I'm in Grenoble, France right now, there are four parks within an hours drive, one of them being Exo 38. Grenoble is the French Alps, absolutely stunning views, amazing rock climbing and mountain biking and other activities... But Derek is right, a cable park doesn't belong in the Gorge and when he's done blocking ours he's going to come here to France and get these shutdown too.
DROCK999 wrote:
trying to find the coney island/ daytona beach spring break feel in this one
Here's a little different video, that may seem hokey to a legit rider, but might be more approachable for the non-boardriding types.
Yes, I know you'll all be jealous of the singer's outfit in this video
My experiences working with cableparks in Germany and the UK were a bit more like this video. Lots of kids and families, with a ton more social activities going on due to the inclusive feel and atmosphere of the cablepark arrangement.
Way better than OWC or the Ranch. Maybe not as legit, but more inclusive with the community.
The Naitos have stirred up a divisive hornet's nest of controversy by continuing to sell the idea of cable wakeboarding in the Nichols Boat Basin. Mr. Naito freely admits that in order to build his hotel he is courting money from China. The Chinese are not stupid and insist on guaranteed rents from the complex before they release any funds. The Naitos are not from the area. They do not live here nor do they participate in any of the activities that support our community. It is a simple sales pitch to take the money and run. Pitting members of the community against each other is an ugly manipulative tactic as old as society itself. By using their power to create a win lose set of options for our community they are showing us who they are. Make no mistake about it. Boardheads, you are being played like a violin. Wake up.
forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
Laurie, you don't know what you're talking about, and your letter to the editor is more divisive than you are making this whole project out to be when you call us Boardheads.
Slaker
Since 29 Jul 2008
41 Posts
Mon Sep 10, 12 3:57 am
laurieb wrote:
It is a simple sales pitch to take the money and run. Pitting members of the community against each other is an ugly manipulative tactic as old as society itself. By using their power to create a win lose set of options for our community they are showing us who they are. Make no mistake about it. Boardheads, you are being played like a violin. Wake up.
What are you talking about, this makes no sense at all. you think building a cable park is a take the money and run sales pitch? I'm sorry but that is the stupidest thing I have ever herd. It takes years for a cable to make back it's initial investment.
melokitegirl
Since 28 Oct 2008
396 Posts
Where the wind blows
Obsessed
Mon Sep 10, 12 9:22 am
Cable Park Meeting. I went to the one where "The Friends" got to speak and I have to say that the anger & tension was overwhelming. Their "facts" were farce to a point. What I hear though is "fear of change" and people are territorial by nature. If you plan to speak at the meeting..it will go better if you can write something ahead, speak factually with no emotion. I think addressing the concerns is better than just being opposing. For instance...A lady likes Nichols because she can keep an eye on her kids. Well, there is whole park dedicated for families. Use it. Seniors like Nichols because it is easy for them to get their kayaks & Sups in/out of the water..also it's "enclosed". They can get the same result in The Hook if a burm is graded out at the very end. In fact, it's friendlier as if they get stuck on the east side, there is an easy walk back. Wheras Nichols has rocks and will bang up your board. Plus the sandbar isn't always there to "catch" them. Also..you need to give them a cookie & reassure. What I mean by that is include an ingress/egress area for SUP/Kayak on the North side and have renderings for it. These "friends" keep talking about developing/improving Nichols for SUP etc. Where is that money going to come from? The other point is that they say the demographic is for affluent young men. I find that offensive because they dismissed women who like sports altogether. Would they say the same about windsurfing? Kiting? Skiing? Etc? To me this is a sad testiment to our community that has basically thrived due to sports. What if Windsurfers had this kind of push back when they started using the Event Site? the Good News is that The Port Commissioners seem pretty fair & unbiased.
Hope to see you all there supporting The Cable Park.
Mel
PS. To Forrest, Joby, Pepi and whoever else is involved...maybe you guys could suggest some speaking points to help develop our statements at the meeting. _________________ Be kind to Kooks
forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
Mel, I've been directing points to people that contacted me to speak. The points you just stated are perfect, and there is little overlap come to the meeting and say what you just said. Unfortunately, I'm out of the country on business, but I'll contact you offline with some details of a person who can help you refine your points.
D-Krep It Kiter
Since 18 Jul 2011
417 Posts
Obsessed
Mon Sep 10, 12 6:54 pm
melokitegirl wrote:
Cable Park Meeting.... ....Good News is that The Port Commissioners seem pretty fair & unbiased.
Hope to see you all there supporting The Cable Park.
Mel
Probably one of the best posts I've seen about this issue so far. Mel is right, the non-aggressive approach will usually win out... let the other side lose its cool... staying on track & to the point is the way to go. Sure hope Mel is going to be speaking at the cablepark meeting... by the way EXCELLENT point about windsurfing... I've thought that all along, that back in what, the early 80's? I'm sure there were lots of "old school" locals that saw it as nothing but a bunch of adults refusing to grow up and stop playing with toys... look at what it has done for Hood River. And now kiting... the cablepark would build on the recreational movement that has been growing for decades in Hood River...
Something about the Hook... lets say, just for a second, that all the "Friends..." people said "ok, you win, put in the cablepark but we're going to develop the Hook so its more user friendly..." this would be a win/win all round. Since the sand bar blocked the basin entrance, the hook seems to be forgotten just out of pure convenience... but develop it, and suddenly you're looking at.. a walk.. A walk along the Hood River Waterfront... start at the Best Western/Marina... go by the marina, the grassy fields, past the spit, right by the hotel & cablepark, continue to the Event Site, along to the Waterpark and up to the Hook... a nice, scenic walk that has all kinds of places to stop and things to check out. Seems to me that would be way better than just leaving the basin the way it is for a few paddleboarders/kayakers... and, once again, I was at the Event Site all day today... arrived before 9am, left after 4pm... I think I saw 1... one person trying to learn to windsurf right at the basin entrance. So much for 150 - 200 on a daily basis!
