Etiquette at the White Salmon bridge?

skent · Since 08 Aug 2011 170 Posts North Bend, WA & Lyle, WA Stoked

So what is the etiquette for kiting at the White Salmon Bridge? I have just started kiting up there and can handle myself in the waves just fine but I don't want to be that douchebag who cuts people off. If you're going to ride the swell do most people line up above the green buoy? What if I just want to use the swell for a nice ramp for jumping can I jump in anywhere as long as I am not messing up anyone wave riding?

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1490 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

There's no etiquette except Mad max style: Two men enter, one man leaves!

There used to be etiquette when there was swell. People started at the top rode down the swells and then did a long reach back to Oregon to do it all over again.

Just like real wave surfing.....people now get greedy and stay on the swell without moving. They cut in line and destroy the rotation. We also have visitors who are clueless, they kite at the bridge because other people kite there. Lemmings......

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

sorry if it looks like I am hijacking this thread...

I reluctantly offer this advice. It may be best to never speak of this again, but in an attempt to keep this POTENTIAL kite launching site open for at least a short while, before it is shut down by WDOT, or a horrible accident occurring on that stretch of Hwy 14... please use BACK-IN PARKING ONLY!

I see nothing but tragedy in the future, unless extreme caution and vigilance is used at this unauthorized and dangerous location. As the sandbar emerges, you will know what I am getting at.

Follow the successful example of past action by the fishermen, and hope for the best... the fishermen established a tradition of PARKING CLOSE to each other and BACKING IN.

Arrange your gear so that you can get it out of the rear SIDE door, because the rear hatch door will likely be inaccessible. Bumping the car parked CLOSE next to you will be a problem, so be careful... that will be part of the price to pay for access.

Backing in to the spot allows you to have good visibility when pulling out into the FAST MOVING traffic. I suggest approaching the parking situation, much like a pilot approaches a landing... wait along the shoulder of the road, until the traffic clears and gives you a good opportunity to slowly and carefully BACK into the easement along the railroad tracks. It worked for the fishermen, and it can work for kiters.

That is all.

Now back to the subject of "swell riding courtesy".

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

The swell reappears under some conditions (30mph and 34,000cfs with the pool at 75 feet above sea level)
As the river drops it may reappear 200 yards further up wind.

The established etiquette is to allow the rider to slip through the crowd by maintaining course until the rider has passed. The downwind kiter is the stand on vessel and has an obligation to hold course and speed. If he does not change course or jibe the wave rider can adjust course and get through no problem. The difficulty occurs when the kiters going back and forth cut the swell rider off by turning or drop off the swell that they are riding and alter course in front of him.

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

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Sorry, you took it as a rant. It may be best that this sort of information is spread from kiter to kiter, in the same way, information about that other sketchy launch/parking place out near Dougs Beach is handled.

It may be unfortunate, but probably a separate thread about the place will pop up soon. I am trying to avoid that kind of "spot-lighting".

As far as riding the waves goes, I got noth'in ... I just try to keep out of everyone's way.