CGKA - EVENT SITE LAUNCH/LAND ACCESS ENDS FRI 7/20

cgka · Since 18 Jul 2006 278 Posts Obsessed

It's official, the Sandbar is working it's way back and the Corp of Engineers confirms the water levels are receding (but fluctuations are expected Wink

It's been a long and good run, with lots of people running safety and keeping the courtesy at top level this month, but the Sandbar is back, and the Event Site has been starting to burst at the seams with recreational users and spectators.

FRIDAY JULY 20 IS OUR OFFICIAL LAST DAY FOR LAUNCHING AND LANDING VIA THE EVENT SITE GRASS LAWN

SATURDAY JULY 21 WE OFFICIALLY SWITCH BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL PUMP AND DRY AGREEMENT WITH THE PORT .
We respectfully ask that all kiters please abide by the pump and dry rules that provide us with the Eastermost section of the Event Site (EAST OF THE TREES).

We'd like to share our appreciation for all of the extra timeline access that has been granted to the kiteboarding community via the actions of newly appointed Port of Hood River Waterfront Coordinator Liz Whitmore. Her daily observations and feedback reports of how the kite community has been working together along all of the waterfront sites convinced her and the Port that the kite community needed the extra help and support via extended launching privileges.

We'd also like to thank members of the local kite community who were willing to spend their personal time (yes, Boarding Bob, you and others) to help keep the launching and landing safe and every once in a while even tolerate verbal abuse form those who broke the rules and thereby were putting our access privileges at risk.

See you all back out on the Sandbar and remember, to continue to keep safety on the top of your check list and ALWAY, ALWAYS, help other kiters with launching and landing needs at all times.

Thank you
Your local CGKA Board of Directors

Jonpnw · Thu Jul 19, 12 8:33 am

Thank you Port of Hood River, Thank you CGKA!

In the future a sign with a large red circle (NO) or a large green circle (YES) would be nice. Yesterday people were launching and landing but I thought if there was sandbar it was off limits.

Be Safe, have fun. Help someone out !

cgka · Since 18 Jul 2006 278 Posts Obsessed

D-Krep It Kiter · Since 18 Jul 2011 417 Posts Obsessed

Mark · Sun Jul 22, 12 1:27 pm

Would be alot easier if it were open year round.......

K4L · Since 19 Jan 2009 483 Posts Obsessed

HRnico · Since 22 Mar 2008 262 Posts Da Hood Obsessed

I go with Mark, It can be done. It has been working

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 803 Posts Opinionated

D-Krep It Kiter · Since 18 Jul 2011 417 Posts Obsessed

Great post hilton, and I agree with everything you're saying... also with Mark's year round access as being the best solution. Another thought in that regard, that you've already touched upon, is that before, the temporary closure seemed to be to allow enough room for windsurfers during the busy season. But now, if I remember correctly, what was the "launch/land" area is part of the "pump & dry" area... so there's no change to the amount of space that windsurfers have at the Event Site regardless of whether its "launch & land" or "pump & dry". Every year it there are more kiters coming to the Event Site/sandbar... its getting busy! Having the grass as an option would certainly allow kiters to spread themselves out a bit more.

jasonq · Since 12 Jan 2009 247 Posts hood river Stoked

D-Krep It,
the pump and dry area is still smaller than the launch and land + pump and dry area. Pump and dry did get bigger last year, but not by that much.

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 803 Posts Opinionated

As long as the kiters are taking up 50% (or more) of the parking spots at the Event Site (plus a bunch of spaces on the street) the windsurfers will never need more than 50% of the grass for their rigs.
I can remember days 10 years ago when the grass was covered with windsurfing rigs, but yesterday the parking lot was full (closed) and there was still a large patch of unused grass in the middle of the Event Site lawn.