Hood River Kiteboarding Guidelines
Beginner Information
•	Kiteboarding is an extreme sport and can be dangerous to the participant and people nearby. A Kiteboarding accident can result in severe injury or death. Take lessons from a certified instructor before attempting to fly an inflatable kite. 
•	There are no lifeguard or rescue services provided, kite at your own risk and be prepared to swim in. If you are interested in being supported by boat or jet-ski contact one of the schools.
•	Don’t fly farther from shore than you are willing to swim, and consider there are strong river currents at work. Know self rescue techniques. Hold onto the tips of your kite on the water to drag you in, it will be much easier than swimming.
•	Common causes for accidents are: inexperienced or untrained participants, outdated or malfunctioning equipment, and unexpected increase in wind strength.
•	Be sure you know how to properly rig your kite lines and bar. Improperly rigging kite lines will result in a kite that cannot be controlled or de-powered. 
•	Older kites that cannot be de-powered properly can be very dangerous. Kite and bar technology has gotten dramatically safer in the last two years. Talk to an instructor or shop tech before going out on older gear.
•	Keep your kite down low when passing downwind of other kiters, and high when upwind of other kiters / windsurfers.
•	Participants that cannot demonstrate safe practices, cannot remain self sufficient, or endanger other water users, will be asked to leave.	More Information / Tips
•	Winds in the Gorge are generally gusty and can change quickly. Don’t rig too big of a kite for the conditions. Make sure you talk to other kiters about kite size before you decide.
•	Don’t rig the wrong kite because that’s all you have, you should have the right size kite for the conditions. It is recommended to bring at least two kite sizes to the beach in case winds change.
•	Launching, landing, or riding within 200 feet of the Event Site (grassy area upwind of sandbar) is prohibited during the summer season May through end of September.
•	Secure your kite with lots of sand when it is on the beach, laying a board on top is not enough. Also make sure you wind up your lines when your kite is not in use. 
•	Thumbs up means you are ready for launch, pat on the head means “catch my kite.”
•	Use a kite leash that will depower your kite when deployed. 
•	Board Leash = Helmet
•	Stay at least 100 feet away from kiters, windsurfers, swimmers, boats, beach users, etc. Close is not cool.
•	Always keep aware of other riders and river traffic while riding. Look around. Especially keep an eye out for barges in the channel.
•	The best wind is upwind of the sandbar above the bridge (out of the shadow of Wells Island.)
•	Winds will usually build throughout the day getting stronger until early afternoon; they will then hold and start to die off before sunset.	Spectators
•	Areas where kites are being launched and landed are unsafe for spectators.
•	This is not the public swimming beach, to access the public swimming beach get on I84 east bound and take exit 64, then take a left, and another left at the light.
•	Children and dogs are not recommended to be near kite lines or kites on the beach.
•	You should not attempt to help a kiteboarder launch or land a kite if you are not an experienced kiteboarder.
•	Kiteboarders wear a harness around their waist that connects them to the kite.
•	Kites have an air inflated skeleton structure which is pumped up to be very hard. Kite lines are an average of 100 feet long.
•	Kiteboarders jump by quickly steering the kite in the opposite direction from travel.
•	In jumps kiteboarders can reach heights of 30 feet or more.
•	Kiteboarders average speeds of 20mph, and have reached speeds in excess of 55mph.
•	The Gorge is a destination for kiteboarders worldwide because of its consistently strong winds.
•	Kiteboarding was pioneered in the Gorge in the early 1990’s, but has only enjoyed popularity and commercial success since 2001.
•	If you are interested in learning to kiteboard, see one of the local schools located in the kite spit parking lot.