DO NOT LAUNCH AT THE EVENT SITE!!!!!!

bandito · Since 07 May 2005 178 Posts Photographer

The newly acquired access to the spit from the Event Site has been a great blessing, but a few of us are launching and landing kites on Event Site Property. This is not allowed and is going to get the place shut down in a hurry. Let's try to self police this and keep the area open for all to enjoy. If we work together and enforce the no launching or landing rule we get a grassy area to hang out at and watch all of our buddies kite, a short walk to the spit, restrooms, a nice parking lot and no driving down a dusty bumpy road. Now let's not ruin it by launching and landing kites off the grass. Just walk the extra hundred feet and launch off the sand and we may be in for a great summer of hanging out together at the future hood river kite park!
Bandito

PoleVaulter · Since 18 Mar 2007 7 Posts Gorge Kook

I saw it happen, there were 3 kiters who launched at the event site today, they were the first 3 folks on the water. These guys should cut it out. That windsurfer who was taking pics looked real pissed. Look out SherryB he probably already emailed them to you.

Everybody else at the event site was cool and walked to the bar. Even the guys who launched from the grass landed on the bar.

How about that grass and asphalt, beats the hell out of dirt and rocks... now we know how the other half lives. Lets keep it going.

Portland Pete · Since 08 Mar 2005 145 Posts HR Stoked

Agreed

Any suggestions for Self-Policing guidelines ?

only pump/deflate kites on grass ?

lines strungout on grass might be a little too tempting for launch

other opinions ?

Pete

PoleVaulter · Since 18 Mar 2007 7 Posts Gorge Kook

i would say...

pumping on grass = cool
lines on grass = bad

no reason for it anyway because you'd still need to wind them up and theres plenty of room on the bar.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

Yeah don't launch there... its not far to the sand anyway, and its safer for you and your gear.

I'm guessing by mid summer parking will run out at the event site, that's going to be a real stress point as well.

endoshred · Since 22 May 2006 232 Posts HR Stoked

having kited there today (launched from the sand), it makes sense to wade out and rig on the sand. i could see why it could be nice to blow up or deflate kites on nice clean grass, but stringing lines on grass is not needed. this could for sure imply a launch from the grass. no need to escalate tensions. just wade out, string the lines on the sand and launch.

of course as soon as the water levels rise, the current waist deep wading will turn into an interesting swim for those daring enough to try. seems that in that situation we will return to making the usual long walk from the sandspit parking lot. im sure the windsurfers will now not only be praying for high wind but for high water. high water will probably be the major obsticle preventing kiters access to the spit through the event site lot.

hmmmm.... could be a money making opportunity running the new event site to sandspit ferry service. now who has those wave runners?

Pepi · Sun Mar 18, 07 10:55 pm

Endo your comments are spot on for keeping the safety and happiness at the Event Site.

Jim Grady was originally responsible for posting a note to the NW Kite forum, but apparently did not have the chance to post any details after our last meeting, so I'll try to fill you guys in on the current situation with the CGKA, CGWA and the Port of Hood River.

After the most recent Port of Hood River community meeting to discuss the new Delta issue, I spoke with Cory Roeseler, Kirsten Andrews, Jim Grady(all 3 are CGKA representatives) and some key representatives from the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association about our forming an alliance to work together in creating some standards for safety requirements between kiters and windsurfers as well as establishing segregated launch and landing zones for windsurfers and kiters at the Event Site and Sandbar.

We felt that we had a good core representation from the kite contingent in having Cory, Kirsten and Jim as the kite representatives to speak for the needs of the kite community (both recreational and schools). For the windsurf representation, we have Katie Crafts (Exec Dir of CGWA) and 2 key board of director representatives from the CGWA (including myself).

At this moment, the committee is working to put together a solid list of safety recommendations/rules to have posted on signage at both the Sandbar and Event Site, as well as an aerial photo/map of the Sandbar/Event Site with designated kiteing and windsurfing launch zones.
The Port of Hood River has expressed a solid amount of support for our pursuing this course of action.

Endoshred and Sheri are both correct in that we really need to keep things running smoothly around here by following all the currently established rules.
This does not mean that Kiters cannot access the Sandbar via the Event Site, there are no issues there.
What we really need to see is those kiters accessing via the Event Site to not be pumping up their kites, setting lines, or launching off the Event Site. This is a definitely not tolerated by either the Port of hood River or the greater Hood River Community (Don't worry about the Windsurfers, the greater community is who you definitely don't want to piss off).

Stay posted, and we'll keep the info coming back to you guys.

Jim if you are out there, please feel free to add any comments from the CGKA that I may have not covered.

Thanks
Pepi

Nak · Sun Mar 18, 07 11:05 pm

Pepi,

I understand the need for leaving line rigging and launching off of the event site. Is pumping up and deflating kites on the grass really unobtainable? There should be no safety concerns as long as lines remain wrapped on the bar. This would be a great help to a lot of kiters... If there's space on the grass, what would be the harm? Is there any chance the port might allow something like this? Perhaps limit it during peak periods... (Summer weekends, 9 to 6?) Maybe even limit Kite inflation/deflation to a specific area of the grass?

Just a few thoughts.
Nak

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Pepi · Mon Mar 19, 07 8:03 am

Kitezilla is correct.

The Event Site also is already so over crowded with windsurfers, that it is very hard to even set down your windsurf rig without getting a panel ripped out by a fin from an upside down windsurf board.

Kids, dogs and overcrowding at the Event Site are primary reasons for why it needs to stay as only a windsurfing site and the Sandbar stays as only a kiteboarding site.

The launch and safety zones will help to protect and preserve launch access for not only windsurfer, but kiters as well.

Think about this - Since the windsurfers outnumber the kiters, probably around 25-to-1 across the Gorge, the Event Site likely averages dou ble this number(accounting for families with kids and friends). When all these Event Site sailors hit the beach this summer with that nice new, large sandy beach just off the Event Site, where do you think most of those sailors, kids, dogs and friends will all end up at? The Sandbar.

Did I even remember to mention all the tourists that come down to sit on the beach, or the 200,000 kids that come through in June/July to park down on Port Property for the Thomas the Train event held each year?

The Windsurfers will pile up on the Sandbar like lemmings, since many of the East Event Site sailors usually cannot sail upwind.
Kids will be loving the shallow wading water.
Dogs will be cut loose to poop and run losse far away from all the crowds and rigged sails at the Event Site (plus their being somewhat of a leash law there).

So, my point being, that we need to get some safety rules and requirements in place, as well as some very well established and visible launch and landing safety zones set up to protect and preserve both the kiteboard launch area and windsurf launch area.

Once we get into the hot summer season, I think that there will be more than a few kiters frustrated this summer with the pile up of windsurfers ending up on their nice, large, and formerly secluded Sandbar.

Rules are good for everyone involved. Sometimes they suck, but unfortunately most times they are necessary.
When 2-3 people choose to break these rules, they ruin it for the 30-40 others that have been cordially abiding by those rules that we all agreed upon to ensure our continued access.

The dialogue on this subject has been good and important for us all to keep public so as to keep the information as open and widely shared as possible.

Hopefully Jim or one of the CGKA reps will chime in on this dialogue.

Thanks
Pepi

Portland Pete · Since 08 Mar 2005 145 Posts HR Stoked

- Kitezilla

Good point about bridles

-Pepi

Thanks for all your much appreciated insight to the larger picture at hand

Distance and separation from un-informed public is a good idea

The grass for spectating is a huge improvement for kiter families

Let's keep it safe

Pete

EdG · Since 19 Dec 2005 424 Posts Just a Kook that's Obsessed

boredbrain · Since 16 Feb 2006 352 Posts Hood River Obsessed

Let's look back on why kites were banned from the event site.

Because of very dangerous events taking place and disrespect of others.

Kites are ALWAYS going to be considered dangerous.

Now I see a lot of LAZY people who are afraid of a little sand. It was bad enough to see people pumping kites and then layout lines, and then to LAND one, never saw anyone launch.

I'm a convert, but I was windsurfing around here since early 80's when I used to sleep in my van by the river.

As soon as Kites have been around for 25+ years and actually provide an INCREASE in revenue over and above what the tourist are doing now, you may get a little symphathy and a plot of lawn to rig on.

Before windsurfing, the community was extremly poor, and the new buisnesses where accepted with a grain of salt, they paved the way and still have exclusive right to the event site. The site was built for them, not us.

It will be up to the windsurfing community as to share the lawn or not.

So follow the rules, or expect some one to tell you them.

Only use the "DELTA".

my 2 cents

BK

PoleVaulter · Since 18 Mar 2007 7 Posts Gorge Kook

The sandbar on a crowded July day is a kookfest, I would be scared to death if I saw signs of that kookfest setting up shop right in front of my grassy eden.

But hey, that's what's going to happen.

Pumping on the grass or not, is not going to be the biggest problem for the windsurfers... but it is one of the few things that could be legally regulated. They have no say over what we do in the water or the sand. You could hang out 10 feet offshore with your kite straight up in the air no problem. Are they going to start changing marine laws too? probably not.

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

In The water is going to be the biggest problem. There used to be a crowded line of kiteers rideing right above the sand bar and then a 100 yards up a crowded line of windsurfers right above the event sight. now they will be in the same spot.

Teague · Since 10 Jul 2005 114 Posts Really Windy Places Stoked

Keep um separated...Keep the peace! Same rules should apply as always. I don't see any reason to change access points other than the nicer bathrooms anyways. Idealy if we tread lightly and remain cooporative we may someday be blessed with a nicer parking area and facilities. If we don't and we start intruding west then they may just shut the whole thing down.

I still dream about a foot-bridge to Wells Is. and a little debris clearing. Wink

nicer wind there too...yum. Very Happy

All-n-All just get to the sand, rig and launch quick with your buddies, up-wind west out of the BeeHive via the Washington side, ride up there till your done, come back down-wind to the sand via the Washington side, cross into Sandbar, land, de-rig and go drink beer. That has been the majority of my Sandbar sessions and tend to be the best ones.

forrest · Mon Mar 19, 07 3:08 pm

We kiteboarders will always be the snowboarder punks. Like it, or leave it. Lets just continue to turn the other cheek so we can at least ride in Hood River.

Our revenge will be the smiles on our faces as we pass yet another unhappy windsurfer in the gorge.