Little girl with smashed face at Alameda today

[CdoG]

me too................... yuri bends iT
I'll weld it..

toys for the mass 's

[EvanOR]

I rode Alameda yesterday (from the shack) and agree that everything flowed smoothly for the most part, and it was an incredible day. I didn't see the incident involving the little girl, but did see the almost-lofting at the apartments mentioned by reyrivera, and I only bring it up for reasons that will become evident, sorry for the thread hijack.

What I saw - kite launches hot and powers up quickly, dragging the kiter up from the water towards the street. Kite powers back and forth several times, nearing the apartments - several cars driving along westline drive hit the brakes as the kite flies overhead and the kiter nears the street. Luckily the kite crashes on the beach and the kiter ends up in the bushes just past the transformers. Kiter was shaken up but seemed OK.

What was potentially very disturbing about this incident - several very angry eyewitnesses said that the launcher basically threw the kite into the air well before the kiter was ready - i.e. kiter looking away from the kite, bar/lines not properly oriented, no thumbs up signal, etc. Apparently he had done this with several other folks yesterday but they managed to avoid problems.

According to those eyewitnesses, the launcher is a kiter who proceeded to ride as if nothing had happened. Some folks apparently tried to talk to him but were brushed off.

I only saw the almost-lofting and not the actual kite release - maybe others who saw the launch can comment further. We've all seen some stupid s**t but its pretty scary to think one of our own is really that careless/clueless.

Back on topic - I follow windhorny's advice - I think it's up to us to keep a good distance from non-kiting beachgoers unless they're planted in the middle of a designated launch zone, in which case a gentle, self-deferential approach usually works.

For this reason I prefer to self launch (and self land if blowing less than 25ish) if I don't know the person offering a launch. Self sufficiency is the way to go in my book. The obvious caveats apply, and of course it's not possible in some places. If you have to get a launch from someone you don't know, hook into the C/loop last - that way if the launcher tosses the kite up unexpectedly and you can't recover safely, you can let go of the bar.

[stone]

Mike, could you post a description of the guy who tossed a kite before getting the thumbs-up? Apparently yesterday the same thing happened at 3rd upper, and I'm wondering if its the same person.

[mike]

Mike, could you post a description of the guy who tossed a kite before getting the thumbs-up? Apparently yesterday the same thing happened at 3rd upper, and I'm wondering if its the same person.

Just to be clear, I was up the beach and didn't see the actual launch - and although I'm a big fan of this forum, in general I feel that situations like this are better dealt with in person.

However, this was behavior that had potentially very serious consequences and if it helps identify a problem and get us toward a solution, here's a description of the offending launcher (who was pointed out by multiple eyewitnesses): I would guess the guy to be mid 50s-early 60s, caucasian, gray hair, heavyset build, average height. Flew slingshot kite/board and appeared to be a reasonably competent kiter, other than his beach etiquette.

I ride mostly at third (upper), occasionally alameda and the delta and had never seen the guy before, nor had several other eyewitnesses at alameda that day.

[Greg]

the way to give a proper hot launch is to turn it over, before you toss it... #-o
L.M.G.

[windhorny]

great, now we have kite terrorists !!

[schwede]

Now that we have his description lets track him down, drag him to the Shack and tie him to that pole so we can practice crashing our kites intentionally into him.

mid 50s-early 60s, caucasian, gray hair, heavyset build, average height.

[friggin old guy]

It wasn't me, I swear. Please don't tie me up to the Shack.

No kidding, I was nowhere near the place and have a perfect alibi- at Sherman drinking beer and playing guitar 'cause the pm wind was so crappy.

I think somebody related to this guy was down at Waddell on Sunday and tossed my kite at the same time I was clearing a wrap on my bar- sorta close call- I think I should have self launched 'cause he seemed sort of put out by being asked to throw

[Greg]

maybe try "would you mind giving me a launch", instead of "Will you toss my kite"..

I also ask my launcher to "WAIT tell I give a thumbs up will you" , if they dont respond I repeat myself....

Sounds lame, I know- but then again I can't hear much with the wind blowing so I've got to be sure somehow..

[stone]

Don't wanna hammer the guy, just don't want him launching me or anyone else. My apologies to local folks matching the description--but there's no way around it, and I'll probably get a bit of vibe next time I bring my black/red cab to alameda (hopefully on a sweet south clearing wind).