A suggestion for Sauvie Newbs

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Aug 14, 08 7:09 am **A suggestion for Sauvie Newbs**

Sauvie is a great place for beginners and everyone there is always lending people some help but it seems that there is a little too much "mixing" going on for lack of a better term.
Someone crashed a kite like 20 feet from my two year old last week, then proceeded to crash their kite on a bunch of beach goers ten minutes later. Yesterday, someone that I know balistically tomohawked her kite like 5 feet from me.

Just as an FYI, as a general rule of thumb, most beginners practice all the way up the beach by the big piling with the metal can on top of it. This is advantageous for beginners for a number of reasons.
1. the wind is typically a little better up there
2. Those kiters that can launch at the "normal" spot and tack that far up wind are going to be competent enough to stay our of your way up north. There are always a few people that are "barely competent" riding in the main area. Barely competent and "white knuckle, what the hell am I doing" are generally not a good mix.
3. the farther north you are, the more you can body drag, flail, plane, or whatever before you are right in the middle of the main launch/land area.
4. There are less sticks, sand, and nasty kite pokey things on the north beach then there are south of the main launch. See those big piles of nasty sticks and twigs and blackberry canes that we raked up south of the main launch..there was a reason for that.
5. there are more people that are experiencing many of the same things you are/ are new to the sport also/ and looking for new kiting friends
6. You don't have to worry about being in the way up north and you don't run the risk of HITTING/BOTHERING INNOCENT BEACH GOERS!!!

Lastly, If you lack the skills necessary to walk your kite back up the beach while it is in the air then LAND YOUR KITE and walk it up. It only takes 5 minutes to wind your lines and re-launch when you get back up the beach. While its not "that big of deal" if you crash your kite into a bunch of beer drinking kiters on the beach (although you will look like a jackhole), we can not have people crashing their kites into casual beach goers or kids. You can get seriously hurt if you catch a tomohawking kite right on the top of your head. not to mention all the NASTY cuts that can happen when Joe Public just grabs your kite lines.

Thanks folks!! I'm not trying to be beach cop, but I think some people just don't realize "the system". It looks like its going to be a great day out there today!!

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

One thing we can all learn from last night, we need to look out for eachother. KBing is a dangerous sport and if we aren't all paying attention to people crashing kites, etc....then someones PBR could get knocked over and have sand on the wide-mouth....Now thats a serious problem. Wink

nice post monkey Razz

good words...it is better to be upwind of the traffic jam

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

hamlindp · Thu Aug 14, 08 8:29 am

Many thanks, pdxmonkeyboy. Excellent thread (again).

I noticed a lot of newbs in the "normal" launch area last night, as well.

Very glad your precious little guy wasn't hurt last week. Scary.

I saw a fam with some little ones, walking through the "normal" launch site, a few times. One of the cute tikes walked up to my kite, saw it, thought for a moment, looked up at his sibs getting further ahead of him, then walked right over my kite. You should have seen it, it was priceless, so how could I get upset?

The point I'm making is, if we bring our little ones, lets try and keep them out of harms way (newbs way) when things heat up at Sauvie, and avoid having them walking around in the "high traffic" launch/land zone.

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

scottnterra · Since 09 Mar 2008 5 Posts pdx New Member

great post. I'm a newbie that hasn't made it out to Sauvies yet. This is exactly the kind of info that makes me feel more comfortable heading out there.

boarderchick · Since 10 Aug 2007 196 Posts Wherever there's wind:-) Stoked

Great post PDXMKBY!

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Sounds like you're trying to take all the excitement away!

Blue · Since 03 Jul 2007 469 Posts I used to be Obsessed

Good stuff pmb.

Here is another tip to help decrease waterfront congestion. As soon as you know how to body drag, drag out about 100 ft into the river. No crowds there, and your kite will safely tomahawk into the water. Ground under your feet makes you feel safer when learinig, but being able to handle board and a kite in deep water is a must know skill anyway. You might as well start by learning it first.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2103 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Tip #9: Bring extra cold beer for the seasoned vets. . .great way to meet the vets and get some advice. Cool

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Aug 15, 08 9:25 pm

pdxmonkeyboy · Sat Aug 16, 08 10:01 am

don't drink and post.

Cool

hamlindp · Sun Aug 17, 08 9:10 am

Is it O.K. to drink and post-surf? Laughing