THE 2008 CGKA BLOWOUT!

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

The 2008 Blowout is scheduled for Saturday August 2nd with an alternate (no wind) date of Saturday August 16th. The 17 mile down wind kiteboarding race/fun run will start in Stevenson, WA. and end in Hood River, OR.
• Race is only open to experienced kiteboarders who have been riding for 3+ years (minimum race requirements)
• All racers must be proficient at self rescue
• All equipment must be in safe, working order

There is limited space available for this event. So don’t delay…sign up today!
Online at www.active.com 2008 CGKA Blowout
Sign up/ registration fee is as follows:
$35 with current CGKA membership
$45 without CGKA membership.
This will be an honor system sign up. But be prepared to pay your $10 CGKA membership fee when you pick up your jersey if you are not a current member.

Sign up online at www.active.com 2008 CGKA Blowout
There are two very important documents that you need to print out read and sign. Please bring both of the signed documents with you when sign in and collect your jersey at the Stevenson East Point Launch.

Skippers meeting will be at 11 AM at the Stevenson East Point Launch. Each Blowout participant must attend this meeting. Instructions for where and when to rig up will be given out at this meeting. In order to minimize confusion and get all of the race participants on the water at the correct time it is important that everyone be on time for this meeting.

We are hoping for a first start opportunity between noon and 1:00 p.m., depending on wind conditions and pre-race launch organization.

In an effort to get everybody on the water we have organized the event into two different divisions; a competitor division, and a sportsmen riders division.
The start - competitor division will start first – followed by the sportsmen riders 30mins later.
The start will be a rabbit style start. Racers must cross the wake behind the committee boat. The committee boat will be upwind next to the Oregon shore line during the 10 minute start countdown and then at the start, will motor Northeast away from the Oregon shore line opening up the starting line between the Oregon shore line and the boat. Racers must cross astern of the committee boat!!!
- 5 minute warning – 5 red flags
- 3 minute warning – 3 red flags
- 2 minute warning – 2 red flags
- 1minute warning – 1 red flag
- 30 seconds – 3 short airhorn blasts, 1 red flag remains up
- 20 seconds – 2 short airhorn blasts, 1 red flag remains up
- Final 10 second countdown – 1 short airhorn blast each second, 1 red flag remains up
- Start – committee boat opens the starting line gap by motoring northeast , 1 red flag comes down and one prolonged airhorn blast sounds.
20 to 30 minutes later the recreational riders will go through the same sequence.
The finish line will be marked by two flag poles located on the east end of the sandbar in Hood River, OR. All riders will cross the finish line, land your kite and then, check in with beach safety officer. This is very important as all competitors who start the race must be accounted for.
If you do not wish to participate in the race/fun run but want to be part of the event please PM me. I need support staff /help with registration check in, jet ski support, and Bar-B-Que action.

We also need to stage some cars in Hood River before the race so that we can shuttle participants back to Stevenson after the event. Please PM me to sign up for a car pool / shuttle slot.

If you do not quite have the skills/abilities for this event, Carlos, from Kite The Gorge has offered to conduct a Kite Tuning Clinic and a Self Rescue Clinic. The clinics will held at the Spit in Hood River at 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM. This is a no cost event to anyone who wishes to gain more skill and knowledge as a kiteboarder.

There will be an after race social event / Bar-B-Que at the spit for sponsors, participants, family members and volunteers. We will post all participants’ finish times on a board for viewing.

Thank you for your support.

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

3+ years experience? Is this different from last year?
this is my second year kiteboarding, but I finished the blowout successfully last year. Does that mean I will be unable to participate this year?

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

It might be a good idea to have some lead boats with some flags or flashing lights to proceed the mass of kiters shooting straight down the river...to alert other river users to the situation. I almost tangled lines with the leader last year around Wells Island, when Sky S. came skippiing from wave crest to wave crest unannounced right behind me. Fortunately, he screamed at the last second and I aborted the turn I was making.

It turned out to be just a funny incident, to me, but other river users might not feel the same way. To other river users, the "Blow-out" is kind of a rude "Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war" event. Even for other river users who have gotten used to kiters on the river, the "Blow-out" presents an abnormal and somewhat unpredictable procession of kiters. We kiters think the whole thing is cool, and the other river users might feel the same way if they are given some prior warning of the impending chaos which is about to descend around them.

I would suggest getting some boats to clear a path from the tunnel to the Spit, at least.

forrest · Mon Jul 07, 08 7:32 am

Hey Spike, if you finished it last year, that's qualification enough.

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

if needed, i'll sacrifice the kite trip and ride someone's jet ski for support.

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

Please send me a PM if you would like to volunteer
I got you on the list tinyE and will PM you later.

This event cannot and will not happen without the support of our kite community.
I need Jet Ski support, registration staff, Launch captains, finish line time keepers, and Bar-B-Que help.

If any family members are note kiting during this event, I could sure use them.

Mark · Tue Jul 08, 08 7:02 am

Signed up!

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

Nice job Jeff! This is a great example of a kiteboarder who is not on the CGKA BOD who is taking the lead on a project and making things happen! I've spoken to numerous guys on the beach who are preparing for this event. My prediction is Sky may not have it so easy this year, he may have to work to fight off other racers to the finish line! Should be an outstanding day for sure Thumb's Up

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

Thank you for your kind words.

But numerous people have spent tons of time and effort on this project so far;
Big Huge Thanks go to:

Adam Uyemura for an outstanding job on pulling together the poster.
Heny Rico for the use of the very cool photo of the spit
Tony and Carol Bolstad for editing and corridination of launch
Steve Fisher for support and backup on everything so far
Phil Holmstrand for helping me tweak the post.
All the Sponsors for supporting the event and hooken us up with some Kick Ass Swag!

Still need more people to volunteer to make it happen!

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

I'll be happy to do jetski support as I don't think I want my knee to have another BLOWOUT. Wink

Onad · Tue Jul 08, 08 8:17 pm

Yuck Fah!! The Blowout is coming!!! The Blowout is coming!!

Sooooo psyched to see the Blowout kite sailing race is on this year!!!

Way to go Twin and gang!!

I'll be signing up as soon as I get back into town so I can ditch the Blackberry for a real PC....

I've got my $$ on Sky!!

Hey PKH, How about a Sticky Poll on who is going to win?

holly · Since 09 Jul 2006 440 Posts Hood River Obsessed

ive been kiting foe 9mons can i still do it??

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

regarding minimum requirements such as 3 years experience.
possibly proof of an IKO certification level 3?
in most cases the local experienced riders can probably make a judgement call on a specific rider if they have seen that person riding in the gorge.
thanks jeff and CGKA for again putting together a Gorge favorite!
I am looking forward to participating in the race again!

stringy

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

Questions Regarding: 3 years experience VS minimum requirements.

Please keep in mind that the CGKA and all the sponsors want this to be a fun and safe event. If you question the 3 years experience required please click on the minimum requirements button. Read through that. If you meet the minimum requirements listed then sign up and have fun.

If you question your abilities or simply don’t want to ride in the event, that’s fine too. Get to know your fellow kiters and help out by volunteering. Guaranteed you will meet some really cool people and have fun doing it.

Diggy · Since 25 Nov 2006 342 Posts Gorge to Coast Obsessed

I signed

J.P. · Since 10 Mar 2005 638 Posts Addicted

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert