Stupid kite landing and how to get Crissy potentially closed

[average_male]

Hi Geoff,

That was very big of you to give your side of the story. Thanks! Seems that you simply were at the wrong place at the wrong time, we all have those moments.

Was hoping you could give your feedback on the idea of posting pictures of kiters engaging in unsafe acts. It would be good to explorer both sides of this idea and use this experience going forward on BAK. Do/did you feel that you were unfairly singled out, criticize, was left feeling that locals were too mean or unfair, or do you feel that this idea can be used as a tool to inform others of unsafe kiters in our area?

It would seem that feedback would very from person to person, but reading your response it seems that you acknowledge and are aware of the issue which gives a sense of resolution/closure and food for subsequent sessions. The main idea is to make others and offenders more aware current unsafe acts. It would seem that if beginners were to read this thread, they would be more prepared, aware, and safe when venturing out into the waters as the consequences would be note very rewarding.

[cedralpass]

Bottom line: I don't think the Mug shots help. I think what helps is calm and education. Sometimes i do feel that some locals don't really want to take the time to educate, they want to get in the water and kite. Others are really great and friendly.

For beginners at a new spot, I think you have to take initiative to introduce yourself, before you just rig and go. Be smart about it, its dangerous out there. Its pretty easy, but it can be a bit intimidating. Guys who kite 5 days a week have such amazing kite control.

In the first line, I point out I was a third incident, not the person pictured or the other story. a THIRD story. My kite did not roll on anyone (if it did, i would apologize and be done for the day), i was just having trouble getting it up in light funky wind. Once it was up, i followed the rules and went straight to the water, where i had some more trouble keeping the kite flying. The wind really dropped around 4pm to pick up a bit later and drop again. lots of kites were in the water. Then I self rescued back in before i got past the beach (Max flood), zero issue / Zero tangles :). I also walked back up the beach, kite in hand and in the water away from people.

Posting photos of others seems a bit much. I wanted to post my mug first after i saw that one go up, so that people learn who I am a bit more, help me learn / progress, hopefully not beat me up or poo my door handle.

I also wanted to explain to beginners and visitors that the best thing to do is introduce your self to as MANY people as you can. Bring some extra beer, that goes along way! It makes me feel pretty good that people do know me a bit, and watch out for me out there, and I watch out for them. Its a safety device.

Take your time with setup. Watch the wind during setup, as it can change fast. Focus. Be methodical with line rigging. (i have seen many forgotten line hookups or tangles, even at chrissy) Be patient, there are many windy days here. Focus. Watch your surroundings.

I have kited chrissy probably 20 times this year, until i broke my foot May 4th, and this day was just overconfidence, new kite, busy day, nervousness bad on my part. No excuses.

In my bad day Sunday , it really paid off to have known many of the locals, as I had two locals helping me try to get the kite up, and giving me tips in the light wind. One at the kite catching it, one behind me with my bar / ready to hold down. Looking back, i should have given up, and come back another day. It was a busy beach and bad wind.

However, i did have one person yelling at me, which did make me more nervous. He is probably more regular at the beach than me, but i didn't recognize him. i meant to introduce myself afterwards and get some tips from him, but i really didn't catch a good view of him while i was focused on the kite.

In my opinion, I listened more to the two that were calm and helpful that i knew, rather than the one who was aggressive and i didn't know. I also became a bit defensive during the initial aggressive yelling "Sheet out" by the guy i didn't know... and i am sorry for that. It did make me a bit more nervous too. Human reaction.

What I take away is that I will be more CALM when helping others, i have helped many like this in reverse roles prior to my experience. Light wind on the inside, tossing the kite up a few times before it catches a good puff. i will be patient.

I also leaned I should introduce myself to more people there. the more that know me, the less uncomfortable i will be, and the less aggression people will have toward me, if i ever am stupid again. I have not had a single person there not welcome an introduction.

I really enjoy the kite vibe. I hope it doesn't turn into the Surf type policing. If it does i will surely go back to on of my many sports. But kiting is my addiction... Until Ski Season...

geoff

[fathom]

I'm pretty sure I saw you out there Geoff, no problem with learning there.
What pissed me off, and leads to posting the pics was the blatant disregard for other's safety from those guys, and not even seeming to care after I nicely told them that it was very unsafe to land among whole families (it could have been some other families 10 feet on any side), and especially it would have taken just 200 feet upwind to clear the crowd. And it was not his first time doing it that day.
Learning is one thing, blatant and uncaring disregard for safety is another.

[Stefaans]

To post pics or not to post pics of jackasses. It really should not be necessary. I am 100% with everybody has to start somewhere and everybody will be crashing kites at some point. Once you have your skills homed at other beaches crissy is something new completely again and will kick your ass all over again.
I just suggest if you are not that skilled at Crissy yet do NOT come do it on the sunny weekends. Crissy is COMPLETELY empty 300 days out of the year where you can hindy whatever you want to and guarentee nobody will give you any crap but will try and help you figure things out.

[gnukid]

Perhaps now is a good time for retrospection. I recall two female kiters who notoriously learned to kite, smashing multiple kites and boards in one day. Not only did they terrorize the launch with their kites but were well known for screaming at anyone who would listen.

These two taught us all a great lesson about patience dealing with newbies, about putting up with arrogance, ignorance and the shear terror newbies cause while they learn. The thing is they did learn. It took a while but they learned and everyone helped them learn.

The recent stories about the French newbies reminds me of the two notorious blonds since, its awkward to intervene, the conversations is tense, there are raised voices, insults toward the helpers, danger for the newbies and everyone around and there seems to be little reward to helping the rude new kiters. However, now years later, we have some awesome female kiters who are quite good and likely we will have some new French kiters who will become good kiters too.

Let's just try to save a few lives on the way and be willing to be yelled at, insulted, terrorized and be willing to help irregardless. If we do, we might even have some new french female kiters too who become quite good.

Expect it to be a wild weekend requiring patience, lots of help and remember to have fun!

[baypirate]

This just crossed my mind and may be really dumb, but how about posting pictures of ourselves first? Or, rather, those here that are "beach seniors" and can really provide actionable wisdom on site. One of the difficulties as a newbie on a beach is that you really don't know who is who, e.g. by definition you only know who the Crissy regulars are after kiting there for a while, which I guess would make YOU a regular.

Ollie, can the Members section accommodate a facebook functionality (not as in the Facebook, but rather as in attaching pics to names)? Alternatively, we could add mugshots of the "beach stewards" in the Guidelines section.

Of course, we'll need (qualified) volunteers for these... job postings.

Just an idea.

[sloughslut]

I have been working in SF the last few weeks and was thinking about Kiting there, but now after reading all this, swimming,coast gaurd, pics, busting out teeth, forget about it, you guys have fun :(