Sandbar Predictions?

forrest · Mon May 19, 08 12:26 pm

I look at it this way. There are three types of kiters trying to use the area.

1) The beginners being taught via a school.

2) The beginners teaching themselves or friends.

3) The frustrated average kiterboarder.

We need to find a system that works for everyone. Lets hear your ideas!

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

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

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

- I like the Jet Ski thing. Don't think the majority of beginners will be using them tho - Let the craziness begin Rolling Eyes

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

I am not sure how to split up the sandbar to please all... certainly the bigger it is the easier it is for everyone to spread out. I really like the kiddie pool but yesterday I only got to ride in the morning before the circus showed up, its just too hard to dodge kooks strapless. (The shitty wind didn't help either.)

My feeling has always been that schools and people learning should use jet-ski's to access open water. It’s a lot more productive than making small runs over the shallow areas of the sandbar. Plus newbies take up more room than anyone, so why should the few take advantage of what could benefit many? I don't get frustrated by people learning, I get frustrated seeing people not learn anything and getting in my way at the same time.

I guess weekends like this one just really make you appreciate the early and late seasons... Hot weather is fine but it attracts kooks to the water like flies to shit. Confused

Funny thing is, you can go back in the history of the forum and see the same thing every year:

Winter: I got out, whoo hoo!
Spring: Lets all go ride, whoo hoo!
Summer: Fucking kooks, arg! Fuck you!
Fall: Only a few more days, lets go ride! Whoo hoo!

Less people = more smiling kiters, more people = bitter angry kiters. Very Happy

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

so why doesn't the port require the schools to teach with jet skis? Seems safer anyway.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

I completely agree. Seems bizarre to even allow teaching on the water without a jet ski. What happens if the student ends up stranded in the river, especially with how fast the currents are at the moment?

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

I like your seasonal observations, PKH.
But I don't understand what you mean by learning with a jetski. Do you mean in the open water? Or at some remote beach? Also, it doesn't address the self-learners (if you only have 1K to spend on kiting per year, its not gonna cover a quiver and a jetski ride...), or those newly graduated from lessons but still kookish.

I think if you put a orange post in the sand and said: "beginners please go north/south/whatever of that", lots would be ammenable. And more than ammendable, really, actually relieved to be not in the way.
The orange post could be moved as the sandbar changes, a placed somewhere based on exhausting internet argument. (is there some ambassador? local shop owner that can be trusted?)

I try to avoid HR pretty much all summer, unless it's off hours. So that's one less angry kiter. Smile

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

i personally think a sign needs to go down at the bottom of hte pathway, the current sign near the rail roads ties marking the parking spots is not very effective because the parking lot is always so crowded and people park in front of the sign which obstruct its view. on the flip side, i dont want a sign at the bottom of the pathway because it might get in the way of me launching and landing my kites from the parking lot, but, if it were to go on the west side of the trail down from the parking lot, it could probably stay out of the way. i think it should explain the designated areas and have other safety info on it.

i dont even want to try and designate areas or times, on how to "divy" up the sandbar on this forum.

i also think the sign should state something like, this is a kite beach, please be aware of your safety, even if you are a kiter. kiting is a dangerous sport and serious injury or death can result because of it. Also that if you go out, you must know how to self rescue and rescue service is not provided by the port or any other governing body. it should just give the people learning a reminder that it is not all safe fun and games. and lastly, something on the sign telling Non-kiters to look at other beach access such as the marina park and/or the new lot 6 parking lot.

Mark · Mon May 19, 08 3:26 pm

forrest · Mon May 19, 08 3:29 pm

By JetSki he means out in the open/deep water where there is plenty of room and better wind. The guys in Seattle (Urban Surf, Jetty Island Kite and Skim) have this down to a science.

There is no such thing as self learning. If you've had appropriate lessons you won't have an addiction to having your feet on the ground while a kite in the air.

broadbandito · Since 26 Apr 2005 342 Posts CSO headwaters WheatHead

forrest · Mon May 19, 08 3:40 pm

we should hand out Kiddie Pool Cop t-shirts to everyone! Shinn, I misspelled enforcment!

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Yeah, in the SF bay area almost all the schools use jet skis. It's easy to do and allows the students to have much more room, better wind, and a long downwinder to practice every time. If you're running a business and turning a profit you shouldn't be abusing such a tight resource which is common public property.

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

That's cool that Jetski lessons work so well. I didn't realize. That sounds really cool.
There will still be newbies who could use an area to practice what they've recently learned from a lesson. There's always a benefit of having a beginners area, becuase at least people will spread out is a beneficial way.

"There is no such thing as self learning. If you've had appropriate lessons you won't have an addiction to having your feet on the ground while a kite in the air."
What does that mean, Forrest?
I taught myself to kite. (but I never did it with anyone else around. just empty winter beaches in So. Cal. I wouldn't do it at HR with others around.)

Pepi · Mon May 19, 08 4:08 pm

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

Adult swim hours in the kiddie pool? hehe good idea Chris... but yeah it'd be impossible to enforce and probably controversial.

Its easy to get frustrated about the conditions yesterday, but that was mostly the wind's fault. It was super shitty wind... which makes crowded conditions seem even worse since its so hard to stay upwind.

Kyle - I agree, not everyone can afford a jetski. They are not as expensive as most might think though, used ones maybe 2-3k depending on how new. It's a good thing to go in with a friend on, which is good because having friends around to learn with is good anyway.

Here's my advice to a first year kiter looking to learn:

1) Find a buddy who wants to learn too... share everything except for harnesses and wetsuits.
2) Get a trainer: $100 / 2
3) Take a lesson: $300 x 2
4) Buy a used 9m SLE kite w /lines: $700 / 2
5) Buy a harness: $150 x 2
6) Buy a wetsuit: $200 x 2
7) Buy a used jetski: $3000 / 2
8 ) Buy a used board: $200

$3k per person by my math, but you'd easily be able to sell the ski when you are done for $2k or even what you paid for it even you don't beat the crap out of it. So you get $1000-$1500 of your money back out of it... which you can in turn use to buy your own kites Very Happy

Really this sport is expensive, I had no clue when I started what kind of investment it would be. But maybe even more than money its a serious TIME investment. When you count up the number of hours spent to really get the sport, the gear cost is minimal compared to the time.

Those who can't swallow $3k to get into the sport need not apply. If you can't muster that much cash then it's definitely not the sport for you, because it will definitely cost more than that in the long run.

Sorry I was a poor guy once and I know what its like, but that's reality. Really most people do have the money they just don't want to spend it on one thing (unless its a car.)

That's why Kiteboarding will never be like snowboarding in terms of popularity (thank god.) Though it might end up being as popular as wakeboarding, which if you think about it is really the most expensive board sport in existence (especially with gas prices.)