Sherman

KillaHz · Post by **KillaHz** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:54 pm

I spent a good amount of time playing with the windsurfers yesterday down by the power lines in the good swell. I also cruised up around Kitopia for some better water as well. It's a huge river with plenty of space to ride.

I like to ride the nice little ramps in front of the launch when I'm on my way back in but beyond that I stay away from the beach.

The windsurfers can ride wherever they want. Believe it or not, those guys are having a blast out there and are quite stoked! I actually really enjoyed riding with those guys yesterday and you should have heard the hooting coming from them as they were heckling each other on missed loops and such. I even came into the rocks on the levee for a while to join the peanut gallery of windsurfers b/c it was just so entertaining.

I was teaching a buddy to ride the board and needed to get it out to him in the middle of the river and a windsurfer offered to drag it out to him. Those guys are cool...let em be...

adamrod · Post by **adamrod** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:58 pm

Yah, it's a bit difficult. I've definitely had times where I've jumped and then a windsurfer forgot to look up and managed to ride pretty close to my intended landing spot.

but, on the other hand, when everything goes to hell (like when my leash release got tripped) our kites do often end up at their beach, so I'm glad we're on good terms with the poleboarders.

the only really annoying time was when there was a windsurfer on the downwind side of the beach (near the reeds). depending on the wind direction, it can be pretty tough to get off the beach, and if there's someone hanging out right there, it's REALLY tough.

it can be pretty intimidating with all us kiters going in and out, so i'm going to go ahead and give them the benefit of the doubt, that they're really not trying to crowd things. also, because looking at the folks who were on the inside, they didn't really look like they knew what they were doing.

Czech · Post by **Czech** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:16 am

Ok, what I gathered is that, you need to look out for them when jumping, the river is big so we can ALL ride all over the place, and they are cool dudes and dudets that like wind as much as we do. SO I will continue to be cool when I am around them same way as before....

With that said and done, I had them get into my way when landing from a trick, they haul ass at you and it can get intimidating at times. I have witnesed a big kiter/ windsurfer accident in Boracay where bones were sticking out and sh!t....

Proparoo · Post by **Proparoo** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:17 am

I got to chime in here and agree with Greg..

As I still do both sports I see both sides... and I got no problem with either sport. I still have a great time "Pole Surfing" in 30+ with huge swell.

Just let's all get along and have a great time.
I can't tell you how many times I have tried to convert all my friends down at the sign..

One thing, most of my friends watched for years kiters on the old gear get lifted and dropped on the levee and then lifted again in an ambulance or heli cause of the lack of depower... and they find it hard to understand that the equipment is now so much better and now is the time tu learn.. But they still "hold on"

I for one now like kiting better than "surfing with the pole" (except on rare ocasions) but you can still see me out at the sign at 5:30 most Sat. mornings.. "jumping high and surfing waves" with a pole in my hands and a big smile on my face.
But when the afternoon comes around, it's a kite hands down.

So let them be, let's have fun and (as Rodney King once said) can't we all just get along ...

zgur · Post by **zgur** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:39 am

We are all just harnessing the energy of our environment to have a little fun and tap into the magical feeling of playing in natures forces. It does not matter what gear you choose,wether it's a kite, a wsurfing sail, a sailboat, whatever. It does not mater what sport you do, how long you have done it.....what matters is how much fun you can have, and in my opinion, how much fun you can share w/the people around you.

Share the fun, share the stoke, and increase your own joy.

Leave the us/them mind set behind you when you turn onto the levee, step onto your favorite beach....

That is part of the draw of these sports - the stoke.

Get some, Z.

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:17 am

That is part of the draw of these sports - the stoke.

Yes, this is most true for me.
When I want to be alone, I kite alone, but most of the time I enjoy playing with others. Sharing the STOKE with other people is what makes my kiting the most fun!
Enjoy,
Limmi'

Proparoo · Post by **Proparoo** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:45 am

Well Said Mr ZZZZ

kitenaked · Post by **kitenaked** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:12 pm

Gabe,

You said it perfectly.

Czech · Post by **Czech** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:27 pm

Proparoo,

That is a sweet pick of you! You should have that as a screan saver! I agree with what you are saying in terms of the stoke!

-Martin

Skipow · Post by **Skipow** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:48 am

I just was checking out www.ijetskiandamareallyawesome80sthrowbackdude.com and they were all over us kiters. One guy claims: 'I was riding around in, like, the sickest circle I've ever ridin in and this dope on a rope comes falling out of the sky right in front of me. I tried to run his ass down, but he got away.'

BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Sherman

well

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