Sherman Beach Expansion?

[Guest]

i can't believe someone suggested limiting the number of kiters on the water at a time. the river is f-ing huge. people ought to try using it. i've seen so many lame ass ripping kiters including zeev riding front and center inside on busy days cuz they are too lazy to go upwind for 10 minutes and help clear out the launch area. get a clue everyone!

and yeah, the non locals and locals who are all amped up to get on the water need to chill out before there are more accidents like the one on sunday. everyone chill out at the launch. there is plenty of wind at SI: you aren't going to miss your session if you have to wait 5 minutes to rig. or even 30 minues....it blows all day.

and what makes you think people would actual come and go on the appropriate launch and land beach if another beach was cleared. people apparently can't read the directions to launch and land with the current exit and entry setup that is posted everywhere. everyone: read the rules and obey them. don't be a kook.

safe riding to all. and if you act like an amped up ass and can't keep your sh&% together launching, landing, and riding at SI then please stay home!

[Kies]

I stll have scars from the berry bush clearing in 2001/2002. Back then the area we use now was dominated by windsurfers and we were way out numbered. So a path to a kite beach was formed. Gabe, Darin and lots of folks donated sweat and blood over a long period. (They must have gotten drunk one night and busted ass though, cuz I remember a huge leap in progress when came back a week later...who knows)

Ho chi min trail to top beach was more of a need than a choice back then.

We had boards and logs and such to walk on because high tide meant water well before you reached the beach hence the Ho-chi-men trail name. And high tide really meant, no beach at all. I also saw one dude get tangled in a fishing line once.(fisherman use do use it)

The problem with ho-chi-min is that these high tide hassles made us want to walk the kites in and out. (like Gabe mentioned) This option for the weekend masses will eventually spell disaster with an accident bound to occur. This is not to say there is no solution, but to give the history.

Not sure how much of the windsurf crowd has converted but getting more real estate from them may be tough. I witnessed more than one close scuffle in the old days (never see that any more)

HOWEVER, you are totally on the right track. Perhaps there is a way to build it up again. hmmm??? sand? gravel? wood?, clear it back further. Not sure how much or who....BUT, you are right, and PRO-ACTIVE, beats RE-ACTIVE everytime. one big accident and who knows?

=D> =D>

[Pablito]

Well, the reality is that there are more new people (like me! -- kiting just one year) coming all the time, and SI is the best spot around.

I try not to take what is there for granted, but show respect to all the locals who made it happen. That windsurf "parking area" beach sure seems like a huge waste of prime real estate, but then, they were the ones who found SI in the first place.

I think the comment about restricting kiters on the water was a joke... It's true that there's tons of room out in the river -- that's not the problem. The problem is the launch. It's not just crowded. It's unsafe.

Anyway, I'm going to talk to Indian Bob next time I'm there, just to feel him out and see what he's thinking, and if anyone else has been talking to him about it.

[kitechick]

If what you say was true, then there would be no beach at all at Alameda, Santa Monica, Mission Beach in San Diego, etc

Actually the beach in Alameda is an artificial beach and bulldozers are working every spring for a couple weeks to bring the sand back in.....just take a look in winter how little of the beach is left. Additionally every 20 years a complete overhaul is required with adding lots of more sand.

Anyways. In the "good old times" we just took the effort and walked our kites and boards to HCM. The path goes through moskito infested areas, through swamps, it was "padded" with boards and trash fragments so when you slipped your feet sunk into the mud and into the unknown at high tide, you could get overheated in your wetsuit (that's just me), and...the "beach"....was completely disappearing at high tide.... But hey - it worked actually. It was just necessary to have buddies there, self launching and landing is a bit tricky there at times. So far my memories. Also you better make sure that you know how to fly a kite really well before going there but that applies to the whole location.

So - what happened to that adventurer spirit? :?: Are all the "youngsters" sissies? Not willing to suffer a bit for getting an awesome kiting session? Why is nobody using HCM when the other beach gets unacceptably/unsafely crowded? HCM is perhaps worth a revival.

Perhaps another idea could be to find out how nature makes the sand collect in certain areas. Like in erosion control projects where sometimes very litte barriers make sand floating and accumulating in certain spaces. Perhaps something like that can be done to improve HCM. It could be as little as moving some of the driftwood/tree trunks a bit sideways (upwind).

- Sylvia

[jstjohn3]

This Just In: SI is a wildlife preserve, there can be no expansion or clearing of anything, including berry bushes. When the berry bushes were cleared last time, Wildlife Officials came down hard on the park hosts and made them fill out a 14 page permit after the fact. Then they said they would have absolutely NO reservations about banning kiteboarding at SI if it ever happened again. I've kited at SI on the weekends a few times when I've counted 60+ kites on the water, and with a little patience, I've never had an issue with launching or landing. As far as Curt's accident on Sunday, it is my understanding that it was a communication error that had nothing to do with congestion.

[charlie]

hole lot of river there, and the best part is well up wind !
fan out and seek clean air

[Guest]

'Nuf said. Leave the natural environment intact and launch with safety and consideration. Also, feel free to use the HCM trail anytime! Those 'skeeters DO NOT carry the West Nile Virus.

[Kites all in a bunch]

Weekends are tough when the winds blowing. It can take you a long time to get out. Generally I avoid it if possible. Sure it takes a bit longer to tack up to the butter from Lil Baja, but it might take me that long to get out waiting my turn at middle.

Most folks kiting Sherman are pretty experienced and there hasn't been major issues. FWIW, here's my opinion as a kiter, windsurfer, fisherman, husband, father, and beer drinker.

If you go there on windy weekends, then get ready to...

1. Scan for a spot of real estate to lay your kite out and pump. Find a spot for your board where you will be going out - front beach.
2. Catch kites between pumps.
3. Launch kites between pumps.
4. Catch and launch kites between stringing out your lines - be considerate and don't string on top of someone ready to go.
5. Hook up and wait your turn. I think kites coming in should have priority to land before you launch.
6. Launch, don't sit around discussing things with your kite up, get out and away from land.
7. Dodge Millhouse on the way out...just kidding Millie...
:mrgreen:
8. Don't trick near shore on your way out...you never know when you're going to faceplant and eat sand in the shallows.

Get away from everyone if you can. Sometimes light wind will pin everyone close to shore- that's bad.

After enjoying a ripping soul sesh, look to come in.

1. Wait for 5 kites hanging like balloons on shore to clear...don't be the 6th.
2. When the coast is clear, go in. Slow down.
3. Make sure kite doesn't luff or stall.
4. Get in the back safely and quickly away from those blackberries and tap out to land. Hopefully someone will land you quickly.
5. Get your kite. Don't leave your good samaritan standing there like a fool - he has pumping to do.
6. Get your lines out of the way.
7. Pack up, go home.

There, that's not too hard...

Oh, and if you're just beginning, take a ride up to kite-opia, go to Alameda, or kite weekdays. Don't wash in at the kiddie pool. I don't want to see anyone dangling from a kite upwind of my kids. There's no where to safely land with everyone there. Keep going and get out at Baja.

As a windsurfer, it's bad enough that kiters launch and ride upwind of me, don't make or move the beach any closer to the
windsurfing Bozone. We need that buffer.

Keep away from me if I'm fishing on the bank or boat. Don't want you snaggin my lines or spooking my fish.

When I'm drinkin beer...well, uh, not much matters when I'm drinking beer. :drinkers:

"The anonymous Sherman regular" - since 1987

[Kites all in a bunch]

Weekends are tough when the winds blowing. It can take you a long time to get out. Generally I avoid it if possible. Sure it takes a bit longer to tack up to the butter from Lil Baja, but it might take me that long to get out waiting my turn at middle.

Most folks kiting Sherman are pretty experienced and there hasn't been major issues. FWIW, here's my opinion as a kiter, windsurfer, fisherman, husband, father, and beer drinker.

If you go there on windy weekends, then get ready to...

