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apctjb
Since 19 Aug 2007
438 Posts
Obsessed
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 Wed Aug 01, 12 8:15 pm WS Sandbar not beginner friendly |
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Saw someone giving a lesson (not an instructor) at the WS sandbar. Looked like an accident waiting to happen.
When using the WS Sandbar keep in mind the following.
-Narrow beach and if you get dragged you quickly will be on rocks the size of VW's.
-Current right off the sand bar pulls you or your board to the west into submerged deadheads.
-Cold water
-You go directly into the main barge channel, fast current with lots of chop and swell
-Landings are sketchy
-Fishermen looking to steal your board... |
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OG
Since 07 Jun 2011
599 Posts
Addicted
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| Wed Aug 01, 12 9:07 pm Re: WS Sandbar not beginner friendly |
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| apctjb wrote: | Saw someone giving a lesson (not an instructor) at the WS sandbar. Looked like an accident waiting to happen.
When using the WS Sandbar keep in mind the following.
-Narrow beach and if you get dragged you quickly will be on rocks the size of VW's.
-Current right off the sand bar pulls you or your board to the west into submerged deadheads.
-Cold water
-You go directly into the main barge channel, fast current with lots of chop and swell
-Landings are sketchy
-Fishermen looking to steal your board... |
i dont know what the conditions are over there, but it always seems more sensible when you see something like this to tell the people when you see it. Maybe you couldn't or whatever, just seems worth saying that when and at all possible take care of each other on the beach and pass the experience through to the community via the forum. |
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K4L
Since 19 Jan 2009
483 Posts
Obsessed
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| Wed Aug 01, 12 9:09 pm |
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Last weekend riding up from the sandbar I noticed the kites on ws sandbar.
And I was wondering, is there access under the railroad tracks or is it another Lyle situation? |
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Dern
Since 11 Jul 2010
545 Posts
Vancouver, WA
Addicted
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| Wed Aug 01, 12 9:56 pm |
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| I noticed a good handful of kites there last weekend, too. I'm hoping its not another Lyle situation. |
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hoarhey
Since 20 Jul 2008
63 Posts
the corridor
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 4:59 am |
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Of course its another Lyle situation. Kiteboarding looks really cool and as soon as some tourist (or more likely a local fisherman) gets mowed down by a train, the BNSF is going to be swarming all over the usual river access points.
Also, I would just have to add that the Gorge isn't beginner friendly. Anywhere that isn't the Hood River spit IS beginner friendly because beginners need less chaos. Thanks for pointing out all the hazards to them, but if it was an effort to deter them I doubt it will have any affect.
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Misinformed |
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kitezilla
Since 22 Jun 2006
453 Posts
gorge
Obsessed
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 6:42 am Re: WS Sandbar not beginner friendly |
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| apctjb wrote: | Saw someone giving a lesson (not an instructor) at the WS sandbar. Looked like an accident waiting to happen.
When using the WS Sandbar keep in mind the following.
-Narrow beach and if you get dragged you quickly will be on rocks the size of VW's.
-Current right off the sand bar pulls you or your board to the west into submerged deadheads.
-Cold water
-You go directly into the main barge channel, fast current with lots of chop and swell
-Landings are sketchy
-Fishermen looking to steal your board... |
I would add 2 issues to this list. The biggest danger that I see to teaching beginners to kite at the WSS is that of a beginner dropping his kite, and then standing up in the shallow water, close to shore, in the WS current. In lower wind, the kite very rapidly drifts into the wind and toward the unwary kiter, slacking his lines. In strong wind, the kite does not drift toward the kiter as fast. If the unwary beginner kiter allows the kite to drift into him, and grabs it, what happens very fast is that the kite's trailing edge will dive under water, and the kite will wrap around the beginner, enclosing him, like a blanket... moving 5 to 10 miles an hour, sweeping the kiter off his feet and tangling him in his kite and lines.
The second issue is the closeness of the fast moving train and the fact that the kite lines can allow the kite to easily reach the train... I don't even want to think about what happens when a kite lands on a moving train.
Here is a copy of a post I put on another thread, about 3 weeks ago:
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I reluctantly offer this advice. It may be best to never speak of this again, but in an attempt to keep this POTENTIAL kite launching site open for at least a short while, before it is shut down by WDOT, or a horrible accident occurring on that stretch of Hwy 14... please use BACK-IN PARKING ONLY!
I see nothing but tragedy in the future, unless extreme caution and vigilance is used at this unauthorized and dangerous location. As the sandbar emerges, you will know what I am getting at.
Follow the successful example of past action by the fishermen, and hope for the best... the fishermen established a tradition of PARKING CLOSE to each other and BACKING IN.
Arrange your gear so that you can get it out of the rear SIDE door, because the rear hatch door will likely be inaccessible. Bumping the car parked CLOSE next to you will be a problem, so be careful... that will be part of the price to pay for access.
Backing in to the spot allows you to have good visibility when pulling out into the FAST MOVING traffic. I suggest approaching the parking situation, much like a pilot approaches a landing... wait along the shoulder of the road, until the traffic clears and gives you a good opportunity to slowly and carefully BACK into the easement along the railroad tracks. It worked for the fishermen, and it can work for kiters."
