These are the facts...you decide.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

didnt realize one family member was taking the lesson and the other was trying to get photos. Next time I would recommend taking lessons from a certified instructor who works with one of the reputable schools here in the Hood!

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

Inept...really? Am I missing something? We were the ones with a certified instructor from a HR school. The other guy was not.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

haha sorry. It is in my name...

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Sandbar rules - Break the deal, spin the wheel

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Aug 08, 11 3:46 pm

Link

K4L · Since 19 Jan 2009 483 Posts Obsessed

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

Dunno about placement. I am not an instructor. I wasn't in charge. I was just trying to manage the issue at hand... Does it really matter? Why is someone teaching without being affiliated with a school? Then causes problems? By the way. Got word an hour ago. The camera is spent, done, dead. Don't think my family will be coming back any time soon & spending money in Hood River.

caps · Since 23 Dec 2010 347 Posts Obsessed

Bummer for your family. I'm sure you were trying to show them how awesome your backyard is and things didn't work out. Time to get your big girl pants on and move on. Live somewhere long enough and you eventually will see other sides that were probably always there. The gorge is a special place, but don't put it on too high of a pedestal. Fortunately, it was just the camera that was lost- could have been worse.

forrest · Tue Aug 09, 11 9:26 am

Hey Mel, most people in the Gorge don't care to much about money spent here during the summer. There is plenty of tourism dollars coming in during the summer. The real issues that people care about here are full-time year round jobs with benefits, and tourism during the winter. I guess my point is, statements about not spending money here in the summer are kind of moot. Stating that you're disappointed in the behavior of others usually gets the point across. Smile

If that doesn't work, Shawn Shawn provides an excellent attitude adjustment service, all while keeping a bright smile on his face.

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1489 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

If you had a friend taking flying lessons at the local airport.....
and you went out to the grassy area adjacent to the runway to take pictures of your friend doing his first landing....
and you left your camera lying in the grass.....
and another student lost control of his plane while landing and ran over your camera....
would you confront the student and his instructor and ask for retribution?
or would you say "what was I thinking"?

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge

Let's face it, if you are technically "controlling" the kite, you are liable for what it hits, no matter where you are. Likewise, if you are operating a car, whether a beginner or pro, and you hit someone on the highway you are responsible. Sure it was a stupid place for that person to be, but you were in "control." So it doesn't matter if they are in an area that is primarily kiteboarding or not, own your actions.

K4L · Since 19 Jan 2009 483 Posts Obsessed

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

I don't see how people can see the other side(an airport in private property). If on public property you lose control of somthing that you are useing and destroy someones property you are lieable. If you purposly use something to scare someone and destroy their property you are lieable and could be charged with a crime. even though everyone wants the sandbar to be a kite only space it is still public property. It is more like if some is sitting in the dog section of a park without a dog that does not mean your dog can attack them or chew up their property.

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

My last post on this subject:

Maybe I'm just nieve. My intention is to discuss the incident as a learning opportunity to evaluate, then establish conduct. This is a young sport & the rules/regs are developing. I just thought I could help in that process someway. Even if it is putting myself out there for criticism of any flavor. I also want to learn. I can be a gaper of enormous magnatude at times & I'm really trying to minimize that. The more I know, the more I realize what I don't know..ya know?

The intent is that this could happen to anyone & how do we prevent it when all parties have been informed? Some have experience? Some are instructors? I think there is a serious case of ignorance of what really happens out there for the public or just simply...self importance of the one with a kite in hand. There needs to be better communication, information and education amongst our wind tribe.

I harbor no bad feelings towards anyone including "the chopper". I am fond of him and am surprised by what happened. I'm a lover, not a hater.

On a positive note... amazing week of kiting! Woo Hoo! Looks like the forcast is great too!

NCKite_Ryder · Since 16 Mar 2011 38 Posts Nor Cal Coast

The event site is a madhouse. I was watching an old guy last Friday. He was riding a directional and kept coming in real close to the inside towards the windsurf launch, attempting to "show off" (although he was a border line kook imo), giving kids high fives as he kited past, boosting off his strapless surfboard (10 feet from the winsurf launch) just to boost with no board. Anyways I was drinking a really nice homebrew and this fool was an ENTERTAINING moron. He then decided he was going to go up the hood river and down into the 4-8" deep butter stuff behind the sandbar. My friend and I had our fingers crossed, then BAM......... Faceplant.... HARD into the rocky sandbar. As he stumbled to get up and limped back to his board he realized he had busted a finbox (looked like a brand new board). He walked back to the grass and was still boasting about his gnarly fall when a young local approached him and basically told him wasssup.... (which he deserved).

KARMA..... should of seen the faceplant.. Fucking Priceless!

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

i love kiters!

WINDUDE · Since 10 Jun 2010 558 Posts GORGE! Addicted

kiteboarding makes me laugh