Just wanted to share this story and hear some opinions...

So I pull up to a large park on Sat. Beautiful day...about 80F, wind is light (8-10mph) but consistent. Ok conditions for the Rage. Two guys are playing baseball and there's another group playing some touch football. I find a little area in between them where I can get some runs in. All is good for about 30 mins and then I notice a guy with some cones coming towards me. He starts to place two cones about 25yds downwind of me. Then he walks past me and places two cones 25yds upwind of me...so after about 5 mins, I'm right in the middle of 'his' soccer field. About two mins later a group of about 15 kids starts practicing. I'm thinking, are you kidding me and think, can't he play on that side of the park,,,plenty of room over there. But, being the nice guy I am, I decide to move upwind (touch football game is now over),,,not a lot of room left at this point and the grass is a lot thicker. Then two guys decide to start doing sprints right in my 'new' area. I then decide to try the far end of the park...everything is going fine until these 2 guys decide to fly their remote controlled plane...again, I'm thinking, are you kidding me....So I finally decide to try the last portion of the park that is left but then a group of about 10 guys start playing soccer.

I decide that this point to call it a day..happy in knowing that I got a few good runs in and a nice suntan.

Your patience and control are better than mine I'm afraid. I might've tried some diplomatic reasoning with the cone guy. You will find that most people only see what they are doing. People usually have no clue that their actions have an adverse affect on others. I think it is a rule that if I am in the back of a cove on the lake, and either pull on a barefoot suit or a slalom ski, there will be a pwc, float boat, or some other boat come and do circles in front of me to ruin the glass water that was there for the last 10 minutes. They could see me there with ski or suit on with a handle in my hand and I'm just sitting there, but they don't notice anything about me whatsoever. You just have to be happy to be out there in the first place.

Yes .. props to you. I know I wouldn't have been so nice either. I would have been using that guys cones for markers to buggy around. :moon:

Where abouts is this field in LA by the way? I lived there for a year and didn't find anywhere local to landboard

Well done for being so courteous though

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Originally posted by lunchbox Just wanted to share this story and hear some opinions... So I pull up to a large park on Sat. Beautiful day...about 80F, wind is light (8-10mph) but consistent. Ok conditions for the Rage. Two guys are playing baseball and there's another group playing some touch football. I find a little area in between them where I can get some runs in. All is good for about 30 mins and then I notice a guy with some cones coming towards me. He starts to place two cones about 25yds downwind of me. Then he walks past me and places two cones 25yds upwind of me...so after about 5 mins, I'm right in the middle of 'his' soccer field. About two mins later a group of about 15 kids starts practicing. I'm thinking, are you kidding me and think, can't he play on that side of the park,,,plenty of room over there. But, being the nice guy I am, I decide to move upwind (touch football game is now over),,,not a lot of room left at this point and the grass is a lot thicker. Then two guys decide to start doing sprints right in my 'new' area. I then decide to try the far end of the park...everything is going fine until these 2 guys decide to fly their remote controlled plane...again, I'm thinking, are you kidding me....So I finally decide to try the last portion of the park that is left but then a group of about 10 guys start playing soccer. I decide that this point to call it a day..happy in knowing that I got a few good runs in and a nice suntan.

The best advice I can give you is to try and work with the park department like I did here in Oklahoma. We now have a portion of our park set aside strictly for Kiting activities and I have been instructed by the parks department to kindly tell folks that are trying to use the field for other activities than kiting on our field that this field is set aside for kiting and that is it. If they do not leave the field I then have the option to call the police to have them removed from our field. Most people kindly leave, but I have had to have a few forcebly removed by the police. This will make for a better day of kiting, but a big props for not kicking some butt like I am sure you wanted to do.
Big John
JoJo1

kite flying is a big magnet for dumb watchers.

when I ride small parks, people come and watch closer. sometimes just downwind to you. I have also seen curious walking under my kite lines when I was static flying a 4m in serious wind conditions, without even noticing me.

so we have to deal with that to avoid any type of accident, otherwise we'll lose the parks.

i know, some people are completely insane... a middle aged woman once thought i was going to hit her with my 17m speed and was legging it like crazy, she was a good 50 feet away from being anywhere near enough to be hit, but it was quite funny when she tried running through the sand and fell flat on her face petrified of my lovely gentle white kite :D

Then there's other people who aren't scared of them at all and will stand right in front of you as you come towards them on a mountainboard, good excuse to powerslide transition though

That's why the waters better, you just get out there and ride on your own, no distractions... lovely

It could be the the practice session could have the field reserves ... or bring some of your own cones and when the party encroaches just point out the area that you marked off before they decided to invade AFTER you were there 1st. and that they are more than welcome to use after you are gone or if time is a factor point out the adjoining field that's not being used...

Most people at my flying spot either carry on as if nothing is out of the ordinary, or are super interested, and quite kind about it too. I flew my kite to close to people just walking by on accident, and shouted out to apologize, and I got 'Its alright, I'm too entertained to be upset!' back.

So far, no conflict. However, a friend once told me that when he was flying when a guy on an ATV comes tearing by. Sure enough, police come not to much later,and a chace ensues. All while my friend continues to fly. Suggests the police don't much mind. However, if the police ever come around, I'm keeping my feet on the ground. Don't want them to think I'm a liability.

My after work spot is right by the seawall. I put on quite a show for the tourists. I suggest that there is TONS of video + pics of me floating around Japan !
I try to predict the stupidest thing they can do and often THEY DO !!
Another problem is the off leash dogs. They come after me and my kite all the time ! :duh:

I second the dogs thing. I'm not afraid of dogs a rule, but I don't like being charged by them while I'm busy tending to the kite either. It's even worse when you're flying in off and on winds and they come over to chew on the lines or worse (the kite)!

When people are passing by me I do try to move around in such a way as to guide them BEHIND me rather than under or behind the kite. Doesn't always work though.

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Where abouts is this field in LA by the way? I lived there for a year and didn't find anywhere local to landboard

Yeah, there's not really too many good spots close to me. I live in Encino which is part of the San Fernando Valley...about 25 miles north of Downtown LA and about 30miles east of Malibu. I usually kite at Balboa Park which is pretty good size and close to home. Unfortunately, it has a lot of soccer players. In that case, I'll go to Van Nuys park (not sure what it's called) but it's just off Van Nuys blvd about a .5 mile north of the 101 freeway.

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The best advice I can give you is to try and work with the park department like I did here in Oklahoma.

That is definitely worth a try. It is a very popular park but I'll definitely research that. Thanks.

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kite flying is a big magnet for dumb watchers.

Aint that the truth. People were also going right underneath my lines and just walking as slow as can be..no cares in the world. But I think the award goes to the guy that came over to me, talked to me about the kites and then wanted to either fly the kite or feel the handles...just out of the blue grabbed the handled and this was on a day I was powered up...Now that guy, I had to say something too...!

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That's why the waters better, you just get out there and ride on your own, no distractions... lovely

Tell me about it...it's been about a month and a half since I've been in the water (lack of wind) and family obligations...Talk about jonesing!

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or bring some of your own cones

Might have to try that one as well...

....just realized that was about the only thing that was missing from the day's fiasco...dogs...guess it could have been worse!

I say put a bucket on your lines and scoop up fido. That'l teach em' !!! (btw I'm kidding)

God only knows I have seen many a tourist walk directly underneath about 30 feet in front of me. I once even had a couple set up their beach towels!

I think it comes down to knowledge or lack of. WE know the potential of these kites. THEY see them as that friendly plastic Gayla brand kite they use to fly as kids. -

When I see someone headed in my direction I usually skim the ground at full throttle from one side of the window to the next. This "defines" my territory and if they still come "inside" I land the kite it at the other end of where they are. This usually works. Sometimes though it is time pull lines and go home.

Sorry ya had to leave Good job on the patience also I would have been upset. To put it mildly.

Another one I love.
Some folks are enterested so they walk over and stand in my zone. I stand with the kite off to the side or put it down and we stare at each other. After a minute or 2 I suggest that if they would like to watch me the could get out of my way. It's like this light goes on :!: and they step to the side :duh:

Yes I have had that happen also. Ya know when I first started this sport it was not to bad. But know I find myself needing more and more room Forever searching for the next good spot. You know like, this part of the earth is mine you go to the other side please.:D

You know as a kid When I fly on the beach people tend not to notice me or are afraid I am going to lose control. sometimes there is just that guy that will stand right down wind of you and stare at the kite. It gets really annoying.