KID Cluster at the Spit today! Just a vent.

boarderchick · Since 10 Aug 2007 196 Posts Wherever there's wind:-) Stoked

Oh my word! There were a bunch of kids at the Spit today. A couple had someone teaching them with a trainer kite, and others were wading in the water. So, the wind came up, and all the kiters appeared. There was very little room on the Spit to set-up, and you just needed to get out quickly.

Well, the kids were on the beach piece that was available once you take off from the Spit sand and head out towards the Pylon. So, as we were all trying to get out, the kids were walking in front of us, cutting us off, and then one of them with a trainer kite almost tangled with my 9M kite! I needed to come back in because the wind came up fast, and again, the kids were standing right on the path to get back to the Spit, and trainer kite boy was once again flying right at kiters coming in. After I came in, a female kiter told me that a couple of the boys chased her and were trying to grab onto her. It was just ridiculious.

I'm thinking that if they were with a school, the instructors would have taken them from the beach and moved them, or at least told them not to cross and cut off kiters.

A group of kiters left because they were so frustrated and stated it wasn't worth it.

Then to top it off, there was a couple with their three dogs, they were not kiters and their dogs got tripped up into some kites that were launching. People/Kiters were trying to ask them politely to move and be careful of the lines, they were pretty good most of the time.

It was just a zoo today.

forrest · Wed Jul 02, 08 8:29 pm

Just FYI, Swimming from the Sandbar is banned per Port of Hood River's policies.

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Jul 02, 08 8:48 pm

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Of course, not like the people that would be swimming from there are reading this forum Very Happy

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

forrest · Wed Jul 02, 08 9:07 pm

The whole situation at the Sandbar is messed up.

Schools are teaching where ever they want... You schools need to find a solution to the jetski whoes or we're going to have to work on a solution for you, cause at this point you're treading on the rest of us.

Beginners are teaching other beginners... Is this even legit?

The water is still way to high - leaving no beach to lunch from... I think the Corps are messing with us at this point to turn bigger profits.

Parking is a total nightmare... We all saw this coming.

The only kitemares we've had this year is from idiots flying trainer kites... Damn trainer kites need to stay downwind, even if that means crashing into the Hood River.

The fliers still aren't being handed out by the Port staff... Maybe we need to make little signs in the booth reminding the teenagers to give them out.

You gotta question the legality of the Port trying to turn a profit using public land they're supposed to be controlling for recreation...

OMFG, I'm going to burst. Something is going to give sooner or later...

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

windslayer · Since 30 Apr 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Ive been to the port for another reason in which I thought I was going to get into trouble for and the lovely ladies passed the buck off to the head of the CGKA. A friend of mine who is on the city commision told me that the leader of the CGKA needs to be our voice.......without attitude. He mentioned that our leader came into a meeting full of 'tudd and cocky. I highly agree that we need something done and done now. This hurry up and wait is NOT cool. I did no like being told by the port that we are not strong enough as an association to get things done. We as a whole bring in a huge part of tourism which is money. We need a NOW person in office!!!! No more hurry up and wait!!!

Oh oh oh, and where do I launch from tomarrow?!!!!!!!!!??????

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Fuck the little kids... Throw rocks at them!

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

Its getting crowded. So crowded there its not really worth going at times. I've done more kiting in December and January than I have in the last 3 months.

redbird · Since 02 Jul 2008 25 Posts

not worth going out? you have got to be kidding me, the past 2 days have been some of the best days ive had this year from the spit, maybe i am a bit single minded and dont know how to have much fun unless i am on the water, but ill be damned to let some kid with a trainer kite control my session, or even the start and finish of one. we all know the spit isnt the best place to kiteboard in the world, it sucks! but it is what you make it, dodge some lessons, weave some sailboard masts and get the hell out of there. make a day of it and upwind to viento or something. if you really want to see some traffic, go check out the hatch on a nice windy day. we have it easy. really.

Optimus Prime · Since 23 Jul 2007 49 Posts

i am in agreement with the bird that is red..... stop being a (thing that all guys want) and learn to execute your moves inbetween the people.....that means more people will see your move!!!! I love all the people ...it is the idea of ...the more the merrier.... go to the upwind side of things...leave the access spot find your own water... hey at least were not indigenous people who lost our culture for the benefit of.......?

Jackal · Since 17 Dec 2005 147 Posts WS Stoked

Your bigger kite accelerated into a little trainer kite will always win. might has right over a trainer kite!

boarderchick · Since 10 Aug 2007 196 Posts Wherever there's wind:-) Stoked

Yeah, I hear what redbird and optimus are saying, the weaving around people was not the point. The point was that the one open spot (other than trying to get through the river, which there were a few groups of kids there as well standing right in the way) for all the kiters to get in and out of yesterday was surrounded by kids. These kids were jumping out at the kiters, crossing in front of the kiters, and the trainer was darn near close to tangling with kiters!

Sure, I may have won that with my "mighty kite", but that would be senseless, and it could have taken me down on top of everyone on the beach and I'd have blocked the entryway for everyone else coming and going. There was a lot of that coming and going yesterday with the wind picking up like it did and people rigging lower. Quite a bit of people were very overpowered trying to come back in yesterday. And, yes, we were doing our best to dodge them, but when they are coming to grab you and block you, etc., there's not much you can do.

I completely do my best dodging, getting the heck out of there and then going up to the bridge and Wells. It just was not safe there yesterday with all those kids and then the dogs running through lines when kites were being launched and landed.

Bettyboarder · Thu Jul 03, 08 6:31 am

I think self policing is going to be very important this weekend with all the crowds. I am not saying go around and yell at everyone but if you see someone doing something unsafe go talk to them. There is plenty of room to fly trainer kites at the grass field by the marina. If the water is low and it’s crowded go explain the situation and nicely ask them to take it to the park for everyone’s safety.

Not much sandbar this morning…get ready it’s going to be another crazy day.

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

Blue · Since 03 Jul 2007 469 Posts I used to be Obsessed