Local support has been VERY positive here in Long Beach!!

http://www.chinookobserver.com/co/northwest/20150105/rule-ch...

YAY!!

Steve

Great article! Really glad to see that the hard work the individuals that have been putting into this may finally pay off on a more lengthy time.

I really hope this works out!

Really positive sounding read! Congrats to all of you Washington folks!

A very positive piece of press, the sort of thing that will probably cause one or two lessons to get sold!

Any word from the hearings?

The meeting last night in Ilwaco was pretty well attended. There were 30 plus people with a group of buggiers, boarders and blokarters. Evans Fletcher, Jimmy Vaughn, Steve Irby, Steve Herbertson, Morrie and Kelci Williams were there.

We had a lot of positive comments and some negative, but I think we have answers to most of the negatives.

Tonight the meeting is in Ocean Shores. We expect quite a few people from the kiting community there. Wish us luck!

Good luck to you all !!!

Thank you all for your efforts

I look so forward to spending a little time in Washington

Hope the Ocean Shores went as well tonight!!

I wish I was at the 1st meeting so I could see how the 2nd one faired.
I have to say one thing, fletch, aka Evans has done one remarkable job with this entire endeavour. Not many people have the compation he has to dive into the bulls**t world of politics and local government egos and succeed to this degree.

WAY TO GO, EVANS.

Last night's meeting in Ocean Shores was well attended, probably 50+ people. In general it was fairly positive except for a vocal group from the City of Ocean Shores. Including the mayor and several council people. They seemed to be totally unaware that any of this had been in progress for the last 5 years and wanted more control/visibility of the process.

Thanks for all of the support from the kiting community in general, the buggiers, blokarters and land boarders who attended the Ilwaco and Ocean Shores meetings.

I agree with Jeff on the kudos for Evans! Without him we wouldn't be this close.

As I mentioned to Evans on FB, any amount of beach that Ocean Shores doesn't want to give up, we'll gladly add to here in Long Beach.. :P I think there's a bit of a different "vibe" here about it...
World Kite Museum and Adrift Hotel would LOVE to open up the area in front of the Boardwalk (Bolstad to Seaview Approach) during the season where cars can't drive...eliminating those large moving obstacles...and giving some visibility to the tourist...Imagine how pretty that would be.....maybe I'll drop a few kind words of thanks/support to my connections in the city government.
(ugh...I'm so NOT political)

One thing to mention, to those who had not attended. Mr. Kline (State Parks Planner) took some time to check out my Flexboardz (stood on it) and had several "cool" comments about it...
Another light bulb moment was mentioning that:
As ambassadors of the sport we can follow any of the conditions or rules put in place, and self-police ourselves pretty good, but the 1% that will violate the rules will do it anyway.
We can actually be an extra set of eyes on the ground to help "advise" if we see...(infractions)...(light bulb moment) He said "Good point"!

I think most people who are against it, really haven't spent any time observing us, asked the right questions, and have some mis-conceptions about our manuverability/control/respect for right-of-ways/and minimal environmental footprint/impact (we use the WIND after all).

Squeaky wheel gets the grease....and we're so close...let's not fry the bearings.
KITE ON!!

Thanks for the kind words. It is not all about me however. I appreciate having Morrie, Jeff, Steve and other NAPKA members as a sounding board. I wanted to make sure it wasn't my beach I was trying to open but our beach. Saying this, it will happen, I am working to get as much real estate as possible that is reasonable. Some will be open year around and some in the off season. Some not at all. All in all it will be more then we currently have. So stay tuned things will come hopefully to a close by the end of May.

One more baby step, almost there!!

Greetings:

At its March 26 meeting, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission APPROVED rule changes that will allow wind-powered vehicles (WPV) on portions of Parks-managed ocean beaches. The rule changes will be filed with the Washington State Office of the Code Reviser and then are subject to a 31-day waiting period prior to taking effect. (View the rules, WAC 352-37 at app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=352-37. The specific rule under discussion is 352-37-190 “Excluded/limited recreation activities.”)

We anticipate that wind-powered vehicle use will be allowed by the end of May. We will post maps of specific use areas in the next few weeks at: j.mp/parkswind

The new rules include the following:
• The State Parks Director can establish areas on the beach where use can occur.
• Use is limited to the hard sand portion of the beach.
• Use can occur from sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise restricted.
• Prohibits use during recreational razor clam digs.
• Requires a minimum age of 16 for operation.
• Allows the Director to require additional safety measures as necessary.

Wind-powered vehicles include kite buggies, blo-karts, kite boards and other wind/sand sailing recreational vehicles. Based on the rule changes, WPV use will be allowed subject to certain conditions and restrictions in designated areas on Long Beach, South Beach, and North Beach in Pacific and Grays Harbor counties.

For more information, please feel free to contact me at randy.kline@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8632.

Randy Kline, Park Planner
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road SW, Tumwater, WA 98501
PO Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504
Phone: 360.902.8632
randy.kline@parks.wa.gov
www.parks.wa.gov

*****
WEB: www.parks.wa.gov
BLOG: www.AdventureAwaits.com
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DISCOVER PASS: www.discoverpass.wa.gov

I really enjoyed getting that email! Great progress!

:eekdrull:


The Associated Press

ABERDEEN, Wash. — State park officials are allowing wind-powered vehicles such as kite buggies on state-managed ocean beaches in southwest Washington.

Park planner Randy Kline says the new rules were finalized on Thursday and will take effect May 25.

Three-wheeled buggies pulled by a kite or a sail and other wind-powered vehicles will be able to use stretches of beaches in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.

Park officials plan to release maps outlining areas of North Beach, South Beach and Long Beach where they will be allowed.

KBKW Radio in Aberdeen says the new rules allow the vehicles to drive in the hard sand from sunrise to sunset, except during clam digs, among other conditions.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission approved the changes last month.


Huge thanks to Evans, Randy, and everyone else who helped to make this happen


http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/wind-powered-vehicles-approved-for-some-wash-ocean-beaches/

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/current.html

Woo Hoo!!

Way to go Washington.

We will have to start up an annual event!

Yes, it will be allowed on Washington Beaches as of May 25, 2015. Maps showing areas which will be open and when, will be available soon. Some areas open year around, some during the off season. After Labor Day and before April 15th. Some areas are just closed. The restrictions around Clam digging are, no flying 3 hours before and 3 hours after low tide. Just during the tide of the dig. The rest of the day is open. I worked hard on this. They wanted to close the whole day.
There are a few other restrictions, under 16 must have an adult, same speed limit restrictions as motorized vehicles, avoid congested areas etc. these will be posted once everything gets published.

The BIG thing I want to point out is, we ( wind powered enthusiasts ) will be under a microscope this first year, at least. There are folks, politicians, and others that do not what us out there. We can not afford to screw this up. So, that being said, if speed runs are your cup of tea, then go to Oregon or Dry lakes. If dune buggying is where you get off then stay off. We absolutely need to play nicely.

The law has been changed, but the Director of Parks has the final say on restrictions and where we can play. At the last Parks Commissions meeting it was suggested that we just open the beaches similar to Oregon. That idea, was put on hold for a year. It will be reviewed in a years time, if there have not been any problems, or concerns then maybe/possibly. So again, enjoy after May 25th, and play nice.

Thanks,
Evans

This is great news.I only have one question,Is there a website that lists clam digs and how long before the dig are they announced?

Fantastic, great news!

Evans!

Clam digs? You can check WAshington Dept. Fish and Wildlife's webpage for updates. The problem is they have a tendency to announce sometimes less then 24 hours before a dig. Makes it real hard to plan. That was my beef with the earlier language and thinking on the WAC revision. We compromised on 3 hours before and after low tide. I believe their season runs October to May with random days during that window.

Usually they notify of clam digs a week or so in advance. We had that one surprise clam dig a few years ago the canceled one of our events at Grayland. Hopefully this wont happen in the future, but it's a good idea to check at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/current.html for the latest scheduled digs.

The season runs from Oct 1 - May 31. Clam digs are scheduled on specific dates as opposed to Oregon's open digging during the season.

Thanks Morrie, Time to plan a Grayland Beach trip soon. Looks like clam season ends just as we start this year.

This is fantastic!
Thank you guys for all those years of hard work.

I am looking forward to starting to explore the Washington beaches.

Quote: Originally posted by buggeyed

Thanks Morrie, Time to plan a Grayland Beach trip soon. Looks like clam season ends just as we start this year.

Which beach would you prefer? Pacific Beach or Grayland Beach? Around 7/1?

I would say Grayland Beach, right in your backyard. Too bad Canada day falls in the middle of the week this year. The weekend of 6/25 could work, tides look ok, I don't think we want to be out on July 4 weekend.

That works for me. Tides could be better, but everything depends on winds. The 4th weekend will be way too busy and the following weekend is the kite festival so another busy weekend.

Sound like a plan, June 27 weekend Grayland Beach.

I'll try and make it. I love Grayland!

If ANYONE hit's Long Beach...make sure you shoot me a message, prior.
I'll do what I can to meet up, pass along approach conditions and widest (best) parts of the beach.
Likewise will post here if I know I'm heading out to play....