Yesterday, the parking at this place was chaotic. |
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stringy
Since 23 Jun 2006
1735 Posts
vancouver
XTreme Poster
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 7:03 am |
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I rode up from the HR sandbar back in mid july and asked one of the guys who was rigging, where to park. he told me there was parking if you were from underwood. not sure if he was joking or not.
I took this shot back then from way up high in underwood to show what it looked like back then.
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www.jimstringfellow.com |
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dancingwind
Since 18 Jul 2007
321 Posts
Obsessed
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 10:08 am |
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Great post. I got to admit I didn't know what WS stood for till I saw stringy's picture. Didn't think the White Salmon sand bar could get this big.
Great pointers apctjb and kitezilla. You can tell by looking at the picture all your concerns are valid. It truly is an accident/disaster waiting to happen. The parking itself is sketchy and so close to the tracks!
Posts like this help educate the rest of us and possibly help avert a future accident.
I wonder what is CGKA's take on this?
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SAY WHAT YOU MEAN, MEAN WHAT YOU SAY |
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Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 10:17 am |
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Dind't somebody owe somebody some beer if the WS sandbar turned out to be stable enough to rig and launch kites? I would say that pic is pretty convincing.........  |
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JonMalmberg
Since 15 Aug 2011
340 Posts
Obsessed
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 10:24 am |
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| How many of you guys sitting around clicking away on your keypads have actually ridden/launched here? I would recommend you personally visit and check it out before pontificating/spewing gargage. |
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moondog
Since 15 Aug 2007
706 Posts
white salmon
Addicted
CGKA Member
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 10:26 am |
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More hazards: deadheads, logs and submerged bunji impaling sticks to snag your kite and rip your feet open. The WS river temp is 53 degrees with a 5 knot current.
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moondog |
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luke
Since 06 Jul 2005
399 Posts
Obsessed
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 10:37 am legit concerns |
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Getting back on topic. The concerns raised definitely make this spot not user friendly for teaching or beginners. The concerns about the kiting are legit and should be noted by every level kiter.
Parking and RR tracks. Please be aware! There have been at least 5 deaths in separate incidents on the road and tracks at this location. Count the crosses.
I tend to be in Lala land after a good session. Rear-in parking is key since you enter a 55mph zone 5 feet after putting the car in drive when departing.
Stay alert. Have FUN and the best day ever!! |
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Inept_Fun
Since 14 Apr 2005
1417 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 12:22 pm Re: WS Sandbar not beginner friendly |
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| kitezilla wrote: |
I would add 2 issues to this list. The biggest danger that I see to teaching beginners to kite at the WSS is that of a beginner dropping his kite, and then standing up in the shallow water, close to shore, in the WS current. In lower wind, the kite very rapidly drifts into the wind and toward the unwary kiter, slacking his lines. In strong wind, the kite does not drift toward the kiter as fast. If the unwary beginner kiter allows the kite to drift into him, and grabs it, what happens very fast is that the kite's trailing edge will dive under water, and the kite will wrap around the beginner, enclosing him, like a blanket... moving 5 to 10 miles an hour, sweeping the kiter off his feet and tangling him in his kite and lines.
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Does anyone else find this post extremely hilarious or am I the only one lmao at the keyboard when they read this?
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I heart dangling |
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quenyaistar
Since 21 Oct 2011
416 Posts
Cougar, WA
Obsessed
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 12:42 pm |
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Human kite burrito
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1 OF 1 |
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Weaz
Since 23 May 2012
360 Posts
Beaverton
Obsessed
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 12:50 pm |
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| unless the kite is tacoing at the same time... then you end up with a human kite chulupa |
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kitezilla
Since 22 Jun 2006
453 Posts
gorge
Obsessed
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 12:51 pm |
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The phenomenon that the above poster finds hilarious is not unusual in situations where there is shallow water and current opposing the wind... happens at the HR sandbar in early summer, where the Hood River cuts across the shallows.
I stand by my precaution to anyone teaching beginners at this location, or any other location where you run into this phenomenon.
Stringy and Jon... kind of surprised at your comments. Do you really think that this thread is all about a bunch of Underwood locals trying to misinform others for the sake of guarding and scaring away others from a "local" spot? |
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stringy
Since 23 Jun 2006
1735 Posts
vancouver
XTreme Poster
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| Thu Aug 02, 12 1:17 pm |
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| kitezilla wrote: |
Stringy and Jon... kind of surprised at your comments. Do you really think that this thread is all about a bunch of Underwood locals trying to misinform others for the sake of guarding and scaring away others from a "local" spot? |
I'm not trying to imply that there is localism or whatever you want to call it. I kited up there one afternoon just days before the sandbar started showing itself. I think it coincided with the dam managing water levels for the slider event.
anyhow I saw a guy rigging up and asked him where he parked.
He made some comment about how it was for people from underwood.
to be honest I have no desire whatsoever to kite there. the swell is so screwed up and confused there now (at least when I was there). if I lived on the wa side, I would consider it, wait I actually do haha. no I prefer a better launch area with better quality wind and water conditions and safer parking.
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www.jimstringfellow.com |
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