Sherman kite parking/launch?? WTF

[zgur]

Funny, I was thinking about this on Monday, during a dreamy session, before reading any of these posts......

The real issue is there is much more demand (people who want it "now") then there is supply (place to lay out gear).....kind of like traffic on the roads. You can bitch all you want, it wont help......really.

a funny data point.......About 10 days ago I was laying out my lines after watching my kids for a few hours and waiting for my turn on a busy saturday......as I'm laying out my lines between all the kites on the launch, a dude lands his kite on my head, no warning.......no heads up, nothing.....I almost lost it and let him have a russian knuckle sandwich......but just gave him a peace of mind.....he thought I was a bit too "uptight".....he was on a pink warroo......I'm pretty sure he does not want to find out what happens when I loose it.........

Best we can do is set a good example. If I am ever the offender, let me know......or just move my stuff.

[dewey]

dewey I tried to make it very clearl to you, swearing at people here or the beach is not okay. Your behavior is far worse than someone leaving their kite out. It is totally unacceptable to threaten and swear at people regardless of whether your session wasn't perfect. You need to be aware of how you present yourself and why you might be poorly received at the beach and here.

In any case someone at the beach will always end up doing more launches/catches than others, its just how it goes. Others will always be inconsiderate. If you want to educate people take a moment to explain super clearly and carefully why there is an issue and define the preferred method. I am totally supportive of clearing the launch area. Yes it is common sense and polite. Many people are not considerate and unfortunately it seems to be the same people who are inconsiderate everytime. The truth is if they need to be told again and again.

That said, I can't condone the tone many of you suggest here. It simply is outside of the acceptable. You are sharing the launch with others. They have other ideas about whats cool at their launch. They have the right to be idiots or whatever. If you want them to work with you, you need to be polite and kind and helpful. The idea that any of you were the first to launch there and therefore have some local status is the most gross exaggeration I have ever heard. That beach goes way back in time before any of you were around. It doesn't wash here or anywhere. So please understand your swearing comes off poorly and doesn't make your point well. You can hopefully learn from this that some methods work and some don't. Be vocal at the beach, don't expect that spouting off about a bad day at the beach online will solve anything, it wont because your not dealing with the problem or with the people.

Dewey I hope you understand why I don't like your tone. I do support managing the launch area. Be nice about it or go home, that's the only option.

Really this is your stand??? How many local have posted the they have told repeat offenders to move their kites with no success? You talk about my tone? Is condesending the approiate tone? Because that is the way you sound! You say that I'm cursing at people? I could name names, but I'm above that! I prefere to shame the actions. If I curse about a issue so be it! How many people have posted in support (go ahead and count them). How many people in opposition? I'll tell you....ONE. If you don't like my post you have the freedom to not read it! More people on this forum like may attitude than don't! Until this changes I'll be talking about the issues like I see them. I'll still be the guy launching your kite, and HELPING others to keep the launch safe!

You could kite in bliss, and not worry about any issues at the launch. While others keep it safe.

Why don't you start a campaign to make this a rated G forum. I'm not the only one to speak my mind here, but I seem to have struck a cord with you, and you have taken it upon yourself to be the FCC. On the beach I never yell at others, I try to talk.

Maybe I should be LMD!!

Like I said if you're not part of the solution, stop being part of the problem. My action on this forum will not get others hurt, but kites in the middle of the launch will. Try looking at the BIG picture.

[jstjohn3]

Silverton Sign: IF YOU CANNOT SEE WHERE YOU ARE HEADING, EXPECT MANDATORY AIR TO ROCK.

Oh my.

[Bulldog]

That's what I'm saying. "Mandatory Air-to-rock". We need to think of a phrase that will (apologies to the ladies) shrink everyone's scrotum instantly.

Visualize someone going to catch an overpowered kite in gusty winds, slipping on your kite (which was not moved out of the way) and splitting their skull, simultaneously releasing the not-quite-landed kite, which powers up and drags the still-hooked-in kiter through a crowd of kiters rigging, then through the trees, then through Moho Row, then across the asphalt, then into the blackberries, etc.

Dewey was the first person there when Curt's kite took him through the blackberry bushes (and the sign, by the way) and broke his ankle. Any one of us who was there that day can easily visualize what would have happened if that same accident had happened in the back launch.

[GracieMarie]

For the record: DEWEY is the nicest, most helpful person I know. Unless you're Whitey, at which point he appears to have aggressive loss of bladder control.

*RE: using the area behind the parking lot launch: the regularly mowed blackberry bushes/bamboo/reedy fauna are like sharp sticks. This makes for self exploding kites when used for a rigging area---like rigging on broken glass. It's easy to land there, technically, but stacking/landing kites there equals mucho kite repairs. Not to mention the wind shadow/weirder wind. HEY YOU CONTRACTORS! BRING OUT OLD CARPET FROM YOUR REMODELS. We can always use it to pad the trails & possibly create a stacking section, thereby keeping the parking lot launch clear for take off.

*All kiters were new at one time, and knew nothing about launching and landing and stacking manners/protocol. Just glad to have cheated death one more time or, staying upwind! Woo Hoo! No more hitchhiking back from the Power Lines. It seems to follow that WE, the old curmudgeonly bastards of kiting, should/can/and do TELL the newcomers protocol, but they don't always LISTEN. Often, THEY cop an attitude, like: who the hell is this jackass, telling me what to do? They take it personally. Which so greases the wheels of peace, love and understanding.

IF YOU'VE READ THIS FAR AND STILL CARE, MAY I SUGGEST:

*Keep all gear out of the way (out of the pathway, out of the launching/landing areas) including kites, boards, bars, harnesses, pumps, lines, bags, water bottles, soggy Speedos, used Viagra patches, empty beer/Jack Daniels bottles, etc. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S BUSY/A WEEKEND/HOLIDAY.

*If you ENTER the water to go out from the UPPER space, you can go out FASTER and help the flow move along more quickly. (ONLY for more proficient kiters.) WHY: Everyone needs to clear the reeds and needs to launch high enough to do so. If you start high, rather than entering the water and wading UP, you don't waste time and you help relieve logjams.

*IF it's hella crowded and you DO miss the reeds when water launching, DRAG OUT. You lose your turn if it happens on, say, a busy Saturday. It sucks for everyone else waiting if you try to do a non-emergency do-over. SAME thing for tangled lines when getting the kite in the air----how many people are waiting while you figure it out? Just redo the lines and walk it out Get out of the way when you have issues. We ALL have issues. Wait. All of us except for Carl.

*When you are trying to EXIT the water, again: try to remain mindful of your fellow riders. They, too, wish to have a happy session. If you land as someone is about or trying to launch, you may be slowing things down. WHY: Your lines/kite are now over another person's lines/kite. Unless its Satan Wind and we're all sobbing and scurrying in, can you fly safely/carefully out of the way so we can launch people off to happyville? BTW, flying to allow others to launch when landing at SI usually means HIGH and to the RIGHT-----But if you don't already know that, glasshopper, then you shouldn't be landing on the launch by the parking lot.

*SUMMARY:
WATCH WHAT THE KITES/PEOPLE IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND ARE DOING and act with according consideration. Any questions, find me and I'll help you. We even have a therapist who kites at SI, so you really troubled souls can take your issues to her. Cheers, GM[/font]

[S I LOCAL]

Oh I have issues but I try and work them out in the back yard before I get down to the beach.
Saves me embarassment and good people like you the grief! :mrgreen:

[OliverG]

Amen! There should still be two big 'ol rolls of carpet next to the bushes by the shed from the party, in different colors even..

[fearlu]

The "colorful carpet" at the party turned out to be a "subtle beige" the next morning. Go figure!

:rolleyes:

[ramsey]

[quote:]Funny, I was thinking about this on Monday, during a dreamy session, before reading any of these posts......

The real issue is there is much more demand (people who want it "now") then there is supply (place to lay out gear).....kind of like traffic on the roads. You can bitch all you want, it wont help......really.

a funny data point.......About 10 days ago I was laying out my lines after watching my kids for a few hours and waiting for my turn on a busy saturday......as I'm laying out my lines between all the kites on the launch, a dude lands his kite on my head, no warning.......no heads up, nothing.....I almost lost it and let him have a russian knuckle sandwich......but just gave him a peace of mind.....he thought I was a bit too "uptight".....he was on a pink warroo......I'm pretty sure he does not want to find out what happens when I loose it.........
Best we can do is set a good example. If I am ever the offender, let me know......or just move my stuff." [end quote]

Let it go.....it was a botched landing nothing happened.......jeez.....You don't think i read this crap. Are you seriously threatening me again, but this time on cyberspace? I'm a peaceful, nice guy so i'm glad i didn't get your "russian knuckle sandwich". I'd love to find out what happens when you "loose it" lets meet you in the back of the school yard at 3pm. Are we in kindergarden? I mean come on. If you wanna look tough in front of your bro's at the beach kite-hard cuz thats what they really want to see.

As for the subject at hand, we can only do what we can do. There will always be people like me who crash kites on your head. Two people crashed their kite on my head in one day, one caused a pretty nasty cut too. As for clearing space on the beach signs may help for some people, but not for others. One time communication may help for some people but others may take many times. The bottom line is you've gotta be vigilant about it. The ladies at boardsports bug the heck out of me sometimes, but they keep that launch area clear. Which in turn makes it safer for everyone and avoids a lot of "russian (or egyptian)knuckle sandwiches".

[dewey]

Let's keep the personal attacks to a minimum. That's why I tried not to personalise it!! Lets keep the subject to the launch and all the kites parked in it. Try not to single out any one person on this thread.

Start your own post if you want to fight!

BTW - Jane and Rebbeca do a great job at Alameda!!!