Kiting at the Hatchery?

trudyl · Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 237

Windsurfer & Kiter bonding on the Oregon coast in Florence Oregon.

columbia · Joined: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 28

Trudy - loved the photo - great shot! As your photo so aptly indicates - kiters and windsurfers can coexist. But, to bring it back home - lets throw together 30 more sailors and 20 more kiters all trying to catch that exact same wave and see how that works out... bit of an exaggeration but maybe not in the near future at the Hatch.

Just wanted to respond to Salty. I'm not talking broadly about the Gorge as your post seems to indicate. My comments relate to the Hatch. Banning kiting in the Gorge is not what is being discussed -- how to prevent serious injury and prevent kiter/windsurfer incidents at the Hatch is the focus and hopefully a concern for all.

There can be no doubt that kiter/windsurfer congestion at the Hatch on the "big" days is going to increase not decline. We can all bury our heads in the sand and turn a blind eye but the comments and incidents related here and by others don't bode well for the future Hatch melee.

Stayed tuned for the next edisode of "As the Hatch Churns" when the wind returns to the corridor! Smile

trudyl · Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 237

"Trudy - loved the photo - great shot! As your photo so aptly indicates - kiters and windsurfers can coexist."

Thanks, seems we have little or no problem at Florence or Rooster Rock in winter, I guess less crowds makes you happy to see anyone out, even people just watching. The really extreme the conditions (ie the Oregon coast or the winter at Rooster with 65 mph winds) the more windsurfer and kiters actually get along. It's us versus nature instead of us versus them.

However given the facts a lot of time nature wins.

puppydog · Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 86

don't call them waves

SlightlySalty · Joined: 19 Jul 2008 Posts: 92

Columbia, I am talking about the hatch. I mention it 4 times in the last post. And for sure I'm not talking about banning kiting at all anywhere.
I like kites and kiters and like doing it myself.
I also don't think anyone is putting their head in the sand re accidents. They can happen for sure and it has happened more with windsurfers than kiters at the hatch.
Just be careful. We have a big river and all it takes to get out of the most crowded spot on any given day is to sail up or down wind.
The pot boiled over and we are well on our way to peaceful coexistence with all the river users. I bet Ponytail won't do it again. If he does, I think a few windsurfers will have a nice talk with him.
If anyone should be banned from the hatch it's the dicks that cause others trouble whether is be a windsurfer, kiter, or drunk guy acting like an idiot.
Ban the Dicks!!
Overall here and on the kiting forum there are way more good people that get along than not. Just took one or two bad apples to start this landslide. Peek of the summer is over. Lots of room out there now.
See you on the water. Very Happy

SlightlySalty · Joined: 19 Jul 2008 Posts: 92

SlightlySalty · Joined: 19 Jul 2008 Posts: 92

And Trudy, great shot!! It appears that the kiter is some sort of medic. That would make me feel a little better if I were that windsurfer! Laughing

puppydog · Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 86

Good pic!

jamesschmitt · Joined: 11 Jun 2000 Posts: 42

Mike Godsey is right all this noise on the forum will have no affect; what will have an affect are complaints to the authorities by other beach/ river users. This has closed countless beaches to kiting in east coast states and more recently Calif. I would not waste my time talking to someone about their unsafe behavior; they won't change. Complaints to Fish/wildlife parks dept officials will cause change.

Good luck.