Beach-goers at Sherman Island

[etxxz]

we should only let foils kite sherman to clear seaweed and fishing lines. after they're done.. haha.. mowing.. and only then, would we let them loose to tack upwind back to crissy or wherever they came from

[edented]

I recently had the experience of coming back in with my kite inverted (dodging the entry area showboaters) and discovered that the exit path had acquired a group of people that thought carpeting in the bush by the beach is the perfect place to set up chairs and camp out to watch the show. I was glad the beach entry and exit area wasn't super crowded with kites trying to get out and was able to re-route with the secondary path that connects to the exit.

At coyote pt. we frequently ask (politely request) that pedestrians stand upwind and clear the access ramp before launching. Sometimes there is an official (semi) looking sign that makes it feel a bit less pushy asking for a little space for safety. Perhaps something like that might help avert tensions or an accident/disaster. I'm pretty convinced that people don't read, and are generally unaware of their impact on others, but some machine cut lettering goes a long way.

[super_monkey]

I'm not sure what the hoopla is all about, everybody has the right to be on the beach and on the water. Why would anyone be "pissed"? It was not as bad as a lot of kiting spots in the world so if crowds are a problem then maybe that particular launch on hot days is not the spot for you. I can think of at least one place where crowds are never an issue and you can see it on the way into the park. It seems like a lot of folks are so preoccupied with safety that they forget to have fun. The only bad part last weekend was a few guys who were beginners and tried to desperately go out when there wasn't enough wind and kept dropping their kites but that is not really even an issue if you have a few experienced people on the beach who can catch those kites before they hurt someone or let them drift into the bushes for a lesson.

[friggin old guy]

Honestly I can see both sides of this.

I don't have any trouble navigating through the throng, but let's be honest here: sometimes the wind misbehaves and theres not a damned thing you can do about it. Throw in some wardrobe or equipment malfunctions, and clueless people will eventually get hurt and then there's a strong forecast for an unnecessary shitstorm.

Yeah it doesn't happen all that often. But it makes sense to at least tell people when they're not in the best place. A lot of them will get all uppity and tell you to go screw yourself. Some of them will even promote some kind of pissing contest, or in the extreme to pull some kind of weird power trip like we saw in Maui. But I think a lot of them really just don't know any better, and a friendly piece of advice (without scorn or talking down to them) may be appreciated. Then if they're dumb enough to ignore the potential danger that has been pointed out to them......don't want to see anybody get hurt but it seems like Darwinism.

I remember being scared shitless when I first started about hindenburging on some poor soul. I really was wigged out that I might lose control and hurt somebody else. I signed up for the risk to myself, but other people.....not. So try to remember those days, and then factor in a south wind weird day with tons of beach kids......not good.

Some signage might help......something like : Primary kitesurfing zone. Please use caution when kites are present, do not obstruct entry/exit from water.

So yeah op have just as much right as we do to use the place but let's be realistic about the fact that it is a special place for kiting traffic along with the real safety issues that entails. Ignoring the fact that crowds increase the chance of some incident probably will not be a good thing for the kiting community in the long run.

[sanjose_kiter]

Honestly I can see both sides of this.

I don't have any trouble navigating through the throng, but let's be honest here: sometimes the wind misbehaves and theres not a damned thing you can do about it. Throw in some wardrobe or equipment malfunctions, and clueless people will eventually get hurt and then there's a strong forecast for an unnecessary shitstorm.

Yeah it doesn't happen all that often. But it makes sense to at least tell people when they're not in the best place. A lot of them will get all uppity and tell you to go screw yourself. Some of them will even promote some kind of pissing contest, or in the extreme to pull some kind of weird power trip like we saw in Maui. But I think a lot of them really just don't know any better, and a friendly piece of advice (without scorn or talking down to them) may be appreciated. Then if they're dumb enough to ignore the potential danger that has been pointed out to them......don't want to see anybody get hurt but it seems like Darwinism.

I remember being scared shitless when I first started about hindenburging on some poor soul. I really was wigged out that I might lose control and hurt somebody else. I signed up for the risk to myself, but other people.....not. So try to remember those days, and then factor in a south wind weird day with tons of beach kids......not good.

Some signage might help......something like : Primary kitesurfing zone. Please use caution when kites are present, do not obstruct entry/exit from water.

So yeah op have just as much right as we do to use the place but let's be realistic about the fact that it is a special place for kiting traffic along with the real safety issues that entails. Ignoring the fact that crowds increase the chance of some incident probably will not be a good thing for the kiting community in the long run.

Amen and +1000 to what "friggin old guy" said.

[pipedragon]

Same problem anywhere people kite. Think about it. We put on a free acrobatics show pretty much daily. We look super sexy in our board shorts with our kite harness wedgies. We occasionally add comic relief when we miss a trick and bail. We're still considered an extreme sport and you can't see it at the x-games yet. People these days are so board with the internet and social media they are hungry to see real life. Can you blame them for coming to the kitebeach?

[friggin old guy]

We look super sexy in our board shorts with our kite harness wedgies.

I don't wear board shorts. Maybe that's why I don't have much problems with the crowds. And why do they call it "junk" anyway? One man's trash kind of thing......?

[yojimbo]

Found on Reddit this morning.

[Loscocco]

we should only let foils kite sherman to clear seaweed and fishing lines. after they're done.. haha.. mowing.. and only then, would we let them loose to tack upwind back to crissy or wherever they came from

Not a problem... happy to help clean the place up in exchange for yummy salmon :) JK

[stewart]

I think lessons at Sherman Island should be banned. Its getting to crowded.

I also think we should take over the play pen, but that can be another discussion.....