|
previous topic :: next topic |
| Author |
Message |
GorgeKite.com
Since 17 Mar 2008
226 Posts
Hood River
Stoked
|
 Mon Jun 08, 09 11:50 pm the weak site |
 |
|
| The high water rocks launch at the spit. Fucking skimtackuler |
|
|
shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1365 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 12:12 am Re: Event site: WTF? |
|
|
| Hein wrote: | | been 10 years now since kiting 'started' in the Gorge. |
Then you know what kind of politics we had with the Port through that period and how recently change started to happen. We fought our a$$es off to save the waterfront from a certain Bend developer and an attempt to raise building height from 35' to 65' for "mixed-use" development (with no specification on what percentage would be condos versus retail versus light industrial).
You'll know how hard we worked to raise funds for the new waterfront park. I sat through public hearings 4 years ago when Valley residents came out of the woodwork saying "we don't want another windsurf launch - damn windsurfers are ruining this town!". When I asked them what they thought about kiteboarding they had no idea what I was talking about. (Yes, many don't go to the waterfront but jump at the chance for waterfront input). Many of us who are both windsurfers and kiters have thought all along an upwind windsurf launch is key to evolving the Event Site as a kiting launch. (I haven't launched to windsurf from the Event Site in many years - the North and Hook launches get you past the island in no time once you learn to shlog the wind shadow - but then again I don't have a family in tow to sit and read/play in the lee of the trees while I sail).
The new Port Director was key to listening to community input, and the establishment of the WRC was a giant leap forward. Just a month ago more of the 'old guard' fell off the roster, replaced with people who actually appeared on this forum! The Port's meetings are public and announced on their web site (now - in the past they held them without public notice so us pesky windsurfers wouldn't show up). Talk to Forrest, he seems to have the right insight into the politics and process. Or ask Cory about his dealings with the Old Boys.
Given what I've seen of public agencies, 3-5 years is light speed, and logic is often left debated on Internet blogs. Our opinions of the Port are irrelevant; it's their process we've got to work with (and change). |
|
|
shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1365 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 12:14 am Re: Event site: WTF? |
|
|
splunge
Last edited by shred_da_gorge on Tue Jun 09, 09 12:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
Mike Hawk
Since 20 Mar 2006
179 Posts
say that 3 times fast DONT FEED THE TROLL!
Stoked
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 12:25 am cape horn |
|
|
ah screw it everyone should drive west and check out cape horn :shock:and eat some fishsticks 
_________________
the porn star brother of the famous Tony hawk |
|
|
shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1365 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 12:30 am |
|
|
| K4L wrote: | ...up for memorial day weekend and for a "busy" weekend there would have been plenty of room for rigging/launching from what I could see. Lots of grass available even with the poleboarders and rubberneckers there.
I dont live there but when I am there it seems that there are far more kiters than windsurfers. |
This Memorial Day wasn't busy at all. It was even deader than it was in 2002. Many businesses and bookings are way down this year. In July you'll probably get a better example of what busy is at the Event Site. You are correct that there was lots of grass available.
Yes it's true, there are far more kiters than windsurfers. One reason is that many of us have switched over. 2006 was a pivotal year for equipment and quite a few of us waited for that R&D curve that we saw in windsurfing to subside. Another reason is pure demographics: it's no secret the poleboarding crowd is aging. But again, we're talking about politics here, not logic. The Port is not trying to protect us from ourselves, but protect itself from what we can do. Nick's point is quite valid.
Sorry for the double-post BTW. |
|
|
JUMPIN JIMI
Since 11 Nov 2006
123 Posts
Stoked
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 2:49 am |
|
|
JUST MOVE TO THE COAST  |
|
|
bulae99
Since 12 Jul 2006
1692 Posts
XTreme Poster
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 4:50 am Why not just land on event site? |
|
|
I went out yesterday around 4:30 to 7pm. Wrapped lines and proceeded to unwrap on the available 30 by 2 foot snatch patch. What was funny is that every swinging douchbag wanted to land but didn't want to launch. I'm like, "yea I'll grab your kite if you launch me.."
What a cluster f#$%!
When I came in there was maybe 3 guys windsurfing on 7meter or bigger sails and there was a ton of room on the event site lawn.
Why not have the event site chaperon make a decision to allow kites to land, immediately deflate, and move to the "kiter segregation area?" aka the back of the bus!
The lighter wind week days are dominated by those individuals whom are relagated to the back of the bus anyhow!
wtf 
_________________
Hey, I'm being hahahahahrassed! |
|
|
forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 8:18 am |
|
|
Gentleman, I used to have to pump up a kayak, paddle 300 yards across a moving river mouth, walk a 1/4 mile, and then pump up a 16m kite. And you know what, I was stoked to be out riding. Where is the stoke?
The high water sucks for lunching but rocks for riding. If you can figure out how to get out in it, you are rewarded with a unique opportunity to ride 12 inches higher in altitude than you otherwise would. There are some really unique wave ramps out there, and they rock!
Jim Grady, the CGKA President, has already got the ball rolling on a request to be presented to the Corps through the Port to keep the water from getting this high. This is the first and easiest remedy.
For now, attach both your front lines, then run your bar out downwind and let it float in the water while you run your steering lines out. |
|
|
undertow
Since 15 Feb 2008
371 Posts
BeaversBurg
Obsessed
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 8:22 am |
|
|
| How bout taking over the new beach the windsurfers got next to the event site formally lot 6. I'm Considering launching from there during the week ? |
|
|
forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 8:33 am |
|
|
It's pretty tough to keep your kite out of the shrubs. The wind is just so holey there.
| undertow wrote: | | How bout taking over the new beach the windsurfers got next to the event site formally lot 6. I'm Considering launching from there during the week ? |
|
|
|
shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1365 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 9:14 am |
|
|
| undertow wrote: | | How bout taking over the new beach the windsurfers got next to the event site formally lot 6. I'm Considering launching from there during the week ? |
Oh yeah, bring your dog and your kids there on Saturday, June 28, for the dog walk and grand opening of the children's play area!
http://www.hoodriverwaterfront.com/
I'm about to donate a portion of my own (scant) funds to a memorial for a guy named Matt Kosmata who spent years advocating to the Port that they donate the waterfront land for rec use. He died of cancer at the age of 42. He was a quiet guy but always showed up at the Port meetings with their own facts and figures to make the argument against further industrial building up close (don't forget the Port's main charter is economic development). His efforts were important in getting lot 6&7 donated to the city and they remain unacknowledged, so I challenge any of you locals to put into this community by donating to the park in his name:
http://www.hoodriverwaterfront.com/other.htm
(Also PM me if you do and I will match up to $1000).
I agree with Forrest, it wouldn't be a great place to launch, but we might want to continue to encourage windsurfers to launch from there and not the Event Site, especially after it fully opens. |
|
|
kenja
Since 19 Jun 2008
179 Posts
Stoked
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 9:41 am |
|
|
Am I the only one who finds it ironic that windsurfers have four beaches in less than a one mile stretch (Hook, new park, Event Site, Marina), while kiters fight for 200 s.f. of sand bar with waves crashing over it? Some days there is literally no sand bar at all.
If we don't like it, we can go to Stevenson or Rufus... Not much of a selection, is it? For something that brings so many people to Hood River and generates so much revenue for our businesses (I personally spent $3k this year on gear...), it's amazing that elected officials can keep their heads in the sand on this issue.
And they won't even let us rig our lines on the grass... Talk about a safety issue. I'd like the port officials to come down and try rigging lines to a kite in knee deep water and tell us how that is safer than doing it on the grass. |
|
|
HoodRat
Since 30 Mar 2008
199 Posts
Stoked
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 9:52 am |
|
|
_________________
 |
|
|
HoodRat
Since 30 Mar 2008
199 Posts
Stoked
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 9:53 am |
|
|
_________________
Last edited by HoodRat on Tue Jun 09, 09 10:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
HoodRat
Since 30 Mar 2008
199 Posts
Stoked
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 9:53 am |
|
|
_________________
|
|
|
Bettyboarder
Since 18 Mar 2005
1823 Posts
PDX/ White Salmon
XTreme Poster
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 10:07 am |
|
|
You want to change it then come help us...everyone bitches on the forum yet I dont see any of you at the CGKA meetings!!! I know everyone has things to do, lives far away, ect....but if it matters you would make time.
The windsurfers worked hard over the years and formed an association, raised money and built windsurfing parks.
Kiters can do that too it just takes time, money and political power.
It's really not the Port thats the problem it's the Waterfront Rec Committee. There is alot of political BS but we are slowly working through it.
Like Forrest said Jim is already working with the Corps and trying to get the water a bit lower at least during peak times. |
|
|
kenja
Since 19 Jun 2008
179 Posts
Stoked
|
| Tue Jun 09, 09 10:56 am |
|
|
| I'll gladly come help. In fact, after the $1000 ticket BS that happened at Lyle a bunch of kiters in my neighborhood agreed to join the CGKA. I tried to figure out how to join and all I could find was a crappy, outdated website with an "event calendar" containing only stuff from 2007 (cgka.net). In fact the top hit on google for cgka is the gorge.net homepage. Is that where we are supposed to sign up? If so, maybe I can sign up as the webmaster and get it cleaned up. |
|
|
|