1. Scan for a spot of real estate to lay your kite out and pump. Find a spot for your board where you will be going out - front beach.
2. Catch kites between pumps.
3. Launch kites between pumps.
4. Catch and launch kites between stringing out your lines - be considerate and don't string on top of someone ready to go.
5. Hook up and wait your turn. I think kites coming in should have priority to land before you launch.
6. Launch, don't sit around discussing things with your kite up, get out and away from land.
7. Dodge Millhouse on the way out...just kidding Millie...
:mrgreen:
8. Don't trick near shore on your way out...you never know when you're going to faceplant and eat sand in the shallows.

Get away from everyone if you can. Sometimes light wind will pin everyone close to shore- that's bad.

After enjoying a ripping soul sesh, look to come in.

1. Wait for 5 kites hanging like balloons on shore to clear...don't be the 6th.
2. When the coast is clear, go in. Slow down.
3. Make sure kite doesn't luff or stall.
4. Get in the back safely and quickly away from those blackberries and tap out to land. Hopefully someone will land you quickly.
5. Get your kite. Don't leave your good samaritan standing there like a fool - he has pumping to do.
6. Get your lines out of the way.
7. Pack up, go home.

There, that's not too hard...

Oh, and if you're just beginning, take a ride up to kite-opia, go to Alameda, or kite weekdays. Don't wash in at the kiddie pool. I don't want to see anyone dangling from a kite upwind of my kids. There's no where to safely land with everyone there. Keep going and get out at Baja.

As a windsurfer, it's bad enough that kiters launch and ride upwind of me, don't make or move the beach any closer to the
windsurfing Bozone. We need that buffer.

Keep away from me if I'm fishing on the bank or boat. Don't want you snaggin my lines or spooking my fish.

When I'm drinkin beer...well, uh, not much matters when I'm drinking beer. :drinkers:

"The anonymous Sherman regular" - since 1987

[Guest]

"Well, the reality is that there are more new people (like me! -- kiting just one year) coming all the time, and SI is the best spot around.

I try not to take what is there for granted, but show respect to all the locals who made it happen. That windsurf "parking area" beach sure seems like a huge waste of prime real estate, but then, they were the ones who found SI in the first place. " - posted by pablito.

AND THIS RESPONSE IS DIRECTY TO PABLITO.

THAT IS NOT SHOWING A WHOLE LOT OF RESPECT TO THE WINDSURFERS ONE BIT. "WASTED REAL ESTATE" I'VE NEVER WINDSURFED AND THAT IS JUST BULL TO EVEN SAY THAT. THAT IS THEIR SPOT TO STORE THERE GEAR LET THEM USE IT NOT TAKE IT AWAY FROM THEM. YOU TRY CARTING AROUND WINDSURF GEAR.

SINCE YOU HAVE ONLY BEEN AROUND FOR A YEAR SOUNDS LIKE YOU OUGHT TO SHUT THE F&%* UP AND TAKE THE WHOLE SCENE IN FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE YOU START TRYING TO MAKE CHANGES.

"SI IS THE BEST SPOT AROUND" - GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND LOOK AROUND A LITTLE BIT. THERE ARE SO MANY AWESOME PLACES TO KITE. SI IS JUST ONE LITTLE BLIP ON THE RADAR. DON'T BUILD THE PLACE UP LIKE IT IS THE ONLY PLACE TO KITE: THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY PLACE TO RIDE. AND MANY OF THEM BLOW SHERMAN AWAY.

IT IS LAME ASSES LIKE YOU THAT ARE GOING TO f&%% IT UP FOR EVERYONE AT SI.

PABLITO YOU ARE ONE OF THE KITERS THAT IS CAUSING PROBLEMS AT SI......GO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO KITE. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME AT SI.

BEST REGARDS, A LONG TIME SI KITESURFER SICK OF ALL THE BULLSHIT THAT IS GOING ON AT SI BY THE LIKES OF PABLITO WHO HARDLY HAS THE SKILLS TO RIDE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

TAKE YOUR DOGS AND FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO RIDE.