places for a newbies to learn and not interfere

$ociopath · Since 28 Nov 2007 523 Posts Twilight Zone Addicted

Jones Beach Exclamation

It is windy 5 or so days of the week? I was there today. 5 other kites, lighter but solid and steady wind, a mile or so of beach, and a cross onshore wind. Do you need more than that?

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

This is how you do it:

Learn how to read wind at Jones.

Go to SI, if forecast is promising.

Go to Jones or SI until you know how to go upwind enough to return to the same spot you started from. Work on all the other holdups you might have at Jones and SI too.

When you are at this point, Spit is perfect, just body drag enough to be out of the way (three kite line lengths, or about 100ft) off the shore and get on it!

Sorry guys you have negative experience, I met quite a few people who feel the same way, myself included. Don't worry too much about it, just persevere with your attempts at learning this challenging and demanding sport.

Other beginner friendly spots are: Siletz Bay in LC, and the Ponds (Parking lot D in fort Stevens), and Floras Lake,

Other option is to take kiteboarding vacation to SPI.

ON the downside, the season is winding down, and good SI or Jones days are going to be few and far between.

Oh, BTW, peeps who think this kind of info shouldn't be publicly posted are insane.

farnorthstar · Since 16 Jun 2009 20 Posts Portland Â

I really think the coast is a safe place for a beginner. When the wind is 15-20, seaside, manzanita are awesome wide open places. Look for low surf days. There really aren't any obstacles to kill you. Few people. Just wear a major life jacket, full suit, gloves and footies.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

It sounds like you and your son are at the point where you both could put your kayaking skills to work for you. Do some downwinders, with one of you following the other in a kayak. There are lots of places to do this in the Gorge. A sit-on-top kayak is the best way, so that you can switch places easily in deep water, if needed. Put a leash on your paddle and carry a little anchor, so that you can help each other without worrying about the paddle or kayak drifting away.

Make it a little adventure, while you learn the skills in a wide-open-kiter-free environment. The kayaker can retrieve the board so no board leash is needed.

This method has worked for myself and others, and I consider it the poor-mans version of the jet-ski assisted method of learning.

Once you get so you can stay upwind, then start launching at the sand bar, and beat upwind and find an open place in the river to develop your skills.

Do a lot of deep water self-rescue practice. This will increase your confidence in being away from the crowd, and allow you to bring the kite into shore in odd places. Scope out your downwind runs by first kayaking the section, noting areas of hazardous stuff, like Indian fishing nets, seaweed, back eddys, currents, deadheads, etc.

shred_da_gorge · Mon Aug 17, 09 8:16 am

fredf · Since 10 Jan 2009 80 Posts Eugene. Or Â

i just got back from Floras so can report on the current status there. Even though it is well situated for coastal winds and has shallow water in the northern part there are 2 problems: 1) It was so crowded thru the shallow section that one had to be constantly aware of all the kiters and windsurfers sharing the same relatively small space, including some pulling off massive boosts (why there?). 2) if you lose your board it will head for the southern shore, about a mile away, where there are stretches inaccessible by foot or car. The only way to retrieve it will probably be to get somebody with a jet ski to search. That said, the instruction is excellent, the wind about as consistent as anywhere and the water relatively warm.

tonia · Since 15 Jun 2005 209 Posts The Gorge Stoked

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Aug 18, 09 6:48 am

PERHAPS I SHOULD JUST SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

That way you won't have to cry in your cheerios and go through the trouble of posting my PM's to you. "everyone was so cool except monkeyboy, he huwt my fewlings.

Had you simply posted the question..where should a beginner kite in the gorge? in the first place I would have likely answered the question and given you several places that are ideally suited for you. You got your nasty PM because you posted up about how great lyle is and how rad it is for beginners..IN A THREAD TALKING ABOUT THE ACCESS ISSUES AT LYLE!?

If I was a little agro its only because people DON"T FUCKING THINK and it results in great sites being shut down. Had you actually taken the time to find out about the situation at Lyle you would realize that its a touchy subject. What if I went on some kayak forum, got an account and then spouted off about some great put in for beginners that you had to trespass to get to and other kayakers were spending allot of energy to make access there legally?

Lyle was one of my favorite places in the gorge, but its got serious issues, and because of these issues, I made a personal decision not to kite there - not for fear of a ticket or that total beginners can make kiting in the shallows a pain, but because at the end of the day I could not justify being there, even if I had been kiting there for years. No matter how you would spin it, just being there is part of the problem. The woman that was killed at Lyle wasn't watching me kite. Period.

As ANYONE who knows me, I am the first guy to help people in the water if they are in distress or offer riding advice to beginners. Even if I know you and your view of the world couldn't be more different from mine I'm still the guy that will drag your ass to shore when the sun is setting, help retrieve your kite when its stuck on a log in the middle of the river, or sacrifice my session to spend 30 minutes tacking upwind to get your board. 9 times out of 10 I have a smile on my face in the water and on the beach. If I don't, its probably because I'm in pain after trying something stupid in the name of progressing.

The reality of the situation is that even though the gorge is crowded, there are places that are good to learn, and there are many places that have a "system" in place to make sure things go smoothly and safely while at the same time, allowing people to do what they enjoy doing. It takes time to learn the ins and outs of each spot and you do that by asking people that are there what is going on and what to look out for. All you need to do is ask. Don't ask the guy that has two life jackets, a 5/4 wetsuit in july, a helmet, and a board leash for information, ask someone that looks like they know what they are doing. Just about anyone that can really kite would be more than happy to share information with you and your son.

Just don't get poopy pants when you find out that you can't do anything anywhere or take the approach that "I have a right to kite here to" when you find out that there are certain behaviors that are annoying to other kiters.

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

I wont send you a pm. Why do you have to be so negative on your and try to belittle someone behind the net. I hope we can meet sometime because I know the tone wont be so angry. I was just trying to thank someone and your feathers got ruffled. Obviously this is not your first antic as read the following posts after mine about your great attitude. I hope your day is better than your tone behind the computer screen, take care Blake

I had to edit my post because I actually read a little further. We did make a book and I was in it posting here is a great playspot, please come join us so we can grow the sport> there was no selfishness, we wanted our play time at the spot but 95% of the time we were the only ones there because my job does not have me there 8-5. Maybe that is the difference with paddlers and people like you. Not everyone has been as demeaning as you, ; you would certainly not find anyone that I paddle with that acts like this. Why do we show the picture of spirit etc all the time. It is not to hide it ; its to say come give it a shot.

cheers again!

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

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge Â

by the way monkeyboy,
you said what a lot of us were thinking, maybe just not as eloquently.

forrest · Tue Aug 18, 09 3:21 pm

Official CGKA Policy on Lyle: Do not kite at Lyle.

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

What a way to cut discussion short. I know Forrest what you mean, but that doesn't prevent the issue of getting out of hand Lyle is mentioned.

How about something like that: CGKA is committed to improving and expanding access on several Columbia Gorge sites. Concerning Lyle, we identified the issues and are actively working on gaining access to this location. The details are available at site:

Please be advised that crossing the rr tracks is illegal and might result in blah blah... Access to Lyle spit can be gained only by waterway.

Signed,

your CKGA BOD"

K4L · Since 19 Jan 2009 483 Posts Obsessed

FunShui · Since 16 Jul 2006 146 Posts Really, really Stoked

K4L wrote:
If you are going to rant you could at least put forth the effort to get the facts right. As far as I know nobody was recently killed at Lyle watching kiters.

It's tragically true http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-14845.htm

K4L · Since 19 Jan 2009 483 Posts Obsessed

The death refered to was I believe at the WS bridge NOT Lyle

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