Getting along with kitesurfers

From: Tom von Alten (tva@pobox.com-DeleteThis.com)
Date: Tue Aug 07 2001 - 17:34:41 PDT


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From: "Tom von Alten" <tva@pobox.com-DeleteThis.com>
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Subject: Getting along with kitesurfers
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 18:34:41 -0600
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(Is that the right name for you all?)

On my first couple trips over to the Gorge this year, I was thinking
kites were fine, they go out when it's light, and when it gets to
where I want to sail, they all clear off the water.

That mostly held true, but there was one guy out at Rufus on a BIG
day on my third trip that was just amazing. He pretty much knew what
he was doing, but it was one kite in a mess of boardsailors, and a very
narrow river there. I was spectating at the time, and seeing him go
occasionally ballistic was tremendously entertaining from that vantage.
Had I been on the water, I probably wouldn't have been as amused.

When I was out (on a lighter day) mixed in with kites, there weren't
any problems, but I made sure I gave 'em a wide berth. I mostly had
no idea which way they were going to spin next, and having them upwind
of me made me pretty nervous. With the Columbia's current, at least
it's (usually) easy to migrate to a less crowded venue.

Maybe after I get used to them, and get a better idea of what they can
and can't do, I'll be more comfortable.
_____________
Tom von Alten http://fortboise.org/windsurfing/
tva@pobox.com-DeleteThis.com



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