Power Kite Forum

sad day at Ivanpah

702dirtsurfer - 18-4-2011 at 03:12 PM

took my landsailor to the playa today,test out my newly finished twin seat. On a side note,the seat is awesome. I digress.

We were the first to arrive today. Parked at the end of the road and set up. As we start cruising we see cars so we go to say hi. So we come upon a van and the unthinkable happens maybe 40 feet from them. The gooseneck breaks,mast and sail go sideways,seat hits the ground. Luckily we were pulling up to them slow,to say hi,so no injuries.

Let me start by saying,I'm not new. I know going out there I may be alone. When I am alone I never stray far from the car. When I see someone stranded or working abnormally long on something, I check on them. Now here's where I get mad.

40 ft from us is a man who owns a business taking people out on landsailors. I will keep his name and business to myself, you can find out for yourself who this is. Well apparently a mast going sideways on someone nearby isn't enough to bother him from setting up. Or asking if we need help. Or even seeing if we are okay.

We are a couple miles from the car. I walk up to him,introduce myself, and explain an OBVIOUS situation to him. Asking for a ride to our car was like pulling teeth. He obliged,but it was clear it was begrudgingly. Now here is where I become furious.

As a teacher,is it safe to assume this is the behaviour he teaches his clients?!?! Maybe not in the curriculum, but any GOOD teacher knows you teach as much by EXAMPLE, if not more! Just infuriated and at the same time saddened me because as stereotypical as it may sound, I know there's no way a kiter would've even made me ask for a ride.

Now after the fix I saw another local I hadn't seen in 2 years. Said hi,showed him the break. After my mast telescoped in, Steve wasted no time riding to me to see if I needed help. Still closer to the "van guy" than Steve. That to me says everything I need to know about his teaching methods and is why I will never recommend his services. Because for me, the first thing to learn, is we all go out for the same feeling and sticking together is key.

BeamerBob - 18-4-2011 at 03:27 PM

white van? I saw a guy with student land sailors out there. Just wondering if its the same guy so I'd know who I'm dealing with.

WELDNGOD - 18-4-2011 at 03:30 PM

yikes! I agree, all the kiters I've ever come across, are some of the coolest people I have ever met. Matter of fact ,all the blokarters I have ever met have been cool too. I would think an instructor would be a little more "community" oriented than that.

702dirtsurfer - 18-4-2011 at 03:46 PM

Kiters are and always will be my favorite group. I'm not out to start turf wars,the playa is big enough never to need see him again. I've been out of the game for awhile and I had hoped the clique attitude of some of the blokarters here had gone as well. Oh well, I suppose even something as awesome as our sport can see the darker side of humanity too. Which is okay,because it makes the good people that much better.

kiteetik - 18-4-2011 at 04:10 PM

kinda reminds me of a week ago,i met some kiter who wanted me to help him launch---i got the feeling that he was just a self serving guy--so i launch him--no thanks or anything--like i had nothing better to do, and i had asked him before if he could help me with a problem on my frenzy and he had said yes, but quickly forgot which was irritating......i saw him bout half hr later and he needed help again--i didnt lift a finger, it would have been easy to lay my frenzy down,but i didnt like his attitude, so he waited for another half hr for someone else--i'll avoid him next time.....

acampbell - 18-4-2011 at 05:14 PM

wow. No good karma for the D' bag in the white van.

First time at NABX on my first day I am cruising around on the North end of the lake and spot an overturned Blokart. As I get closer, I see the mast snapped and the axles snapped off with the wheels scattered about. I dropped the kite and check on the rider, hanging from the seatbelt with a broken shoulder or collarbone and unable to get out without help. I got him out an flagged another buggy to go to B'town for help. Someone drove him to the hospital

I only hope someone would do the same for me (and this crowd would of course)

shehatesmyhobbies - 18-4-2011 at 05:25 PM

Kudo's on your effort Angus! We are the same way up here in our neck of the woods! The way I look at it, it's all wind sports, even the kite surfer's! I look out for anyone out there, no matter what they are riding or flying!


Sorry you had such a crappy experience DS! At least you know most out there would not have given it a second thought to helping you out!

pokitetrash - 18-4-2011 at 06:28 PM

Dont let that experience mess with your head DS. Some people take their "hobby" or "sport" too seriously. Sounds like this guy, trying to make a living off of tourists, is in it for the money and not the sport. Owning Blokarts and Buggy gear, I love both equally and there is a place and time for both. I have had mostly great experiences at any event with folks riding either. I did feel a little snubbed once by a landsailer group at an event but they were talking in terms and technical details that bored me to death, so maybe that showed on my face. I ride the crap outta whatever Im sitting in at the time and I dont worry too much about the "right" pulleys, lines, kites, sails, or hardware. Everything I own suits me right out of the box so when I come across a snob, I just keep rolling.

Your experience reminds me of a group of total Tools I fly RC planes and helis with . The club I'm in is run by a bunch of competition crazy snobs who are constantly tweeking their stuff on the ground. I probably fly 5 flights to every one of theirs and they look at me and my kind as if Im in their way when they fly.

I just go to have fun and play with my toys and be friendly to those that want to be friendly back.

geokite - 18-4-2011 at 08:30 PM

Talking with some of the locals on Sunday at nabx, I didn't hear very good things about the guy who rents landsailors. His customers end up miles downwind, not knowing how to get back, ask the buggiers how to work the thing.

BeamerBob - 18-4-2011 at 08:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by pokitetrash
Dont let that experience mess with your head DS. Some people take their "hobby" or "sport" too seriously. Sounds like this guy, trying to make a living off of tourists, is in it for the money and not the sport. Owning Blokarts and Buggy gear, I love both equally and there is a place and time for both. I have had mostly great experiences at any event with folks riding either. I did feel a little snubbed once by a landsailer group at an event but they were talking in terms and technical details that bored me to death, so maybe that showed on my face. I ride the crap outta whatever Im sitting in at the time and I dont worry too much about the "right" pulleys, lines, kites, sails, or hardware. Everything I own suits me right out of the box so when I come across a snob, I just keep rolling.

Your experience reminds me of a group of total Tools I fly RC planes and helis with . The club I'm in is run by a bunch of competition crazy snobs who are constantly tweeking their stuff on the ground. I probably fly 5 flights to every one of theirs and they look at me and my kind as if Im in their way when they fly.

I just go to have fun and play with my toys and be friendly to those that want to be friendly back.


Dude, this is why we got along so well!

I'll have to keep an eye out for the fish out of water downwind from "white van". He leaves all the doors open on the van and I slowed down when I went past. Might have to adjust my behavior if I get the cold shoulder. I'll spring my Tennessee accent on him. No one can be nasty then. :rolleyes:

702dirtsurfer - 18-4-2011 at 09:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by pokitetrash
I ride the crap outta whatever Im sitting in at the time and I dont worry too much about the "right" pulleys, lines, kites, sails, or hardware.


That's what I'm saying! As virtually the only dirtsurfer and kitewinger here, I wondered where I fit in when I first started. The local kiters here are bar none some of the best people I've had the pleasure of riding with and knowing. The biggest problem you'll have as a landboarder is them always trying to get you in a buggy lol. There's also some really great landsailors here too I swear!

We are the ambassadors and it pisses me off when one bad apple spoils it. I guess I hoped that our sport was above "crotch rocket vs hog" mentality.

So I'll conclude with if your reading this John Doe, thanks for the ride. Really I appreciate it. But anyone who witnesses that and raises no finger is not only bad karma waiting, but also an unchivalrous jerk for making a LADY ask for a ride back to camp.

macboy - 18-4-2011 at 10:10 PM

....but of course the answer is crotch rocket :lol:

Hell, my crotch rocket overheated in a charity run way back when and you know who stopped to help? The Hogs.

702dirtsurfer - 18-4-2011 at 11:03 PM

Hehe that's because hogs rock! :karate:

tridude - 19-4-2011 at 05:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by shehatesmyhobbies
Kudo's on your effort Angus! We are the same way up here in our neck of the woods! The way I look at it, it's all wind sports, even the kite surfer's! I look out for anyone out there, no matter what they are riding or flying!


Sorry you had such a crappy experience DS! At least you know most out there would not have given it a second thought to helping you out!


The way I look at it, it's all wind sports, even the kite surfer's!
.......................WTF Rich..................:smilegrin:

DSer,

Def not good human relations for his biz............Im sure AWOC will pick up his former customers..............consider the source, move forward and enjoy the playa (I gotta get out there)...................:thumbup::thumbup: