South Beach Jetty Surf Contest

NNW20-25 · Since 14 Apr 2008 5 Posts Lincoln City, Oregon New Member

I have been surfing for 23 years now, and added kiting to the mix about 4 1/2 years ago. Last weekend at The Gathering surf contest I kited downwind of the contest boundaries (very clearly marked) between surfing my heats. I watched numerous inconsiderate kiters blast through the lineup very close to competitors who were wearing brightly colored jerseys. Again while on the beach watching the grom division, two kiters came all the way to the shore right in front of the crowd nearly hitting one of the 12 year old surfers which made everyone related to the contest very angry and represented kiters in a negative way.

I have been working hard to portray kiting positively within the surfing community, and this display of ignorance and stupidity only hurt the sport of kiteboarding.
Be safe and considerate to all at all times.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Must be Canadian Laughing

Think they may not have noticed the contest or they where just a bunch a dicks

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

Mocean · Since 21 Sep 2005 343 Posts Newport Obsessed

Inexcusable. The better waves were downwind of the contest anyway. Someone should apologize to the surf contest organizers for the actions of these dickheads, and that this doesn't represent the attitudes of most kiters. I'm going to try and find out who to contact, maybe the Oregon surf forum would be a good start.

tuberaider · Since 10 Aug 2008 12 Posts New Member

Poor etiquite like what these kiters examplified is why kiting is banned in so many surf areas in California and Hawaii.

The sport is so new that it is still trying to find its own balance and "etiquite".

These kooks are just one example. Another might be the floras lake "take over". That place can hold 5 or 6 guys at most on that tiny little lake at one time. To invite the whole pacific northwest down there at one time is really disrespectful to the locals that live there.

Kiters in oregon need to figure out the whole local etiqutte thing works before we start losing our spots.

Wasn't there some post a while back that BLM wanted to consider banishing kiteboarding from Floras Lake because of many contributing factors. Too many dangerous kiters plowing though windsurfers and thier families that have been there for 20 or 30 years. Some other guy is teaching lessons on BLM land without a permit or paying taxes.

These are examples of poor etiquitte and a complete lack of respect for the people that live and kite in that area. The kiters doing these things are not from that area and have traveled there and could potientially ruin kiting on the lake for the locals that live thier.

I know many other topics on the chat room deal with kiters in hood river area losing acess to spots and all kinds of issues with territory.

In surfing there is always some guy who is dangerous and just does not get it after years of being told how not to be dick head. At some point you have to police your own sport to protect your self and next generation.

So what I am saying good call out by NNW20-25 and Mocean...next time those guys do something stupid wax thier car! Wink

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Are you talking about yesterday?

I was staying on the outside mostly (downwind by South Beach access and back up by the jetty) because I figured we'd get bitched at for getting too close. Hope it wasn't JP or me, though we were never really close to anyone...

importracer9 99 · Since 27 Oct 2005 296 Posts Obsessed

scottnorby · Mon Sep 08, 08 4:19 pm

Interesting.
I totally agree that there are some issues with kiters being inconsiderate.

I was just in a surf shop today and one of the workers was commenting that the guys from hood river are totally rude and act like they run the beach when they come into the surf shop.

Another worker, a girl, asked 'who are you talking about?'
He said. Gorge people.
She laughed and so did about 4 other people.

'you mean the drysuit gladiators or boardshorts over wetsuits kooks!?'

Coming from a background in surfing ---it does seem like a pretty tacky sport.

You can always tell who are surfers---- because they don't wear boardshorts.

Simplify.
Spread out.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 902 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

The Gathering only happens once a weekend a year and they occupy just a very small slice of the beach (between the 2 flags). STAY OUT OF THAT ZONE!! We need to be on our best behavior unless we want to risk a beach closure. The person that F%#Ks it up for us all will have a hefty bounty on his head and I will put up the first cash amount.

Also, I still don't get the boardshorts over the wetsuit. Do any of those guys go home if they forget to bring their shorts to the beach or what? Question

They sure don't seem like necessary equipment like a kite or a board!!

Windian

wytcap · Since 10 Mar 2005 203 Posts NW oregon Stoked

Also, I still don't get the boardshorts over the wetsuit. Do any of those guys go home if they forget to bring their shorts to the beach or what?

I would like to know how that trend Question

started!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Calling people out on the forum only does good if the kook actually reads the forum. Much better to deal with the situation on the beach if you can.

You could wax their windshield if you want, but even better is to let them know what you are thinking right there on the beach.

I'm not saying its not okay to call people out on the forum, just saying you should only say here (especially in anonymity) what you'd say to someone's face.

In this case it sounds like the kiters were clearly being kooks and out of line. Hope someone told them.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

scottnorby · Tue Sep 09, 08 6:37 am

I am not exactly sure where the boardshort trend came from?....I watched it develop way back. I thought it was whacky then.
Some kind of 'code' for 'I am a kiteboarder' that was being pushed in the magazines.

Over a shorty or, short leg suit, makes a little sense.
No one wants to kite in biker shorts...ha!

But over a full wetsuit, in the ocean, makes no sense at all??
VERY restrictive, tight, heavy, and just more unnecessary crap to wear.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I think wakeboarders started it, people don't like looking at each others junk.

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

yeah boardshorts over a full suit is out go retro kitepants.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

I thought we talked about this before... It just adds another layer of protection against wear and tear on the suit! Thumb's Up

I wear them over my drysuit too, though my Pyro Surf is only 0.50mm thick!

Whatever though. You ride the coast, you'll think we look funny. You ride the Gorge, we'll think you look funny. Doesn't matter.