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cgka
Since 18 Jul 2006
278 Posts
Obsessed
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 Mon Mar 15, 10 9:44 am CGKA Announcement: Public's Priorty Use of the Sandbar! |
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The CGKA is pleased to announce that the kiteboarding public has won it's beach back. Adam Lapierre has written an article that we feel explains this very complex issue well. The CGKA has been working on this issue for the last 7 months.
Line in the sand: State watching sandbar use
http://www.hoodrivernews.com/News%20stories/2010/march_sandbar.htm
Link to full Oregon property map:
http://www.ormap.com/maps/taxmaps/hood/t03nr10e/03n10e25.pdf
| Quote: |
By ADAM LAPIERRE
News staff writer
The first steady west winds of the year hit Hood River last week and, as if coming out of hibernation, dozens of kiteboarders emerged from the woodwork of winter to dust off their gear, crack their bones and take the first few tacks of a new season.
With the privilege of landing and launching from the Hood River Event Site until April 30, and winds a bit too light for windsurfing, the crew of kiteboarders had the area all to themselves. Sunny skies, open water and an empty playground for anyone with the right gear: For year-round Gorge residents who can’t get enough of their favorite water sport, the early season is one of the nicest times of the year to be on the water.
As temperatures rise, winds become more reliable and thousands flock to the Gorge for its famous lip-chapping natural resource, the scene in the area changes considerably; the days of sharing the water and the beach with just a handful of fellow boardheads are all but over until fruit starts falling from the trees just up the valley.
Change has forever been a fact of nature for the Hood River delta, and after a debris flow in the fall of 2006 added more than 20 acres of new land to what is now generally referred to as the sandbar, public use of it has been as dynamic as the changing landscape itself.
This year, as the windy season approaches, land managers, business owners and user groups are anticipating probably the busiest summers the sandbar has ever seen for the fast-growing sport of kiteboarding.
While that’s good news for the local economy and the progression of the sport in this small town, the heavy concentration of users on the sandbar in the summer months is not without its set of problems and issues.
Recently, rumors have circulated through the Gorge kiteboarding community that there will be big changes on the sandbar this year — specifically, due to public access issues, kite schools will no longer be able to teach lessons on any area of the sandbar that is not Port of Hood River property.
Here are some points for background on the issue:
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The majority of the Hood River Delta is owned by the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL); only the southern part is port property.
The port and DSL have their own separate rules and regulations for the land they own. Therefore, although asked by DSL to manage its portion of the sandbar, the port’s rules, regulations and permits are only relevant for the small area of the sandbar and the rest of the waterfront property that it owns.
Kiteboarding schools permitted by the port to operate on the Hood River sandbar only have a permit to operate on the portion owned by the port. On DSL owned areas of the sandbar, they do not have a lease or permit.
According to state law, no individual, group or business can restrict, hinder or exclude public access and/or use of state lands. It is public land and the public has the highest rights to its use. The law also says that if a business is to be run exclusively from state lands, the business must obtain a DSL lease/permit.
Many users consider the sandbar one of the best places in the Gorge to kiteboard. Beginners enjoy the ability to practice in waist-deep water and the safety of the long stretch of beach they can wash into when they can’t stay upwind.
For more advanced riders, there’s large, rolling swell west of the sandbar, smooth flat water at the mouth of the Hood River and a shallow area in between where they can progress with the relative safety of a near-by beach.
For many of the same reasons, kiteboarding schools in the Gorge have used the same area of the sandbar as their primary, if not sole, area from which to teach lessons. And this is at the core of an issue that has worked its way to the attention of port and, more significantly, DSL directors.
With several schools running lessons in the same zone of the sandbar, and often more than one instructor per school at once, the buffer between business operations and public use has become increasingly smaller with the growing popularity of the area as a kiteboarding destination. In accordance with the laws of the land, when businesses and the public clash on public land, it’s a cause for concern.
“For beginners in particular, the sandbar should be, and is, a great place to learn and progress,” said Forrest Rae, Columbia Gorge Kiteboarding Association board member. “Over the summer, the CGKA received several complaints from its members and from the public.
