The Big One! - Cable Park Public Meeting - Sept 12, 5PM

Trent · Since 10 May 2012 76 Posts Hood River

The Port has posted an updated document here:

http://portofhoodriver.com/waterfront/CP/Nichols%20User%20Log%209-10-12.pdf

Notice the disclaimer at the top if this doc. While the Port's efforts to gain their own insight into the actual usage down there should be applauded, this "survey" is in now way conclusive and even accurate (as admitted by the Port). My guess is that they asked the EventSite booth attendant to walk out and take a glance at the basin every 2 hours. Again, that's not a real survey.

I am part of a Triathlon group that swims in the basin every Tuesday afternoon at 6pm. We have anywhere from 10-25 swimmers each and every Tuesday at 6pm. Not one of those swimmers are accounted for in the survey results.

I'm just sayin', this document shouldn't be cited as any sort of gospel whatsoever.

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 306 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

I think the user log is best when you get past the first page and look at the specific user data. In FOUR WEEKS there was a total of:

1 fisherman
1 skull
1 raft
7 windsurfers

Anyone who claims the basin is widely used for fishing, rowing, rafting, or windsurfing is GROSSLY misrepresenting the facts.

There were infact a large number of SUP users and kayaks, but I think this data is misrepresented as the "Friends" have been bolstering use for fear of losing this area.

There are a dozen other places in the gorge that are better, cleaner, nicer, more "wilderness" and not next to a hwy to do any of the things the "friends" claim to do. Will anyone really want to use the basin for SUP and kayak when it is surrounded by a hotel/ development? Of course not.

The development is going to happen regardless of the cable park or not. Once this happens, folks are going to find a nicer, less populated place to go play with their water toys. Support Hood River moving forward. I'll be there tonight in blue.

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Any update on how it went?

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

Anyone questioning whether or not big winds was for or against the cable it is now clear. Steve gates spoke out against the cable park last night at the meeting. I would encourage anyone who comes to hood river to never even bother going there as they over priced. I find it funny actually because I can guarantee u if big winds sold boots or wakeboard s in. their shop I'm sure they would be all for it.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1866 Posts XTreme Poster

I am not looking to get into this with anyone. However, I feel both personally and professionally obligated to say the following:

Steve Gates has contributed more to the wind interested youth of Hood River than anyone else in the community--by far. Since 1994 Steve has DONATED the use of rental gear for the entire 8th grade class at WyEast over a two day period. He has also DONATED instructors for the kids. Steve pays the instructors, eats the loss of the rentals, and gets over 150 kids out on the water each year.

At Hood River Middle School, Steve has donated all windsurfingl gear, instructors, wetsuits, pfd's helmets, booties etc since 2000. Recently, he added the use of SUP's. Again, Steve PAYS for all of this. Cost to schools and kids? ZERO! As a conservative estimate, I think Steve has paid for over $15,000 of services.

Steve cares VERY MUCH about Hood River youth. Moreover, he doesn't just talk about caring, he pays for it out of his own pocket.

I have a great deal of respect for Steve, and am so greatful for his commitment and generosity to the kids of Hood River County.

Eric Cohn
Teacher
Hood River, OR

Trent · Since 10 May 2012 76 Posts Hood River

Ian, you are acting like an idiot, AGAIN. You apparently have no idea what it means to be in a community. Encouraging others to boycott a local business just because they don't agree with you on something is just plain childish. By your logic the opposition should be crying for boycotts against 2nd Wind, SlingShot, DaKine, etc...? That's not happening, is it? It's not happening because communities don't do that.

It's time for you to grow up and stop acting like a little biotch.

wakeup · Since 11 Sep 2005 328 Posts always Obsessed

I understand Big Winds not supporting the cable. They don't and probably won't sell wake gear. I generally shop elsewhere if I need something before going to BW as a last resort.
It was a bit amusing when Steve said that windsurfing is a thriving, viable sport. Not knocking the sport but we all see the numbers dwindling every year.

