Sherman Beach Expansion?

[Guest]

Age is no excuse.

One of the most mature and respectful people I ever met was a pro windsurfer named Kai K. from Palo Alto. He was just 15 at the time.

[whitecap]

Man, I am pissed I missed all the excitement during the week!..too much work. Two points: One is that I wish I saw the show! Ruben was throwing down incredible stuff at KOB, and I would have liked to see more.

Second, as a Dad of a 12 year old who is definetly too close to the beach at times, I would appreciate it if anybody has comments as to his attitude, riding, or proximity to the beach to let me know in this forum or at the beach....Yeah, Alex on the green and white RRD type 6. He keeps working on a mobe, blowing it, and crashing his kite. My other son Brian, is more respectful, with a bit less ego, and he does a good job getting away from the beach. Outside of Alex's ride through the bushes last year, I do not know of any incidents this year, and we have been there a fair amount. With young kids, I figure we will all be there for years to come, so I would like to know of any behavior problems before someone gets ticked. While I won't "If I was his father I'd paddle his bottom blistered (that's what my Mom use to threaten me with!) " I will have a word...

Bob

[Dear Slingshot.....]

"Try sending an email to Slingshot if you want to tell them what you thought of Ruben"

Here is my DRAFT letter to Slingy:
....Holly shit guys, you signed one sick rider. The kite seems to be a natural extension of his body - totally dialed into his kit and what it can do. He seems to not have the concept of "I can't do that move" or "it will hurt when I mess up..." His style is unlike anyone else out there. You gents at Slingy got a good one. Even the basic moves that mortals can attain, lock super sick when this young boy hucks them.

BTW - I suggest putting out a movie that breaks down what he does on a a kite with an instruction focus - nice and slow from all angles. The outakes, including footage of the delta interaction w/pissed off pole boarders, would be a good chuckle.

Good winds, Zeev.

PS - Hello guest posters, stop hiding and let us know who you are.

[OliverG]

So let me get this straight - we pay higher kite prices to fund the pros gear and travel so they can show up,
disregard local rules, jeapordize access and endanger others.
I think my next kites will be purchased from a company without the pro assholes.

Zeev told me today about Ruben jumping on the roof and someone else, an instructor no less, climbing up the side of his van onto the roof with the kite. He agreed when I suggested that that didn't really sound like approved behaviour. If someone is a pro, and instructor, good or whatever, it doesn't matter in my opinion.

It's just plain stupid. It sets a bad example, and as we all know we can nail a trick 99 out of 100 times, but it might just be the 100th time that puts you or someone else in the hospital. Next time you're at SI, take a look at the edges of the metal roof overhang and tell me if you want to get bent in half over that.

Sure he's a kid and he'll learn, but the kinds of pros I appreciate and respect are just that - professionals.

[fearlu]

I ain't hidin' but I was there and posted my observations accordingly.

He's jeopardizing our launch rights in a place where we have enjoyed windsports long before my friends like you, Zeev or you, Gabe, even heard of Sherman Island. That's a fact, plain and simple. Dispute it if you like, but I have photographic evidence to prove it. Remember when the only windsurfers at the upper beach were Ken Spencer and Buck Pollock? Didn't think so.

Just to keep you honest, when did you first ride a board of any kind at Sherman Island? I'm guessing it was NOT before 1983. Know your history and respect your (grumpy) elders will 'ya?

You may think that this behavior is fine by you, but guess what? The park host and his friends don't dig it, don't understand it and won't tolerate it over the long haul. Get a fucking clue. This kid was way outta' line (if only by the perception of others) and the two of you who seem to be endorsing it weren't even there, were you? And, just for the record, I did not observe all of the events mentioned by Jeff. I just caught the crack-o-dawn session and his program was more than evident. I contemplated schooling him on the local etiquette, but bit my tongue (since I'm normally so restrained.)

I know in my heart that you both want to be better ambassadors than he was that day and people at that beach look up to both of you, right? People like Alex, for example, eh Bob? I admit I'm no Saint, but I don't show up at other launches and act like an idiot either (well, usually not anyway.)

I called "FOUL" since the impression he left was clearly negative with a whole lot of people who impact the future of OUR riding at that great spot. My favorite spot. Our backyard if you will. One of the most incredible kiting venues in the world, wouldn't you agree?

Oh, yeah, if you don't know who I am and want to discuss it personally just PM me and we can arrange a meeting-- anytime. I have just deleted the "G" section of my Rolodex. (Well, actually, I guess I'm mature enough not to do that, but don't press your luck kids!)

:yawinkle:

[Kites in a bunch]

I saw a show on OLN with Rubin riding and he can rip. In fact his sponsors think it' just a matter of time before he becomes world champ.

Double kiteloops with handle passes etc...

But that don't mean squat to me if he's the one who shuts my spot down.

Guess we all are guilty of doing stupid things back in the day...you know what they say... "Young, dumb and full of C@#"

If it's true what he did, I guess Rubin Lenten lost some fans today.

-Eric

p.s. Dave, I do remember Kenny and Buck. Man, now I feel old!

I also remember you trying to run me over when we did that Marine World Exhibition. How many can say they windsurfed Marine World?
:supz:

[fearlu]

Dude, how 'bout that? We actually windsurfed at Marine World! Now that, my friend, is windsport history. Chicks were diggin' it. (I think.)

(And yeah, I caught his handle-passes and super-clean kite loops. He rips, but he could rip just as hard outside the buoys.)

[OliverG]

I ain't hidin' but I was there and posted my observations accordingly.

You may think that this behavior is fine by you, but guess what? The park host and his friends don't dig it, don't understand it and won't tolerate it over the long haul. Get a fucking clue. This kid was way outta' line (if only by the perception of others) and the two of you who seem to be endorsing it weren't even there, were you?

I called "FOUL" since the impression he left was clearly negative with a whole lot of people who impact the future of OUR riding at that great spot. :yawinkle:

I wasn't there either and unfortunately have not had the time this summer to be there as much as I would like to have been, but everyone needs to ask themselves on a regular basis, "What's good for the sport?".

It's apparent that there's enough negative opinions about it so there's your answer plain and clear. Jaime and Sky may have been throwing down close to the beach, but I saw nothing less than professionalism and skill from them on and off the beach. The fact that people thought it was cool for the kid to hop on the roof and the other instructor guy to climb up on the van with the kite is just pretty lame all around. Doesn't matter how good they are, stupid is as stupid does. When people start doing that kind of shit, someone should step up and tell them to cool it.

Making allowances for pro kiters is lame, they should be held to an even higher standard than the general kiting population.

[Guest]

But that don't mean squat to me if he's the one who shuts my spot down.

I agree.

The outakes, including footage of the delta interaction w/pissed off pole boarders, would be a good chuckle.

Nice, getting laugh out of scaring the windsurfers.

-J.R.

[KillaHz]

Dave,

didn't know it was you and you were there. The automatic assumption behind a guest posting is that someone is being annonymous so that they can elaborate a bit on details and drama and not be held accountable. It's a bit more credible coming from you.

You saw Ruben doing this stuff and if it really was out of line, you of all people should have schooled him a bit. That's how these guys learn. You don't think i've been on the professor side of that stick a few times with some of these kids? How else are these guys going to learn (and can we really expect them to) if all they know is what they figure out on their own?

This sport is still young...more participants = more money = bigger sponsors = more professionalism.

You're right Dave, I wasn't there. But with all the drama concerning the Delta the last month or so, it's hard not to think that there has been a little exageration.

For the record...my first day at Sherman Island was in 1992, on a pole board (believe it or not)...and I haven't had a rolodex, well, since about the then.