“Complaints about kite schools ranged from overcrowding and unsafe conditions to verbal bullying. After looking into the issue, it’s clear that the public has rights to the land owned by the state. That means if schools are operating on DSL land in a way that restricts the public, or causes them to feel unwelcome or unsafe, they are potentially breaking the law.”
By state law, kiteboarding schools can not hinder or restrict public access to DSL-owned portions of the sandbar, which encompass the entire northern stretch of beach schools prefer to teach from.
Schools will be allowed to continue operations on the entire sandbar, but DSL, the port and other user groups will likely be watching the issue much more closely than in the past.
“If an entity, in this case kiteboarding schools, uses state property for exclusive use and precludes the public, they must have authorization by the Department of State Lands,” said Steve Purchase, DSL assistant director. “At this time, we are okay with schools operating on port land, and on state-owned land of the sandbar, as long as they don’t exclude the public. It’s pretty much a judgment call as to when we call it excluding.”
Purchase went on to explain that obtaining authorization/permits/leases to operate business on state lands can be a lengthy, expensive and public-intensive process, which would likely be an end to the small kite businesses operating on the sandbar.
“This is one of these areas where we are hoping the public can work together, cooperate with one another and enjoy the natural resource they have,” Purchase said. “We are really hoping we don’t have to step in. Quite frankly, we are trying to avoid that.”
Port of Hood River Executive Director Michael McElwee has a similar view.
“It is true that not much of the sandbar is owned by the port,” he said. “And our concession agreements with schools only apply to port property. We can only allow schools to operate on our property. Anything they do on DSL lands must be done in accordance to DSL rules.
“We know we have good schools with good instructors and safe operating plans. It is a challenging, fluid and dynamic environment; what we need is for everyone to use common sense and work together.”
Working together is pretty much always a win-win, but for some, the burden of accommodation should weigh heaviest on the businesses operating on public land.
“The CGKA’s mission is to obtain, enhance and preserve access for kiteboarding in the Columbia River Gorge,” Rae said. “The consensus we came to is that we have no opinion about who, if anyone, is right or wrong in this situation. We do, however, feel that state laws should be followed; and that means the sandbar is the public’s domain. Businesses that want to operate on the sandbar should work around the public, and should remember that it is privilege, not a right, for them to operate there.”
Kiteboarding schools that operate from port property must submit a request for proposal application to the Port of Hood River every three years. For the 2010 season, the port decided an appropriate number of schools to operate on its property would be five. After receiving eight proposals, the port accepted six and denied two.
Returning to the sandbar this year will be Gorge Kiteboard School, Hood River Waterplay, Kite the Gorge and New Wind Kiteboarding. Cascade Kiteboarding, which operated from Stevenson in previous years, was approved, along with Gorge Gradients — a new school started by a former kite school manager from Big Winds.
The port denied proposals from Brian’s Windsurfing and Kiteboarding and ExotiKite Kiteboarding School, although McElwee said they are working with Brian’s to possibly grant his business a permit.
“We have seen an exciting growth of the sport, and we recognize it is an important part of the local economy,” McElwee said. “I even got out there and took a lesson myself … The hard part, as a committee, was evaluating proposals and deciding what schools to accept.
“From what I understand, three of the schools have proposed running lessons from jet skis. I think they’re recognizing that the sandbar is becoming more crowded and are adapting their operations to accommodate that.
“Again, common sense, courtesy and respect will make for an enjoyable summer season on the sandbar. We believe that there is enough room out the re for everybody.”
The port recently submitted a new Delta Management Plan to the DSL for review. Although the state is not a party of the agreement, it will likely sign its approval of it later this month.
“The original plan was prepared the first summer after the changes to the sandbar in 2006,” McElwee said. “Submitting a new one is a way to have consistent and accepted ways of coordinating the various activities on the delta.”
He went on to explain that the new plan, which will be approved by DSL, the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association and the Columbia Gorge Kiteboarding association, will not mean much in the way of changes for the public.
“The biggest change is that the delta is shifting,” McElwee said. “It is taking a different form, and we needed to update that.”