One very obvious thing last night was the demographics represented
just guesstimating

OPPOSITION
under 30 years - 5%
30-50 Years - 40%
over 50Years - 55%

PRO CABLE
under 20 Years - 15%
20- 35 years - 55%
35 - 50 years - 20%
over 50 years - 10%

Pretty classic scenario with the old not wanting change and the youth ready change with the times.

I wish I could have known more about what the opposition was going to be discussing

Their primary focus was a private entity leasing public lands(use of the basin) and excluding certain user groups.
After discussing it later with some friends, we figured that over half of the people in that room in opposition will be complaining about the cable park while sitting on the ski lifts at MHM or T-line this winter, skiing or snowboarding on public land that has been leased to a private entity that excludes certain user groups.

other arguments against

1)that the basin is the hood river and is not man made

this is a matter of opinion that will be determined by the port, ACOE, or lawyers, BUT the Bonneville Dam is what created the basin and last I checked it was man made, AND the road that directs the mouth of the HOOD to the east and was constructed to allow barge traffic into the basin, is also man made. If the road was not present, there would be no water to paddle in because the whole area would be a very sandy rocky shallow delta just like the sand bar.

2)it is an amusement park ride

When was the last time you saw roller coaster riding in the Olympics? The IOC has listed cable wakeboarding as an exhibition sport for the 2020 Olympics. This will become a training ground for the kids around here, and who knows, Hood River could produce another Olympian.

One guy even went as far as offering to match the proposed lease offer for five years to keep the basin the same as it is now.

If we would have built this cable ten years ago like we have all talked about we wouldn't be doing this. It is only in the past 3 years with the on set of SUP that the basin is even getting used even the little bit that it is. Before that it was pretty much empty.

kenja · Since 19 Jun 2008 179 Posts Stoked

I concur with Eric. Steve Gates is a stand up guy and a real asset to our community. He's done more for river access and to grow water sports in the area than just about anyone I know. Boycotting his store because he's willing to express a differing opinion on this issue is short sighted and just plain stupid. I cringe every time I see those kind of idiotic, shoot-from-the-hip posts since they only hurt our cause.

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

Huh? I thought it was more short sighted to boycott something simply because they don't sell the gear... Anyone with half a brain can see that big winds would easily capitalize of something like this. My main problem with the opposition is that many of them have done absolutely zero research on what the cable would actually mean to hood river before going out and bashing it...

If keeping it real is childish I'll be a kid my whole life. Sorry some of you feel differently but I don't wan't to support a shop that is going out of its way to stop the cable when all the other shops that I know of in town are for it. Its not a big deal really, not like I went to big winds for anything anyways.

Trent · Since 10 May 2012 76 Posts Hood River

Yeah. You keep on keepin' it real, Ian. It's doing wonders for your cause.

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

I don't know what my cause is considering I'm just somebody who lives in hood river but have fun shopping at big winds! You must really like it there since you're going to thus extent to stick up for them... Laughing

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

i'm starting to think Inept_Fun is actually working with the opposition. a secret agent who has infiltrated the ranks of the pro-cable-park crowd.

Link

Weaz · Since 23 May 2012 360 Posts Beaverton Obsessed

Definition of INEPT

1: lacking in fitness or aptitude : unfit <inept at sports>
2: lacking sense or reason : foolish
3: not suitable to the time, place, or occasion : inappropriate often to an absurd degree <an inept metaphor>
4: generally incompetent : bungling <inept leadership>

kinda fitting for him i think Twisted Evil

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

At least someone is finally catching on

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Instead of bickering on the forum about Ian's opinion and each other's feelings why not channel that energy into making this cable park happen. I heard the turn out could've been a bit better.

This fear of change reminds me of the music industry being afraid of MP3s and downloadable music. They fought it and fought it instead of being the first to the punch, and then Apple came out with iTunes and made a shitload of money.

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted