Is the Hatchery turning into an angry bee hive?

Josh_In_HR · Since 11 Jul 2012 11 Posts United States

I'm one of the people who posted on the iWindsurf thread. You can read my post on this page - my forum name is jsampiero. I'm about as un-anonymous as it gets on that forum.

http://www.iwindsurf.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24847&start=10

Can't find my old log-in info for NWKite, thus, this is my first post here under this name...

First off - Pepi, what happened to you was unquestionably undeserved. I have no doubt you and your crew were cordial, safe and polite during the course of your downwinder.

I think the outburst you were on the receiving end of came about for a few reasons:

1) First 28+ day at the Hatch in a REALLY long time. The last few weeks have brought plenty of marginal winds for fun kiteboarding, but absolutely NO days provided epic windsurfing over the last few weeks. Everyone was getting pretty antsy.

2) Even if it's not your crew, there's some ample kiter kookdom happening at the Hatch on a fairly regular basis. A few blunders by a kiter in prime territory, and every windsurfer there is put on edge by every kiter that's in the mix.

As I stated in my iWindsurf post, I'm all about shared access. I think kiters should have PERMANENT access to the eastern half of the event site (I'd even say from the bathrooms over.) On low-crowd, light wind days at the Hatch, I encourage windsurfers to welcome competent kiters to ride upwind to the Hatch. (Actually LAUNCHING on the point has it's whole other set of problems; but I think most people who kite the Hatch ride up from other places.) As wind and crowds increase, so does the level of competency required to ride there. (Notice I said "ride" - because I think this applies to both sports.) And yes, I think at rare times the wind and crowds increase to the point where there shouldn't be ANY kiters in the mix at the point.

I'm pretty knowledgeable about both sports. If I see a kiter at the Hatch who appears to be endangering windsurfers, mucking up the rotation, and ruining the vibe, I'll have no trouble politely asking them to leave. Riding strapless on a 30+ day and sending your board careening downwind every time you jump? Don't fucking do it.

Perhaps a useful bit of knowledge for those of you who didn't windsurf before you kited:
Jumping on a windsurfer isn't just pulling the rip cord and getting lofted. That guy you see "just blasting across the water, 50 yards away" could very well be eyeing a ramp for take-off - and there's a good chance he's trying to figure out just what the hell you're doing.

I'm not saying all the actions of the people who sail there were justifiable and reasonable. I agree that most of them probably weren't.

I do agree, however, with the sentiment that there needs to be a clear of understanding of what's right to do and what's wrong to do. Yes, I think this applies to windsurfers who are wantonly aggressive to kiters who don't deserve it. (Now, if you've gotten a little stink-eye, maybe a word or two, and area STILL causing trouble, I'm a little less inclined to go yell at the windsurfer who chases someone down.)

Most of this boils down to a simple rule about life: Don't be a dick.

Pepi · Wed Jul 11, 12 1:51 pm

Thanks for the post Josh.

As I mentioned in the last part of my post, I know there is a lot of love between the two sports (especially you as an excellent ambassador).

I guess I may have been subconciously pondering if the Hatchery was going to become our next water access user issue, with more kiteboarders heading upwind to the hatchery for swell and most windsurfers arriving in town to sail only in the month of July (instead of May through Sept) and not having counted on everyone else thinking that plus the addition of the kiteboarders.

As Dave and Ken mentioned, just have fun on the water and let it slide, this is usually my credo and I will use Ken and Dave's advice to remind myself next time this happens.

Yesterday was hopefully just a weird scenario of weird anger at the Hatch.

I guess the lesson to be taken from this is :

1) If you kite up to the Hatchery, respect the windsurfers that are there, they have to work 3-4 times as hard as you to find a swell and catch air, so give them some space, and if you piss one of them off, remember that they may then vent that rage onto one of your other kiter bretheren.

2) When downwinding through the hatch on a blissful downwinder, don't expect that all the windsurfers are having as easy or fun of a time as you and plan accordingly. Take your wave use it and leave. If they go after you, just turn around them and leave.

Sella · Wed Jul 11, 12 2:01 pm

WINDUDE · Since 10 Jun 2010 558 Posts GORGE! Addicted

so I don't think this issue will ever get worked out, it will always be crowded, and likely more crowded in the future. There will always difficult people to deal with. I windsurf and kite, both are fun. On the iWindsurf thread there were two posts right next to each other that illustrate the two types of people, and it goes both ways for kiting and windsurfing. I agree with person #2

Person # 1 (moron)
I'm not bitter...dude...but just sick and tired of almost getting clobbered every time I sail by some idiot kiter who is out of control or blindly doing some ghey ass wakeboard trick.

The fact is that the two sports are really not compatible in tight quarters like the Hatch. If you don't like getting heckled, then don't kite there because all you are doing is getting in the way an being a dooosh. Pure Fact!!!!!!

Person # 2 (perfectly reasonable and rational human)
I have no problem with most of the kiters at the Hatchery as long as they have the skills to stay in control and the courtesy to leave a little buffer room around themselves. I actually find it easier to windsurf among the kiters than a crowded pack of windsurfers. At least the kiters stay far enough apart that there is usually space to sail between them. I get more scared when facing 3-4 windsurfers heading straight at me trying to figure out who is going where and which gap to sneak through.
When I start to get fed up with the crowds (kites or windsurfers) I'll go upwind or downwind to find more room. You can't expect everyone else to move and leave the best swells for you.

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

Might have to throw my old Kawi JS 750 standup ski in the back of my truck next time I head to HR to kite. Back in the day I loved jumping swell and boat wake on the Columbia on that thing, never ventured that far east though.

I can go huge on my old tricked out hot rod ski, especially when I start doubling and tripling the swell, and I can shred in the roughest conditiongs. I bet I can piss off kiters and sailors all at once and own the hatch. Charge all you want if you dare Razz

Nobody owns nothing when you get out on the river, and dont you forget it Wink

Lurk · Since 04 Apr 2009 355 Posts Obsessed

Well fuckin said

bardrichmond · Since 30 Mar 2007 3 Posts magnolia, Seattle Kook

A few days ago I was kiting near the White Salmon bridge, toeside and reaching, when a woman behind me overtook me and pointed at her eyes, as if I should have been watching her overtake me and stop toeside and turn upwind more.

I was a little upset and went way upwind to stay out of her way. Then, about 15 minutes later, still far upwind of the pack, I was kiting downwind straight down a set of waves when I heard the same woman screaming at me at the top of her lungs. I still can't figure out why...I was downwind of her, far enough away that I couldn't make out a single word. In any case, it definitely ruined the rest of the session since I felt so guilty...did I cut her off twice in a row? And how did she happen to stay so close to me?

I routinely have other kiters aggressively come towards me and try to out "upwind me" ... so I simply turn downwind. In the worst case, I might just sit in the water till they go by. It really doesn't hurt me ... it's not as if I have to be a certain distance upwind by a certain time. It doesn't occur to me to get real angry and scream at them.

And it wasn't a crowded day. There were plenty of waves for everyone.

This is like leaning on the horn in your car... I can understand why driving, which is annoying by definition, can set you off. But out on a beautiful river, doing a super fun sport in amazing 6m conditions?

WINDUDE · Since 10 Jun 2010 558 Posts GORGE! Addicted

penis

K4L · Since 19 Jan 2009 483 Posts Obsessed

Nak · Since 19 May 2005 4297 Posts Camas Site Lackey **CGKA Member**

tonyb · Wed Jul 11, 12 7:13 pm

I've been in a few other places where I get the stink eye from windsurfers as if they own the water past a certain point or imaginary line drawn across the river or bay. Everyone needs to remember that the water ways are open to all and that normal right of way and courtesy applies to everyone. This is supposed to be a fun sport and not a struggle for water supremacy. Get over yourselves and relax. Give way, give respect, get respect.

If I'm doing a down winder from Stevenson to HR I sure as hell am not going to go to the side of the river and portage around the hatch to stay out of the windsurfers way! I will stay out of the prime swell area like Pepi did and move on through but I sure don't deserve any stink eye or attitude for navigating the river on a downwind run.

Tony

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

Had the same thing happen to me a couple of days ago. Having been a windsurfer before as well, I was caught a little off guard. Dude had his ponytail way too tight and must have lost his Jack Johnson CD. I also teach around that area and have had some windsurfers come a little too close for comfort. As someone else said, no one owns the river and just because you were there "first" doesn't give you the right to put other people in danger. I'm sure if some of the Natives wanted to bad enough they could come in there and cover the place with nets. They were there first.

WindLogik · Since 09 Feb 2009 95 Posts Hood River

Reality check bros.

The Hatchery is a windsurf spot. Why not show some respect to the folks up there. I was up there yesterday windsurfing, and there was some a$$hole losing his board every jump right off the point. He'd have to drag around and shag his board - a real shit show. How is that in any way respectful when dozens of windsurfers are coming and going and lining up to hit that tiny region of swell?

Pony-Tail-Pete is solid. He's justified. There's miles of river, why the point? It's like going to church and pissing in the holy water. Get a life. I kite and windsurf, and there's a boundary of respect that is being crossed. The windsurfers up there have to deal with nets. Adding a bunch of kites to the mix is an accident waiting to happen.

K4L · Since 19 Jan 2009 483 Posts Obsessed

ummmm, REALITY is none of you bitchezz own the river regardless of what you ride or how you ride it. Share or go home

D-Krep It Kiter · Since 18 Jul 2011 417 Posts Obsessed

WindLogik · Since 09 Feb 2009 95 Posts Hood River

Unions,

As an intellectually honest kiter, you realize that you require a 40-yard-or-so radius for safety. When a bunch of windsurfers are converging on a spot that is 20-yards-or-so in diameter, you can't share.

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