.

We need to self police and let folks know that (especially in SW wind) the easiest launch is the sandbar. I think a lot of people realize this and that's why you see them rigging there.

Also bear in mind we are all event site newbies and it will take awhile for everyone to learn how to be good users of it. Imagine if all of a sudden Stevenson was opened for the first time to kiters how long it would take to figure out the system that is in place there now.

As for trash on the beach, I think kiters are a clean bunch. Just take a look at Stevenson, Rufus, Sauvies Island. Very often I leave with more trash then I brought in and I think many others could say the same.

So whoever this "nark" was... I'd encourage him/her to talk to kiters and maybe post on the site before going to the Port. The more we self police the better we look towards the Port.

Thanks Jim for the heads up!

Onad · Wed Mar 12, 08 8:08 am

Glad you have a good sense of humor pkh.

Apologize if I jumped you too hard G-Man with the pre-caffeine post.. Rolling Eyes

~Dano

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2103 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Just a suggestion, but perhaps the "Spots" section and or a sign needs to be posted out there at the sandbar since it has grown in size etc. . . I suggest maybe a graphic sign or chart that states both the advantages and disadvantages of launching and landing in winds from different directions. Case in point, an experienced kiter most likely knows the dangers of launching from the event site in SW (shadowed winds) and the advantages it gives; like time saved from walking down to the sandbar, closer to the car etc . . . etc . . . If a newbie comes along and watches this experienced kiter launch in a wind shadowed area, the newbie doesn't know any better and will learn from example, so to speak. Self policing is probably the best suggestion.

As for drinking beer before launching at the event site. . .I hope that kiter spilled some of his or her beer into the grass, sand, and or water as an offering to the Wind Gods for delivering such an early season day of wind, sun, and swell. And imbibing beer at such a politically active launch spot, discretion and being inconspicuous are actions that should both be employed; IMHO.

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

I swear, in the next couple of years the event site and sandbar are going to need a kite traffic control tower. wont be long before it looks like this every day: