OH... Kiter rant, call the Whaaabulance

LAWLER

As I windsurf and am also learning to kite for fun at my lite wind home location, I like to treat people with respect as I'd like to be treated back the same way.
I'd like to thank the kiter or groups of kiters that do show up from time to time at Viento to do the down wind-er to the hood. Most of you are good people that have some manners and common sense. But as always in any group of people there are some bad eggs. So to those of you that block the trails to the beach and to the guy that actually had the nerve to unroll his kite and inflate it on top of my rigged sailing gear. "I think you were just looking for a conflict and your lucky it was me, "as my sailing pals call me too tollerant" I'm sorry the wind died on you and your walk of shame was painful. But like they say.. Bad Carma, it comes back to get ya.
Even after the bad behavior I will still endeavor to drag anyone off the river I see in trouble, kiter or otherwise.

Help control common sense within your group, dissenters create bad blood between our shared love of the wind, we can exist together.

wsmike · Joined: 07 Jun 2003 Posts: 412

I share the general sentiment of the poster regarding treating respectful kiters with respect. Generally speaking kiters who know what they are doing have not gone out of their way to piss me off.

More specifically, I will admit that last week when I broke my mast in the shipping channel, a kiter was the first to stop by and ask if I needed help. He spent a good 10 minutes dragging me to the WA side, without him I might have ended up at the Hatch, or just abandoned my rig and swam for it. So thanks!!

Just as an add on...does anyone know how to identify jetskis? and also who to notify of illegal/dangerous behavior?

I had a jetskier refuse to yield ROW, circle me, get right in my way, then when I fell in he was stupid enough to come back and cuss me out saying things like, "you wanna play chicken mutherfucker? come on you little piece of shit!...etc etc."

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Boat number in big letter on the hull. It is legally impossible for us to play chicken with them, because by law we are God relative to them. A clown like this would be led away in handcuffs if he didn't absolutely grovel on his knees to any kind of cop. Any PWC driver this ignorant of the law has no business operating one.

Mike \m/

wsmike · Joined: 07 Jun 2003 Posts: 412

Kind of what I was thinking. I tried to locate a boat number but was difficult in the waves and all the spray he was farting out. Next time I guess...I shouted "POWERED CRAFT GIVES WAY!" as I sped off. The ignorant ones are breeding, be careful out there.

WMP · Joined: 30 May 2000 Posts: 671

Carl2 · Joined: 05 May 2001 Posts: 15

'The ignorant ones are breeding, be careful out there'

Those who can't multiply will multiply

ericandholly · Joined: 20 Jun 1999 Posts: 292

Hood River Deputy will deal with any boater who is a problem. Normally a chat from one of the officers solves the problem. Good people.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Camcorder and Sheriff. Problem solved. They get real serious about/with power boats messing with sailors.

Mike \m/

Bret · Joined: 28 Apr 2006 Posts: 149 Location: Up State New York

I carry a Water proof cell phone Boulder by Verizon Wireless. The phone is waterproof to 33 ft and it rings Smile

under water. So if I need to call the 911 I can while in the channel.

I have a go-pro-camera attached to my boom. It shoots 56 minutes of raw video.

I have an Olympus Tough 6000 in my pocket that is waterproof. Shoot's sweet pics with a zoom, so if I need to snap a pic I can. It also shoots 47 minutes of raw video.

And I carry a knife to cut off anything I may get wrapped up in like a fishing net or a kiter's line in an accident situation.

jesusjones · Joined: 17 May 2001 Posts: 229

You and your green stuff got to go bro, remember there are kids on this site and you’re not exactly a good example for them. No what I mean Bro?