Mowing the grass at Stevie

carolb · Sat Jun 14, 08 9:16 am **Mowing the grass at Stevie**

While Stevenson is known for its freestyle kiters, here's a lawn mower we appreciate! Thanks Karl and the Stevie Port team for keeping our launch so nice!

I'm not trying to pick on newbies or upset anyone, but to make things go smoother, here's a little about Stevenson.

Stevenson has a freestyle lane where you circle in front of the beach and launch, throw a trick, land downwind and circle out. This pattern is interrupted if there are beginners stuck there or people launching (which we all know must occur but most people are pretty quick at getting on the river)

Skills needed to kite in Stevenson include:
Body drag upwind to a specific spot efficiently
Full kite control which includes moving the kite to the edge of both sides of the wind window up to 5 feet off of the water if needed.
Able to ride on the board or at least move 300 ft up or down wind to get out of the main traffic lane.
Confidently launch and land from a 5 foot spot in gusty wind conditions.

Thanks

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

Good suggestions Carol Thumb's Up

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

Looks like he's just cruisin' in light wind though, so that's cool.

mbirch · Since 17 Jun 2008 41 Posts underwood

lawn mowers should keep clear of the white salmon bridge area! This is a place where kiters ride swells up and down the river. People who mow the lawn here get in the way. If you want to freestyle or mow stay at the sand bar where everyone can see how great you are!

Mark · Tue Jun 17, 08 10:07 am

Mark · Tue Jun 17, 08 10:09 am

We are working on putting up a sign at Stevenson to help with traffic flow. Please check out the CGKA section (up top of this web site) to put up your ideas.
thanks
Mark

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

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Jun 17, 08 10:23 am

That is a great post Carol. People should know as well that it isn't all about ego that drives people to circle close and throw their tricks. When you are learning unhooked tricks and kite loops, etc, shit happens to go wrong and at times, your kite gets so bungled up you end up swimming. It's much easier to swim 100 feet then 1,000 when your dragging a big wet anchor.

If your mowing the lawn, their isn't really a need to get right up to the shore unless perhaps your mom and dad are in town and you want to show them what you have been wasting all your money on.

I think the biggest thing that would help some of the beginners is to take a look around and try to see the bigger picture. Beginners tend to get tunnel vision and focus on what is immediately going on. If you relax and look around, you will see patterns forming. When you see these things going on you can make things easier on yourself.

Some things you may notice...

People lining up to practice tricks in front of the stevenson launch. You will see guys naturally space out and give each other room. A natural succession forms. Pay attention to those who are practicing allot of tricks. You want to bust a move... time it so you are coming in while they are going out. You will also see an old guy who disregards said courtesy but just try to ignore him.

Also, for those that are launching at Stevenson. Take a look out on the water when there is a constant stream of people launching. People may want to land and get off the water.. in theory these people should have the right of way. There has been many times where I had to make 5, even 10 extra tacks just to get to land my kite b/c people are screwing around in the launch zone.

If its your first time launching at Stevenson then you should find someone and tell them that. They can explain what things to watch out for and give you a little more assistance when launching. It will ease you nerves and make sure things go smoothly.

tree · Since 29 May 2007 150 Posts Bend, OR Stoked

I'm new to the board, and fairly new to kiting. Can you Stevenson veterans clarify what you mean here? It makes sense that people need to be able to stay up wind and move in and out of the launch area quickly. I can't imagine anyone wanting to kite at Stevenson without that level of ability. But, it also seems that there's animosity toward anyone who isn't throwing tricks yet and just wants to hone his/her skills out in the river. I was curious the other day when a couple people consistently threw jumps very close to me out in the middle of the river (a few hundred meters from the launch). I'm sure they were confident in their control - I'm just not so confident about mine. I think I can safely speak for most beginners when I say that the last thing I want is to be in someone's way, or impact anyone else's experience. I just want to "mow" back and forth and get better at kiting. So, if there are other unspoken rules, I would love to hear them. Thanks.

forrest · Tue Jun 17, 08 10:57 am

What is it that you are doing at the bridge besides mowing the swell? Razz

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Jun 17, 08 11:07 am

I don't think there is an animosity although I don't typically find myself in "the way" or anything.

In terms of jumping, I always ensure that there is nobody downwind of me. If people are jumping upwind of you and landing close by, you may want to give them a polite "WTF dude".

Sometimes when I'm heading towards someone on opposing tacks and its not clear who is going to yield, I just jump and land down wind, thus alleviating the need to decide who will yield and head down wind. Not sure if this is the situation you are talking about.

Other times if someone is getting their kicks blazing across the water and they may overtake me I'll just jump and give them some room.

If I see someone that is obviously just learning I always give them plenty of space, its hard enough without me being agro about it.

The only other rule of thumb I can think of is look before you change direction. I see this party foul more than anything. If someone is following you out and you change direction quickly it can really mess things up. Everyone does this now and then, a simple "sorry, I didn't see you" goes a long way.

Lastly, everyone out there with the exception of a few are all out to have fun. People make fun of newbs and talk about people staying out of this area or that when on the forum, but unless you are a complete jackass, I wouldn't go around worrying that your pissing everyone off.

Very Happy

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

twostates · Since 28 Aug 2007 101 Posts pdx Stoked

Stevenson was my place to learn to kite for sure. Although I don't see it happening much this season, I did quite a few Stevies > Cemetary downwinders figuring out waterstarts and riding in general. I always found the Stevenson crew really supportive. I made sure to get downwind of the jumping zone immediately after launch, but then thought it was a great place to have some space to figure things out. I don't mean to encourage others to do it, but I have to say it worked out great for me.

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Jun 17, 08 11:35 am

Twostates makes a good point. If your an attractive woman, the Stevenson regulars are more than help full. Wink

tonyb · Tue Jun 17, 08 12:32 pm

Some more thoughts on Stevie...

Another reason people come in close to throw tricks downwind of the big rock is that is where the chop smooths out and it is a little easier to keep things under control without being bounced around or catching an edge unexpectedly.

The other thing about being close in is that you are out of the main current and your board wont take off down river quite so fast while you put things back together after a massive yardsale.

It's not "get out of the way of the good guys" as much as it is "get in to the flow so we can all have fun". It's a hoot when the rotation gets going and you get to watch the likes of Tucker, Adam, Shy, Amery, Alex, etc... throw their stuff then you go on in and throw your unhooked raley to face plant - and get cheered for it!

It's like the kiddie pool at HR - a good rotation makes it fun for more people but one person stuck in the middle of the lane can shut it down for 10 others. Nobody minds taking turns in a running rotation.

I'll try to give the beginners a bit more room. I forget that it can be unnerving when somebody zips by too closely.

The other "unwritten rules" (accepted practice really) of Stevenson:

When it's crowded:
Pump your kite
Suit up (wetsuit / harness, etc...)
Stage your board
Run and connect your lines
Immediately launch after connecting lines
Get out of the launch / land zone

On the way back in:
Land your kite and either unhook from your kite and roll up your lines or immediately wind your lines up and stash your bar under your kite. There really is no room in Stevie for leaving lines laying out all over the place.

Keep the kites stacked closely together at the east side of the grass (15' east of the tree), across the sidewalk in the triangle area, or stack them to the west of the tree. This keeps the lane down the hill open to get to the water and helps keep your lines from getting snagged on everything.

For general good karma, launch and land a couple of others everyday. Keeps you sharp on kite handling skills and reminds you not to get pissed when your own launch goes awry eventually and your kite stalls back into the water. It takes two to launch at Stevie and when it goes wrong sometimes it's the guy on the hill who screwed up and sometimes its the guy in the water. Take it in stride.

Lastly, pick up the trash and enjoy the grass!

Tony

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

kite loops or back to the gay bar...... Twisted Evil

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

the above was a joke and should not sway your decision on how ,why or where ou have a great day. Rolling Eyes