Stevenson pics

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

In addition to the numerous sketchy launches, out of control looping kites, slippery painful rocks and attempted self rescues, Stevenson had shitty weather too:

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

Spike,
You forgot to tell the rest of the story?
Some thing about letting the Dangler drive you car?
Dude that was funny SHit!

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Kiteguy · Since 26 Aug 2007 75 Posts

That dudes got some messed calf muscles.

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

Steve-o was fun today, my first time out here. The launch was CLOWNING people today, is that par for the course or can we blame it on that damn boat?

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

Okay Spike tell me how i could have improved my self rescue to get the double quotes removed?? I screwed up a jump landing or something and my kite rolled through the bridle a couple of times and wouldn't relaunch. I clipped my board to my chicken loop and swam up one of the back lines to try and sort things out but no go. Swam back to the bar clipped my board to my harness, waited until the current took me upwind of the launch, swam back up one of the lines to the kite lay on the kite and grabbed the bridle to the other tip and sailed back to the launch. It was nice someone (terremoto?) came down on the rocks and grabbed the kite (thanks !!) while i rolled up the lines but apart from that i don't know what else you suggest i change? Got myself, kite, board, bar and lines all back to the launch without any swimming or near barge experiences, didn't need help from anyone else and entertained the peanut gallery - I won't complain if every breakdown goes as smoothly but am curious if you saw a way i could have done things better ???

If you are at Stevenson and no one is up on the launch how do you self land? I just blast into the beach upwind of the boat ramp with my kite fairly low and drop it in the wind shadow either on or right by the beach - works okay no swimming but then i have to do the walk of shame back up to my car - trying to self land up on top where we launch seems a bit sketchy - what do others do?

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

Pauls, everytime I've needed to self land I just slogged into the boat docks and killed my kite.
You can land the kite downwind of yourself more in that windshadow and avoid the docks.
Then its up to you how to get the kite off the water without getting a birds nest too.
The other option is to go up to bob's beach and bonk George on the head with your kite Laughing

Self landing can be especially dangerous at Stevenson.
My dad got dragged across the rocks a few weeks ago trying to.
He hurt his hand and hip pretty bad, but was lucky not to break anything or hit his head.
As you know, the wind is super fluky on the hill behind the tree, so you think you landed successfully and then a gust comes and sweeps you and your kite away.
If you do self land there, disconnect from the kite as quickly as possible to avoid teabaggage.

by the way, the last time I had to "self rescue" there, I almost got stuck on the big black thing.
(It can really get in the way when you have a down kite and are trying to relaunch/self rescue/swim in to the dock area.
If you have to go around it, you're in the graveyard.)
Once I got to my kite, the current was strong enough to just float back to the launch.
There was nobody else out so it was ok to do so.

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

Sella · Sun Jun 15, 08 10:05 pm

Pauls.....I didn't see it but self rescue tip flying with no swimming back to the launch and all your gear intact...sounds pretty darn good to me.

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

The "self" rescue was stated as such because at Stevenson many times people have others help them in (board gets taken back etc) You did a nice job, though were all a bit curious what you were doing walking up and down your lines multiple times. You weren't the only self rescue on Saturday by the way. There was a kite on the loose today even.

On another note, the launch at Stevenson is really starting to piss me off. I know the wind is fluky right behind that damn tree, but if you are helping somebody launch LAUNCH IT WHEN IT HAS LOTS OF POWER! I've had multiple rips in my kite because of a bad/careless launch at Stevenson. When I launch others I always wait until the kite is nearly pushing me over before I let it go. This gives the guy on the beach the power to get it up into clear air fast (before the dreaded lull and following power-up into the rocks). If you launch it at the edge of the window, the kite has no speed to accelerate upwards, and you have to hope that you have at least 3 seconds of clean air (which is rarely the case). I've always waited for the kite to have a lot of power and have never had another person's kite crash on the rocks.

So here's the Stevenson launch procedure (at least if you're launching my kite):

1. Wait till the dude on the beach is ready for a launch.
2. Walk downwind until you are in a position where a gust of good wind will cause the kite to really fight you (takes at most maybe 30 seconds to find the right spot).
3. Release the kite as soon as the next clean gust comes through.
4. DON'T WALK AWAY! Stay with the kite in case it does still lull back or not accelerate upwards.
5. Grab it before it goes down on the rocks.

I don't want to be rude but I really am serious about this. I'm sick of driving to airtime after kiting at Stevenson.

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

Here are some more from today (no Rico quality but it will have to do):

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

kraemer got the rasta nemi... sweet.

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

lawnmower · Since 14 Dec 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Stevenson self landing issues. I've seen guys drop kites on the grass there with nobody grabbing like it was no big deal. I was out late with nobody to catch so I dumped my kite very deep. I walked up to the grass and was taking off my loop when a gust powered up the kite. I got dragged through the rocks - fortunately missing all the big ones. Could have been very bad. It was gusty that night, but even in lite winds I'll put it in the water as swim to the boat ramp from now on.

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

Yikes dude, swimming sounds like a much more pleasant experience. Before kiting people actually swam for fun! can you beleive it?

It's fun when tourists come by the stevenson launch. A large group of bicyclists came by and watched for a bit. This girl looks at the pile of kites and says "are those all kites!? Shocked

" Then whenever you boost infront of them, you hear "Whoa!" and "Ooooo" from shore. Its like sound effects while throwing your trick, pretty entertaining.