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| G.L.O. Meander Line is the Port Property Boundary |
sandbar (Medium).JPG |
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[b:13763ca0d3]The CGKA is your advocate for Kiteboarding in the Gorge! [i:13763ca0d3] Join now: [/i:13763ca0d3]GorgeKiter.com/join[/b:13763ca0d3] |
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SalmonSlayer
Since 27 Nov 2005
648 Posts
Addicted
CGKA Member
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 10:12 am |
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"Businesses that want to operate on the sandbar should work around the public, and should remember that it is privilege, not a right, for them to operate there.”
Nice!! 
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 10:14 am |
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| FTW
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Moto
Since 03 Sep 2006
2698 Posts
Still a gojo pimp!
Moto Mouth
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 10:23 am |
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What is up with Brian's windsurfing??? Why doesn't he get a permit??? Did he piss someone off?
And Forrest? Why FTW? Not happy? Can you elaborate on your discontent 
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Still rockin gojos, *ssless chaps, and ankle weights! |
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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2622 Posts
The 503
METAL
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 10:27 am |
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| Moto wrote: | What is up with Brian's windsurfing??? Why doesn't he get a permit??? Did he piss someone off?
And Forrest? Why FTW? Not happy? Can you elaborate on your discontent |
I had to look it up...
Question: What Is 'FTW'? What Does It Mean?
While participating in an online discussion forum about motorcycles, you see this weird expression "FTW". People post phrases like "slipper clutches, ftw!" and "full face helmets, ftw!". You see the same thing in an online gaming forum. The gamer participants are posting phrases like "polymorph, ftw!" and "druid hurricane, ftw!".
Answer: In 2010, the most common meaning of "FTW" is "for the win", an Internet expression of enthusiasiam.
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Moto
Since 03 Sep 2006
2698 Posts
Still a gojo pimp!
Moto Mouth
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 10:32 am |
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OK - I have always known FTW to mean "F*ck the World"
_________________
Still rockin gojos, *ssless chaps, and ankle weights! |
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 10:34 am |
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| Wind Slither wrote: | | an Internet expression of enthusiasiam. |
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Chooch
Since 18 Nov 2007
1871 Posts
Wicked Pissah
Boston Tea Bagger
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 11:18 am |
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So happy to have the kiddie pool back to ourselves. Big thanks go out to all the CGKA board members for their hard work and dedication! 
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pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 12:44 pm |
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| Chooch wrote: | | So happy to have the kiddie pool back to ourselves. Big thanks go out to all the CGKA board members for their hard work and dedication! |
I was hoping that as well but the part of the article that I focused on was this ....
"Schools will be allowed to continue operations on the entire sandbar, but DSL, the port and other user groups will likely be watching the issue much more closely than in the past"
Returning to the sandbar this year will be Gorge Kiteboard School, Hood River Waterplay, Kite the Gorge and New Wind Kiteboarding. Cascade Kiteboarding, which operated from Stevenson in previous years, was approved, along with Gorge Gradients — a new school started by a former kite school manager from Big Winds.
After receiving eight proposals, the port accepted six and denied two."
I may be missing something but it seems that:
A. Schools can still teach there
B. Last year there were a total of four schools
C. This year there will be six (and seven if Brian's gets approved).
Anyways, kudos to those schools that have either always used jet skis or are planning to use jet skis this year. Not only will your students receive more valuable instruction, you are helping alleviate congestion and ultimately avoid the kind of confrontation on the sand bar that gives the schools negative attention. Just my two cents having: been tomohawked more than once on the sand bar; been given the stink eye from instructors; and feeling completely sorry for beginers trying to learn at the sand bar on mid-summer saturday.
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Sella
Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 12:54 pm |
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Great article...well communicated....and good for HR business because the Sandbar will now be more organized.
The Sandbar is so big hopefully the schools will comply and spread out so the north point doesn't become one big congested cluster. Overall, great news for newbies that can get upwind but still want to stay close to the sandbar and practice.
Definitely FTW. Nice job CGKA.
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Sol-flyer
Since 21 Mar 2006
1280 Posts
Dude, where's my Bus?
