Twin Tip Board ban comming to Crissy

[Col.kiteman]

Global warming, rising seas, soon there will be a beach again it will just be the parking lot. Youll be able to launch on the driving range. Or get a boat and drift launch for those inbetween years where youll be without a beach. Back to the crissy thread: if we all asked ourselves whats the worst thing that could happen, and made our decisions on those answers, there would probably be less rescues. Yeah if you cant read the conditions, and follow trends, model local behavior (exeption: crown beach) understand the tidal and current data, it may be best to use that twin tip to lay out on the beach and sit on it as you watch the higher volume boards cruizing around. As far as the board leash idea goes, i havent seen any of those contraptions add drive, or volume to a board (sorry but 2 reel leashes and a goejoe wont even do that). Its common sense but maybe not to the novice followers who think about kiting crissy: volume = floatation aid if things go wrong, and will get u a helluva lot farther in when wind dies. So untill tonna or whatever company that has that collapsible twintip, can invent a go go gadget change my tt into a board with float, it is best for most all tt riders spectate at chrissy, unless of course ur are a bonified badass as i know there is only a small handful of u out there. Ftr, ive been in this sport for 4 years, totally proficient on a strapless surfboard, and have yet to kite chrissy. Its a respect thing for that local circuit, and i am completely unfamiliar with the site and dont know anyone to "show me the ropes" out there. I disclose my experience for no other reason than to discourage beginner/intermediate from just trying it out because theres wind and water there, and theres also people out kiting there

[fearlu]

When I see Crissy regulars heading back to the rock... I follow! That way they can land my kite and offer me beer at the beach! NEVER be last guy out. Oh, and twintips have been cancelled...

[cleepa]

Ftr, ive been in this sport for 4 years, totally proficient on a strapless surfboard, and have yet to kite chrissy. Its a respect thing for that local circuit, and i am completely unfamiliar with the site and dont know anyone to "show me the ropes" out there. I disclose my experience for no other reason than to discourage beginner/intermediate from just trying it out because theres wind and water there, and theres also people out kiting there

Amen to that. I kited Crissy once, on my surfboard, 4 years ago with an introduction from a regular. I loved it, but a healthy respect for the spot and the conditions there always makes me think hard before considering going back. But the biggest factor that has kept me away from the spot is all the stories that keep on popping up about people's unwise actions. Here's a sampling of particularly bad ones I remember:

- Someone taking out the Anita Rock sensor with their kite
- A beginner going out, wrapping their kite over the Anita Rock sensor, freeing their kite, going out again and having to be rescued.
- People landing their kites in crowds of beachgoers

The list goes on and on... The alarming number of kiter rescues. People I see at other spots telling me about kiting Crissy when I've recently seen them do something very beginnerish (for e.g. walking up the bike path with their kite up at 3rd).

So much of all of that is people not thinking before going out, or a case of "not knowing what you don't know". Self policing can catch some, but not all, of this. It is worrying and puts me off going back.

[sloughslut]

I have not rode crissy but have been there a few times, race committe once and watched races last thursday, when i see guys who ride there all the time(some racers) with there kites falling out of the sky and committe boats running around till dark picking people up i never will ride there. i am sure there is a vessel assist boat in sf bay (but they charge which is cool with me) people who need a rescue should bite the bullet and call them and pay the fee not bug the coast gaurd. I have seen boats in the delta go on the rocks with the coast gaurd right there, i asked them once why dont you help or tow them they said as long as there not in the shipping channel and no one is dieing we cant help, they said call vessel assist. If you need rescue should you be there?

[Tony Soprano]

I have not rode crissy but have been there a few times, race committe once and watched races last thursday, when i see guys who ride there all the time(some racers) with there kites falling out of the sky and committe boats running around till dark picking people up i never will ride there. i am sure there is a vessel assist boat in sf bay (but they charge which is cool with me) people who need a rescue should bite the bullet and call them and pay the fee not bug the coast gaurd. I have seen boats in the delta go on the rocks with the coast gaurd right there, i asked them once why dont you help or tow them they said as long as there not in the shipping channel and no one is dieing we cant help, they said call vessel assist. If you need rescue should you be there?

To Clarify the Thursday night race seen. They hold the races late in the day starting at 5:30pm,
The Race committee tries to get in three races and sometimes run out of wind near the end of the day. Recreational sailors have no business being out there that late and or the prevailing weather/tide conditions. Remember the races are organized events with boat support. Also some newbies in the racing fleet are really not ready for crissy but the races are open to all interested sailors and again there is boat support. Only one recreational sailor was rescued last week during the kite races and a kook being out there given the obvious conditions, and yes he lost his twin tip board too. As courtesy to the kite racers, I personally get off the water before the races start.

Vessel Assist helps out if the are passing by and they hear a coast Guard call. But is not a solution for someone in the shipping channel and actually in the water, with the tide we have out there. If you are floating in the bay near the Golden Gate Bridge that is a big deal and a rapid response is required.

[sloughslut]

How many racers were saved?

[Tony Soprano]

How many racers were saved?

Approximately 7 out of a fleet of 41.
Like I said there are in my opinion, some newbies to the race seen and really are not ready, they can not even get around the course.

[sloughslut]

Dont get me wrong ,i think what you do for crissy is awesome and i know you and the locals are way better sailors than me so i choose to stay away

[grumpy]

I've got a GoJoe and a yellow Cabrihna so I should be ok

[cliftoncutshall]

I have never ridden Crissy and have no desire to do so. However if someone thinks they have the right to tell me what kind of board I am allowed to ride there, I might be tempted to give it a go on my twin.