Beg. Kiter Needs advice no matter what!!

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

So, I was at the spot down past biggs and it was Sunday 20 to 30 plus and gusty, cold and the river was running fast around 6 knots plus. I'm watching and then set my lines down. I see a guy, another guy and a girl all suited up. I see them start to pump up an old like 1999-2003 SS Fuel 5th line kite. I can tell by the way the guy is pumping up the kite and laying out his lines that he has need of some advice. He set his lines out so that he would be on the rock side not the water side of the launch at Lufus. His friend was telling him that is the way to launch. I walked over and explained to him that if he lost control he would end up doing a painful body drag up and over the rocks. His friend was not around so I told him where to stand and about the wind effect due to the rock pile, east of the rock pile it drops a bit and then lifts so keep yer kite up dude. He listened and he adjusted and then his buddy launched him. It was, to tell you the truth, a really poor launch! The kite faded back about 15 feet or more, as the kite started to dip towards the rocks the pilot managed to stay calm and bring it up and he got out. As he became powered up, and I mean powered up in the 30mph gust, he took the kite directly to noon o'clock and started to negotiate his board. My heart was beating fast thinking that I may witness a human being getting worked. Oh yea, I did tell him that was too much kite. He was bobbing and having trouble he went directly down stream and within 10 min. he was self rescuing. As he walked past me I decided to tell him that, "You should really consider buying an SLE or flat kite newer kite." He said and I quote, "free stuff is how I go man..beer in hand missing a tooth" So here is my question for the NwKite counsel of CGKA and anybody else who may stumble upon this forum:
What is your perceived ability if you are a beg.? Are you in the land of not knowing that new kites are way better than old shit kites? We should start a thread that deals with just stories of experienced kiters explaining the dangers of kiting with older extremely dangerous kites. Call me a busy body but if I can keep a guy from hurting, possibly killing himself by advising him I don't give a shit if he/she appreciates or not, but it would be nice to get on the forum and feel like somebody else feels the same way.

So, tell your kook stories and let's spread the word to the thousands of folks who will do the same thing.

forrest · Thu Jun 05, 08 6:04 am

Was her wearing a board leash too? If so, I think I got an excellent picture showing why you shouldn't wear one.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2626 Posts The 503 METAL

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

Just be glad he was kooking out in a relatively remote location like Rufus and not rolling up at the spit during rush hour. If he wants to be a jackass with a dangerous kite let him, he'll either get hurt or heckled of the water, there's not much we can do about it either way.

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

did he have a proper board leash......

oh my god a five liner ... should have cut them. Laughing

did you tell him they made sle just for kooks to learn so they could depower for a zero(kook) to zero power and lots of new people didn't have to learn about sizes and control... Twisted Evil

control the dingle danglers.

brass · Since 15 Jul 2006 152 Posts Stoked

I know forums are a place to input your own opinion but c'mon. I like to ride how I like to ride....with older SS C kites not SLEs. That is what I learned on years ago and they suit my style. New shit is not necessarily better. All aspects of kitesurfing gear setup are personal and that is part of what makes it cool.

Also, I never did understand why so many people launch east of the rock pile in swirly winds. I have launched at 'the spot east of biggs' for many years and always done it in the following way: me in the water, the kite up on the bank upwind of the rock pile- no problem.

I understand trying to help newbies and keep launches safe but I prefer to allow people to have a good time however they may. It's none of my business what kind or how big of kite you ride.

forrest · Thu Jun 05, 08 6:44 am

Nice leash! At least there is a helmet involved. I missed the really good one where his board held him back from getting yarded.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Jun 05, 08 7:39 am

THUNDER DOME

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

This post is not about the kites. It's about the idea of telling people to be safe. I in no way give a poop about what you fly. I fly Rev's, TD's, and I learned on a 4 line Santa Curz Caution. I made the mistakes that I saw and there was really nice guy at Siletz bay that helped me out by telling me how to launch and be safe.

Get over your gear WindSllither. Get a life

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

It's arguable which side it's safer to launch from. Having the kite to the water is safer if the wind is fluky and you get yanked by the kite or just need to get out quickly. Having the kite away from the water has been argued as safer in certain instances if you lose control of the kite and it sweeps through the window.

If you really feel a beginner is in danger then it's good to politely let them know, but you gotta be careful so you don't become the kook patrol on the beach.

Bettyboarder · Thu Jun 05, 08 7:55 am

People are just giving you crap because your posts are always so long and no one wants to read a novel.

Telling people to be safe is important. It just comes down to being respectful and approaching the person the calmly and I always say to them that they are putting other people at risk and that is not ok. If they want to kill themselves cool but I am not going to be apart of it.

I loved it last weekend sitting doing homework at the Spit and there were three guys talking about how great board leashes are and that people who don’t use them are stupid Shocked

Oh let the kookfest begin

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2626 Posts The 503 METAL

trevorsmith · Since 25 Apr 2005 501 Posts PDX Addicted

Well said Nic

I've been in situations where, I just came off the water on a 9m, the person asked about what size. I told them 9m was way too much for me. The girl then rigs a 10m kite, and I re tell her that it is too much kite that they should think about a smaller kite. She said she will be fine. 5 mins later during the launch she is lofted into the tree/bushes.

Not much you can do other than advise people of what they are doing is not safe. We cannot be expected to be the Kite Police or your mom. But if you see something unfolding that you could advise on, then you should.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Jun 05, 08 8:10 am

TWO KITES ENTER!!!, ONE KITE LEAVES!!!

TWO KITES ENTER!!!, ONE KITE LEAVES!!!

trevorsmith · Since 25 Apr 2005 501 Posts PDX Addicted

Link

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

Windslither,
I don't know you eihter, but it seems to me that your last post indicates that you are finger point guy who flys a c-kite. You don't like me and that is fine.

Again let me reinterate that the guy I advised was a nice guy. He listened to me and I was polite to him. In fact I could have just sat there looking at him as he got worked, but noooooooooooo I didn't.

The point of this post is not to win your love or be the most popular guy on the net, but to simply state that the truth about the incident that could have been worse.

Oh yea and i'm not an average kiter. I'm an expert kiter, but I'm a good person, like you, and I think that safety is more important than gear or anything. If I see some kook doing something wrong I'm going to get off my rear and attempt to help. If the individula chooses to not take that advice then it's a done deal.

Diggy · Since 25 Nov 2006 342 Posts Gorge to Coast Obsessed

I think it is important to say something to someone whom is obviously new and whom may not know what they are risking putting the kite in the air; often it is very obvious that they have not had even a single lesson or even hooked up there new e-bay $85 complete kit deal (and to think some fools pay over $1000 for their kite kits and that doesn't even include a board leash). Wink

I've said something to a few folks, I ussually ask how long they have been kiting followed by have you had a lesson, then give the suggestion that they should take at least one lesson. It has never stopped anyone from launching (wouldn't have me either) although I have suggested a safer locations and to adjust thier position in the window for launching which is advice that has been taken. At least then when I sit back for the entertainment I have a clear conscience, and perhaps some of these folks have went on to take lessons.

I appreciate advice when it was given to me as a new kiter, and I appreciate those desiring to help others, especially newbs, be as safe is possible in this sport. This is a service to us all.

I have never took a lesson for anything recreational except skydiving in my past, and most things I have been able to pick up right away with little or no help. In kiting there is a much larger chance of hurting yourself, or more importantly someone else. So after kooking it on my own a bit, pretty quickly figured out that I needed to get some lessons and gear that was a little more beginner friendly.

By the way, what should I do with them old 2001-2002 C kites I bought on e-bay?