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krazedkiter
Since 08 Jun 2009
183 Posts
Florida
Stoked
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 Sun Jun 19, 11 7:20 pm The SPit/Sandbar. Why so busy? |
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I come from a far far away place with lots of beach bans, membership fees, IKO Level 3 requirements, and a not so closely knit kiting community (at least not as close as NWK).
Been reading this forum for some time now and during that time have come across so many posts of so many outstanding places to ride in your area. Not just Stevenson, not just the sandbar, but soooooooooooooo many others that it makes me so jealous. Now maybe I have to consider the total size of the area we are talking about when you start putting these places on a map.
Now here is my question...with so many places, why is the sandbar the big issue with overcrowding and even now with your high water level issues. Aren't ther so many other places to spread out and kite? Is it a wind factor. Will it usually be blowing at the sandbar and nowhere else?
Just curious because you guys have such a huge and diverse area to kite. It is not unusual for me to drop 1-2 hours each way to kite when Im not on the boat.
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Youkai
Since 08 Feb 2010
553 Posts
Beaverton
Addicted
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| Sun Jun 19, 11 7:27 pm |
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There are a lot of places when there is wind. Unfortunately the wind hasn't really turned on in the other areas yet; at least not consistently.
Also the drive time is a factor. For those that live in Portland you have the coast and HR both between 1 and 2 hours away depending on the location. If you are in HR you have a minimum of a 2.5 hour drive to get to the coast.
There are a few launches in the gorge but the Event site/Marina is the most common/safest.
Also the Cabrina race series was in HR last weekend and this which added to the number of people in downtown HR.
Mostly it boils down to the gorge is the only place blowing at the moment.
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Captain kook; always wrong. |
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Gorgegezzer
Since 14 Jan 2007
67 Posts
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| Mon Jun 20, 11 6:04 am All that water and waves, no access |
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When driving up the Gorge to Hood River, I always think - All that water and no access. There are a few access points but most are rocky shores with lots of trees and brush. Always a wonderfully scenic drive on either side of the river.
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I may be old, but I am slow |
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eric
Since 13 Jan 2006
1860 Posts
XTreme Poster
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| Mon Jun 20, 11 6:32 am |
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Imagine living 2 minutes away from the base of Steamboat, or a great pointbreak, or Whistler downhill trail... Watch the action from your office all day, leave work then have to drive an hour to to what is ordinarily right in front of you. Add kids who kite to the picture, or you need to be back home by 6, and many of the launches are out of the question Many of us live here to do the things we love to do right here, close to home, after work or whatever
I found myself looking in my barn to see if I still have some windsurfing gear which I have not done since taking up kiting full time in 2001. My heart just isn't into it anymore. Funny, windsurfing was like crack for 17+ years and now I just can't be bothered. |
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wylieflyote
Since 30 Jun 2006
1648 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster
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| Mon Jun 20, 11 6:54 am |
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| Eric wrote: | | I found myself looking in my barn to see if I still have some windsurfing gear which I have not done since taking up kiting full time in 2001. My heart just isn't into it anymore. Funny, windsurfing was like crack for 17+ years and now I just can't be bothered. |
HA! Ditto for sure. Because of the situation this year on the river, I too decided to dig out my windsurfing quiver. Awful. Made one reach & back at Roosevelt and loaded it back on the truck. Headed out on a 6M with a directional and it was pure heaven.
Only advice, as if you didn't already know this... any launch wherever is just your access point. Best to get the hell away from any launch as soon as your kite is in the air and powered.
The notion of "Kodak point" photo ops with tricks near launches this year is especially ill-advised. IMHO
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melokitegirl
Since 28 Oct 2008
396 Posts
Where the wind blows
Obsessed
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| Mon Jun 20, 11 7:55 am |
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The event site kite spit IS popular. Even when there are lots of other places to kite. It's social, the schools are there, easier to launch & land than most places. Plus if you have a family, there is a great swim beach & play area park a few hundred yards west for the little ones & the wind widows. Hood River is convenient as well. Places to go get some lunch, shop for gear etc. The other thing is that these other kite places we mention are usually more advanced. The place I like to go is currently under water and not very safe at the moment.
If you kite at the event site & you are a good kiter, please go up wind and give the schools and one's learning to go up wind a break. Get up and get out. We all fly pretty close to each other- which if you are not use to can be a little uncomfortable. It's especially intimidating to newbs/kooks.
It can be a tricky place. Just ask and be chill/kind.
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HRnico
Since 22 Mar 2008
262 Posts
Da Hood
Obsessed
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| Mon Jun 20, 11 8:13 am |
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| many of the other launches are under water as well at this time. Self launching and landing can be quite a challange at some of the the other sites. When the sand is out, anyone of all skill levels can ride in Da Hood. |
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pkh
Since 27 Feb 2005
6549 Posts
Couve / Hood
Honored Founder
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| Mon Jun 20, 11 8:16 am |
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Rufus was clear skies, nuking, mostly vacant yesterday  |
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eric
Since 13 Jan 2006
1860 Posts
XTreme Poster
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| Mon Jun 20, 11 8:19 am |
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Is the current/water level messing with the swell? Not too into flat water.
Thanks,
Eric |
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HRnico
Since 22 Mar 2008
262 Posts
Da Hood
Obsessed
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| Mon Jun 20, 11 8:37 am |
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Just take your fins off Eric
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krazedkiter
Since 08 Jun 2009
183 Posts
Florida
Stoked
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| Mon Jun 20, 11 10:11 pm |
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| Eric wrote: | | Imagine living 2 minutes away from the base of Steamboat, or a great pointbreak, or Whistler downhill trail... Watch the action from your office all day, leave work then have to drive an hour to to what is ordinarily right in front of you. Add kids who kite to the picture, or you need to be back home by 6, and many of the launches are out of the question |
I know what you mean. I live in tropical paradise from what they tell me. Water water everywhere. 5 minutes in any direction. Problem is, none of it is accessible from shore and if it is its banned. You can understand then why it sucks when you have water 5 minutes from you but you have to travel at least an hour to kite. Kinda ruins our afterwork seshes.
One of my favorite things to do is pack up my little kayak (fits inside SUV) and just make my own launch. Anywhere I can set in a Kayak, I can paddle out 50 feet, 100 feet, 1 mile, whatever and set an anchor and kite.
The kite beaches are getting so crazy these days. The funny thing is this walkabout kiting Im doing is like fishing. Your out 30 miles off shore no one else for miles, hit a school of Dolphin (not Flipper dolphin, relax), and within minutes you have 5 boats on you checking out your what your cathing. Same thing with kiting, the kite is like a radar. Im on a nice little sandbar and boom, 10 minutes later I got boats up on me with a couple of newbs (nothing wrong with newbs) wanting me to launch their Best hellfish they got on eBay for 20 bucks.
Make your own waves. Be safe, but make em your own. I do understand that its not as safe to go out on your own though on the river. But it seems like there have to be a hell of alot of options.
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BigR
Since 05 Jul 2005
372 Posts
White Salmon
Obsessed
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| Tue Jun 21, 11 3:44 am |
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| Quote: | | But it seems like there have to be a hell of alot of options. |
In theory , you could.
But just like launching along Biscayne Bay with no support, you are going from mangrove to mangrove. Even though you are safe, eventually you'll have to land
and walk out thru the mangroves to find the road.
In the river likewise, you can launch / land anywhere along the boulders (as long as the railroad police don't catch you, $1000 ticket if they do) but then you gotta scramble thru the rocks to the road ......... hardly worth the hassle when the event site or rufus or arlington is all set up nice |
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windslayer
Since 30 Apr 2007
153 Posts
Stoked
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| Tue Jun 21, 11 10:21 am |
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......go to the event site!
And for the rest of u.....whats the first rule of fight club??? |
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