Otto Mann
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 1:06 pm |
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Coming from an instructor point of view I agree that something needs to be done to manage the congestion on the sandbar. Last summer there was a lot of new traffic coming from the event site, and into the area used most by the schools. I think the schools are only part the problem.
I also think the schools need a designated area for teaching and a jetski onsite should be mandatory. When the crowds got too bad i would take my students to the marina sandbar and even up to wells island. I strongly disagree with instructors teaching in the kiddie pools.
There are a lot of great places to kite in the gorge, once some of those area's have improved launches (like Viento) i think it will help alleviate some of the congestion on the sandbar.
-Big Thanks to the CGKA for working with the community and creating a positive solution.
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I stretch my wings and pull the strings |
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pkh
Since 27 Feb 2005
6549 Posts
Couve / Hood
Honored Founder
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 1:11 pm |
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Thanks CGKA!
If you are stoked about the board of the CGKA working their butts off for the interest of kiters in the Gorge, show your appreciation and become a member or renew your membership for 2010:
http://cgka.net/become-a-member/
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mikeinhoodriver
Since 23 Apr 2009
440 Posts
down wind somewhere
Obsessed
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 1:18 pm |
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| Sella wrote: | Overall, great news for newbies that can get upwind but still want to stay close to the sandbar and practice.
Definitely FTW. Nice job CGKA. |
I agree!!! Glad to be a member now. Score a victory for the "non-educated" newbs!!  No, seriously, hope it will help with congestion. Little intimidating when there are a million kiters.
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LP
Since 05 Apr 2007
115 Posts
HR
Stoked
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 1:36 pm |
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| pkh wrote: | | If you are stoked about the board of the CGKA working their butts off for the interest of kiters in the Gorge, show your appreciation and become a member or renew your membership for 2010 |
Done!
Great work forrest et al.
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Inept_Fun
Since 14 Apr 2005
1417 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 3:01 pm |
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I can see both sides of this since I used to work at a school, overall I do agree that its gonna be a really good thing!! Nice work Forrest.
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I heart dangling |
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 5:40 pm |
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MonkeyBoy, the story here is the fact that the public has right of way, if a school blocks anyone, in any way, they are breaking Oregon state law (two laws in fact). If the schools do this it's going to be VERY bad for them.
On the flip side, it's important that we make room for ground school part of lessons so people can still learn to kite. Ground school is pretty hard to do from a PWC just like rescuing your student from the whirlpool of death is pretty hard to do using only your appendages for propulsion. In order to facilitate this we're working on opening up more access on the water front so there is more room for all the aspects of kiteboarding. Hopefully more positive news on this soon. It's all a balance and we're just glad we can be a part of moving the kiteboarding community forward.
Now would be a great time to sign up to be a CGKA member. See the link above.
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Mon Mar 15, 10 9:23 pm |
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| Moto wrote: | | What is up with Brian's windsurfing??? Why doesn't he get a permit??? Did he piss someone off? |
The process of selecting the kite school vendors was based on paperwork. They had an equation they used for evaluating proposals. Brian's paperwork did not score as high as the others. Frankly, after reviewing a lot of the proposals, I'm not really sure why some of the schools were selected over others. Maybe they just measured the height of the paperwork (Hood River Water Play had the thickest stack, most of it was just nonsense downloaded off the IKO site).
A few things are for sure though:
1) The kite schools HAVE to operate according to their proposals. If a school proposed to operate from a PWC, they can't go teaching from the Sandbar.
2) The concession agreements are not signed off on by the Port yet. So the list of approved vendors could change.
3) The Schools are going to have to strive for a level of professionalism to be competitive. May the best school win.
4) The Schools that are successful will be able to scale their businesses to the size of Real Kiteboarding if they embrace this change. This will be a huge benefit to the entire Columbia River Gorge. Lessons can be taught on any section of river now that the competitive playing field has been leveled. That is, kite school owners that have wanted to teach lessons at a higher level of quality (PWC) don't have low quality schools undercutting their prices simply because they bend the rules to cut cost.
5) That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I need another white russian.
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