DROCK999
Since 31 May 2007
852 Posts
Left Coast
Opinionated
Mon Sep 10, 12 7:25 pm
D-Krep It Kiter wrote:
Something about the Hook... lets say, just for a second, that all the "Friends..." people said "ok, you win, put in the cablepark but we're going to develop the Hook so its more user friendly..." this would be a win/win all round. Since the sand bar blocked the basin entrance, the hook seems to be forgotten just out of pure convenience... but develop it, and suddenly you're looking at.. a walk.. A walk along the Hood River Waterfront... start at the Best Western/Marina... go by the marina, the grassy fields, past the spit, right by the hotel & cablepark, continue to the Event Site, along to the Waterpark and up to the Hook... a nice, scenic walk that has all kinds of places to stop and things to check out. Seems to me that would be way better than just leaving the basin the way it is for a few paddleboarders/kayakers... and, once again, I was at the Event Site all day today... arrived before 9am, left after 4pm... I think I saw 1... one person trying to learn to windsurf right at the basin entrance. So much for 150 - 200 on a daily basis!
couldn't agree more, the hook is the real forgotten gem of the waterfront, great place to learn how to Windsurf and SUP, the hook is where I learned to windsurf as a kid. It's protected, and wells island provides a large wind block. Even in the video of the float in the claimed 150 users looked more like 75 tops, and even still they were only in the area that would be unaffected by a cable park. But that seems to be the case with most people arguing against the cable, facts are bended to sway people who are on the fence, it's unfortunate. _________________ BIP- "YOUR GIRLFRIENDS FAVORITE"
melokitegirl
Since 28 Oct 2008
396 Posts
Where the wind blows
Obsessed
Mon Sep 10, 12 10:35 pm
Yes, I plan on speaking..Thanks for validating my points. I'm representing the 40 an over ladies club. Ha! I still like to play! Another point that I am going to make is that the demographic for skiing/snowboarding is mostly affluent young male...but as far as I can tell there are families and people fo all ages enjoying ski areas that stimulate the economy & jobs. Can you imagine if a group said.."No way to Ski Lifts"?
Off the soap box..i've written my schpeal already. See ya'll at the meeting. _________________ Be kind to Kooks
forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
Probably one of the best posts I've seen about this issue so far. Mel is right, the non-aggressive approach will usually win out... let the other side lose its cool... staying on track & to the point is the way to go. Sure hope Mel is going to be speaking at the cablepark meeting... by the way EXCELLENT point about windsurfing... I've thought that all along, that back in what, the early 80's? I'm sure there were lots of "old school" locals that saw it as nothing but a bunch of adults refusing to grow up and stop playing with toys... look at what it has done for Hood River. And now kiting... the cablepark would build on the recreational movement that has been growing for decades in Hood River...
Something about the Hook... lets say, just for a second, that all the "Friends..." people said "ok, you win, put in the cablepark but we're going to develop the Hook so its more user friendly..." this would be a win/win all round. Since the sand bar blocked the basin entrance, the hook seems to be forgotten just out of pure convenience... but develop it, and suddenly you're looking at.. a walk.. A walk along the Hood River Waterfront... start at the Best Western/Marina... go by the marina, the grassy fields, past the spit, right by the hotel & cablepark, continue to the Event Site, along to the Waterpark and up to the Hook... a nice, scenic walk that has all kinds of places to stop and things to check out. Seems to me that would be way better than just leaving the basin the way it is for a few paddleboarders/kayakers... and, once again, I was at the Event Site all day today... arrived before 9am, left after 4pm... I think I saw 1... one person trying to learn to windsurf right at the basin entrance. So much for 150 - 200 on a daily basis!
A good speech, perhaps bring this to the meeting as well?
Windance Crew
Since 18 Apr 2008
473 Posts
Hood River Kite Shop
Obsessed
Tue Sep 11, 12 1:12 pm
Remember to bring kids too, they carry a lot of weight in decisions like this. _________________ Windance Boardshop- Hood River
www.windance.com
Inept_Fun
Since 14 Apr 2005
1417 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
Tue Sep 11, 12 10:16 pm
Dont know if this got posted yet but so much for those basin use numbers the friends where trying to claim!
tstansbury
Since 06 Jun 2006
649 Posts
Rowena and P.C
Addicted
Wed Sep 12, 12 8:21 am
it would be interesting to see if the days when the most people used it were windy or calm. I they were calm then the hook is just as good for these users.
tstansbury
Since 06 Jun 2006
649 Posts
Rowena and P.C
Addicted
Wed Sep 12, 12 8:37 am
looks like the wind was light on the days with the most useres and when the wind came up the users left. just looked at I windsurf event site
DROCK999
Since 31 May 2007
852 Posts
Left Coast
Opinionated
Wed Sep 12, 12 8:53 am
tstansbury wrote:
looks like the wind was light on the days with the most useres and when the wind came up the users left. just looked at I windsurf event site
Or the whole river for that matter. It's a bit ironic that the "friends" fail to see the event site, the sand bar really does a good job of blocking the current, it has a nice lawn, and a sandy cove beach at the east end. Not to mention it's super shallow for a long way out which definitely helps make it more child friendly. _________________ BIP- "YOUR GIRLFRIENDS FAVORITE"
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