Police patrol..

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Jun 23, 10 8:47 am

Forrest,
any idea how much a sign would cost? I'll split the cost with the CGKA if you can put it through the proper channels at the port for review. Jake has access to printing facilities.

forrest · Wed Jun 23, 10 8:54 am

The Port is already working on a complete overhaul of all the signage for the Waterfront I believe. I can double check with them today.

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Jun 23, 10 8:58 am

Cool. just thinking it might be a nice gesture for the kite community to pay for said signs given how the Port has been pretty damn accommodating to the kiters.

luke · Since 06 Jul 2005 399 Posts Obsessed

The thing I don't like about being "that guy" who is trying to help keep all of us kiters from loosing a valuable site, is that the negativity directed towards me by the rule breaker. It really makes me not want to be "that guy" again. Maybe we can all take turns. Smile

The CGKA agreement with the Port is that we will, as kiters, police our sport.

If we don't, then the Port will. Below are 2 examples as how the Port policed the sport of kiting on Port property in the past.

One thing I heard on the beach was "well, the Port is not going to shut down the Event Site to kiting". Please keep in mind that years ago we used to kite (launch and land) legally from the Event Site. And then there were a few incidents and the Port banned kiting from the Event Site. Luckily, it was about the same time the sand spit was created. And then years of heroic efforts by our kite association to get back to where we currently are.

Second example from years ago: a Port employee warned a kiter to stop breaking the Port's rules. When he was caught violating rules again, the Port told him to stay off their property. And, then a while later in the Event Site parking lot, this kiter was arrested by the Hood River Police for trespassing on Port property. He has not been seen in these parts since.

There is a very clear sign posted at the event site that states no laying out lines and no attaching of lines.

I don't want to see more signs.

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Jun 23, 10 10:00 am

Forrest, Can I be deputized?

Is that not the scariest fucking image ever? LMFAO

Link

Sella · Wed Jun 23, 10 10:57 am

Self-policing will always be required and every start of the season this is going to come up just like dog crap complaints. Improved signage, as large or well detailed, can only do so much when humans get involved.

If you want to run your lines in a mellow and controlled place when the water is high and the Sandbar launch and landing area is only a sliver of real estate DO what Chooch posted earlier and use the Spit parking / launch area. Why?

1. Tons of sand and room to rig.
2. Good vibes and people year-round.
3. You never have to wade across water pre or post session.
4. Perfect tree lined wind shadow to self-land your kite so you're not waiting for somebody to notice you, causing congesting, or bothering anyone else who is trying to get on the water.

The Event site grass is fantastic for pumping and drying but until the water goes down I never understood why anyone would want to hassle with it. (???)

Good winds.

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Try This .
Come to the Yukon Territory and kite kite kite with only the laws of nature to deal with !
Also for those who like to ride bikes on mountain trails you will not be disappointed as there are plenty and they are totally awesome . More being built as I post this .
I dont know if theres a more serene spot ! Kite the lake , ride to the top of these mountains .
I may have broken some rules of size with this post SORRY , I just cant help myself .
Check out Kite Yukon
Oh and in March April the snow kiting is the best with these endless mountain plateaus and lakes with cliffs dropping into the water so when it freezes and the snow fills in against the cliff face it's like a half pipe that runs for 15miles i'm told ! I have to try to make it up here for that experince .
JackZ
PS
I wasn't supposed to tell anyone to prevent overcrowding , LOL

Chooch · Wed Jun 23, 10 8:35 pm

WOW Jack that place looks amazing! Alien

KimSoderholm · Since 12 Aug 2009 102 Posts Stoked

Had an 'incident' today at the event site with someone running their lines out on the pump and dry area. So I politely went over and tried for my first time to give "the speech".

The only thing was, this babe was a 10... So I kind of choked up and my speech became very short.

Question: What does one do when faced with this uber sweet dilemma?

Either way, it ended very nicely and lines were rolled up. Thumb's Up

forrest · Wed Jun 23, 10 9:33 pm

First, you try to convince her to come back to your place!

KimSoderholm · Since 12 Aug 2009 102 Posts Stoked

Thank you for the response Forrest. Now I definetly have my speech ready.

Me : " Hi, so...listen...I dont meen to upset you in any way shape or form but, we're not really supposed to roll out our lines on this part of the event site..."

Her :" And your point being?"

Me :" So...want to go with me back to my place?"

Her :" Shocked

YESSS"

This might actually work, not only have you helped me with my dilemma Forrest, but you might have also gotten me a date with a total kitebabe.

HoodRat · Since 30 Mar 2008 199 Posts Stoked

I had to be that guy and I don't even kite. It felt wrong and dirty. Such a retarded rule to divide recreationalists. They should try doing that on the mountain with the skiers and snowboarders and see how that goes. Ah well. tough shit ain't it?

STORMRIDER · Since 17 Jul 2007 229 Posts Stoked

Tommy · Thu Jun 24, 10 3:09 pm

Was it this girl? Please tell me it was this girl...

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 291 Posts Obsessed

Had to tell a couple of young bucks not to use their two 2 meter training kites at the new Marina launch about 2 weeks ago. Didn't wanna say anything but they were heading for the grass and there were plenty of youngsters and peeps milling around on the grass and in the water.
Those two guys were super cool about it. They thought since there were kites on the bit of sand that was showing, kites were welcomed EVERYWHERE. When the signage arrives it will be a good thing because people over there are just following what they see others doing.
Like everyone else, I dislike being the one who has to say something, but if you love something and want to keep it, not saying something is a sure way to lose it.

tdalb · Since 25 Oct 2008 63 Posts

Tommy brings up a good point, if the signs down at the event site were in larger print, we might not have to be the A#* HOLES who have to tell people not to rig! BUT...If I have to be an A*% HOLE to keep the rigging area open at the event site, so be it! Thanks CGKA for all the work you do so that I can extend my water time by not having to walk out to the spit from kite beach!