ALAMEDA NEWBIES

[rvv]

Every time I see somebody with a board leash it gives me the heebie geebies. I see a lot of them at Alameda these days.

I'm not an instructor or anything, but it seems to me that students would be better advised to bone up on how to minimize distance from your loose board when you eat it rather than getting them to rely on the leash, especially at a place like Alameda where there's little consequence from losing your board anyway.

Any time I see somebody with a board leash I just want to run away. Bad accident just waiting to happen.

Great tip on letting go to minimize distance that comes with practice most newbies tend to jerk the kite around though.
As for the Leash do the math man thats an extra $85 Leash / pigtail for the lucky shop that gets to sell them to the possibly un-lucky beginners! Sold me one after my lesson years ago, I was convinced that it was a necessary kiting component, I used it till just before I started to jump. Then realized after a few bails without the leash that I had never really learned to body drag. If I had to do it again I would have learned to drag first sans leash and saved the Cash.

[motorcyclemark]

"Kite in hand when you hit the sand" at Alameda also provides a valuable opportunity for newbies to practice flagging your kite and wrapping lines while you are still in the water, and maybe even for practicing getting into good self-rescue position - much harder than it sounds in the beginning, and harder still in heavy chop at 3rd with rocks potentially looming! I am really glad I practiced those things at the generally forgiving confines of Alameda before heading anywhere else to kite!! And it keeps the peeps on shore safe and happy too. :D

[nick_80044]

Where are all of these guidelines posted for all to see?

[CdoG]

https://www.bayareakiteboarding.com/for ... .php?t=790

[nick_80044]

Thanks, CDog. I was thinking maybe they should be posted down at the beach, too--I suspect that not everyone that shows up at Alameda reads this forum.

BTW, great pictures of the hazards!

[maxsteamer]

I think it was 2005 there was a meeting hosted by GregB. most of you know him as LMG in this forum..He and some other "Kiteboarding Veterans" who thought it was time to start an adjenda do to the influx of all the new kiters to the area. LMG called the meeting to order with a loud voice that said " People we need to talk" at that time I thought OH Jesus??? who in the hell is this Yahoo!!! later to find out he was right...This was history in the making for all kiters that did not have a clue?? Things like " Kite in your hand when your feet hit the sand" a phrase created by a guy you all know as "Drill Sargent Charlie" that I feel was a good idea but to hard to enforce fo sho.. as time passed I saw a lot of sh*t come down that would have never been a issue had " Charie's Law" been followed.

I took away a respect for these guys in a time when our sport was in trouble of being shut down do to kiters that would not take there advice. I for one was one of these guys, that because I was a windsurfer thought I new everything?. untill that meeting in 2005. I remember LMG telling me to send it!!!! or go home. I thought WTF is guy talking about?? well let's just say that is my favorite phrase to date. If you stand on the beach with your kite in the air and your new to kiting ?? It is better to walk out in the water away from all people and solid objects this way if Hello kite takes a dive into the power zone or falls out of the sky?? you will most likely be able to deal with the crash.

If your a new kiter to this sport?? please!!! learn to ask before you do anything that may take away access to the beach.. and or hurt yourself.."Share the Stoke and keep it safe"

Max be with you " :dance: " Send It or go home" LMG 2005.

[shred_da_gorge]

Wow, Alameda sounds dangerous! ;)

Maybe the poster could have written it differently but I agree with him. I too learned on `99 equipment which is why I stuck with windsurfing until 2007. Both are sports where gear makes a difference, but in kiting more is at stake when things go wrong (like other peoples' safety).

[windhorny]

Yeah MAX, i think everyone who was at that meeting remembers it REALLY well ! Next time maybe Pam can bring her megaphone.

Greg has definately done his fair share of good deeds and big brothering. But this task that is given to all of us who are educated enough to teach gets very repetitive and old at times. Having to say the same things all the time and risk telling the wrong person the local etiquette is draining. I just have 1 simple rule, stay out downwind of people who are not kiters. If you want to fly your craigslist special and sport your favorite color gojoe while your homemade rock climbing harness is squuzing your balls to your stomach, then go right ahead. Just do it in a way that doesn't hurt the reputation of our sport in the eyes of beach goers.


Most beginners are open to suggestions and simply dont know. And i think thats where this site can be really productive. Last year I made some business cards for the local shops to carry that hopefully get handed out to the new riders so they can look on here and learn. So hopefully "WE" can educate the seemingly never ending flow of new blood from the schools before it is too late for all of us.

[robert-g]

I can't get the Image you painted out of my mind.

[Greg]

I can't get the Image you painted out of my mind.

You know I can't get that picture out of my head either....
but I will say this in rebuttle: THAT was a very interesting and eventually productive meeting-

You know the really funny part??
That's just me talk'n,
I swear!

L.M.G. :mrgreen:
maybe I should'a laid off the RED-BULL and PUNK-ROCK that day!!!!