Kiter violates Calhoun ban - lands on floating dock

[Chummers]

A kiter must have been unaware of the self-imposed ban on kiting on the city lakes in the summertime because yesterday he lost control of his kite and was marooned on the floating dock at lake Calhoun where there were a number of other people. Luckily nobody was injured, but it was a potentially dangerous situation and is a perfect example of why the kiting community intelligently chooses to stay off the city lakes in the summer. Maybe all sellers and dealers of kiting equipment in the area should remind their new customers about staying off the city lakes in the summer (and being careful in the winter to launch a good distance away from the path).

[Tighe]

wow. That's all we need.

If anyone sees a kiter on Calhoun, please take the initiative to inform them of the policies. I know that the shops do inform their customers of this ban. I am assuming, like you, that this person was not aware of our decision not to ride Calhoun. If they knew it and did it anyway...then I say we tie them up in Q power, hook their feet to a chicken loop on a 18m kite on a 30mph day and tuck one side of the bar between their legs. Hopefully it will be a east wind day and we can watch them fade into the sunset like in the Westerns.

The reasons we don't ride Calhoun:
Incredibly gusty winds due to terrain, city thermals, buildings etc.
Entire perimeter of lake is filled with risks, bikers, parents with strollers, kids, traffic, etc. etc.
Traffic on the lake can be considerable, sailboats, windsurfers, kayakers, canoers, etc.
All these together make for an unenjoyable, extremely risky and selfish ride.

To think that one bad accident on Calhoun, specially if it injured an innocent bystander, wouldn't effect our access on other lakes is very poor judgement. We could loose rights to ride Calhoun in the winter, other area lakes year round, and end up having to pay $100 a session to drive to Mille Lacs.

Since other kiters are not down on Calhoun to inform these riders, we may need to rely on our boom grabbing comrades in the wind. Please help us out.

done preaching, sorry

[pserrata]

I agree with Tighe!!

[Chummers]

I should have mentioned that Commissioner Corbett sailed over to the guy and spoke to him about the no summer kiting on city lakes policy. If we ever see kiters on the lake, we are certain to inform them about this. Yesterday was only the 2nd time I've seen a kiter on Calhoun in the summer.

[tyson]

maybe we should get signs up that make this obvious? as the sport grows there are going to be more and more kiters in the area that are unaware of Lakawa and the 'community' rules... having signs up would really help out, i think.

[seamonkey]

Is it ok for Chasta to do Calhoun? What if its just a promo for Lakawa? There ought to be some exceptions, myself not included.

[tyson]

nope, i don't think in the summer any exceptions are good. gear can break for pro riders the same as it can for newbies, and one broken line can mean out-of-control kite slamming into a picnicing family on-shore. mistakes happen, and that's one lake that a mistake will be much more costly than a long walk!

[BSMITH]

Let's kick his ass!

[TV]

"boom grabbing" ?

[Tighe]

sorry for the "boom grabbing" reference. I was trying to be more hip than I probably am. I meant windsurfers.

I was asked to coordinate some kiters in the back ground for some talks the mayor is doing during the Republican Convention...we'd get national exposure....but I said no. It was a tough call. They said they'd authorize jetskis on the water for safety back up and all, but I thought it was just a bad idea. Gave the wrong impression.

I will be trying to get some windsurfers down there around that time to showcase Minneapolis.

Our ability to self govern ourselves will keep this sport from needing certification and governing bodies controlling our sport. ...at least for awhile.

[Kosk]

Tighe,

Just a suggestion here. The Calhoun description on the site does mention the ban, but you actually have to read to notice it. Make it idiot proof and place it in big bold red letters right at the top, under the lake map before the text. It'd be pretty hard to miss.

Granted most people who would make the mistake of kiting Calhoun in the summer probably have no clue this site exists or that there is a ban.

[Dave Z]

How about a sticky about self-imposed tangle-surfing bans (Calhoun, some areas of WBL on the weekends, etc...) during the summer months? It's going to be time to dig up Dave H's WBL rant pretty soon once Ramsey starts to fill up with summer time crowds.

[TomG]

Being one of the first kiters in the state and back then not knowing any better back then, Calhoun was where I learned. Thankfully I never had any serious issues but a few scary moments. Back then it was 2 line kites of DOOM ! There are a few more reasons not to go on Calhoun. Some day I'll type up the stories and post them. I live by Calhoun now and always keeping half an eye out usually looking for windsurfers but if I saw a kiter I'd know what to do.

[scottman]

Sure would be nice if someone showcased Millacs lake as the place to ride here in Minnesota.

Anyone been to Millacs lately, I was up last weekend, no wind other than gale force winds on Friday but the Bugs are back and in full force, it's so darn disgusting at Reddy, wishe there were some way to maybe claen the shoreline maybe drag the beach for the weeds, drag net the bugs from the water and so on, sure would make it a better place to be to kite, there are so many bugs it's like a huge oil slick again worse than last year, I didn't even want to wade into the lake. Any suggestions on how to clean the lake shore up at Reddy, anyone have a 4 wheeler that could be used to drag the shore, I'd spend a weekend just cleaning it up if it would make a difference?

[Reel Nomad]

I can check with the MN Dept of Tourism to see if they want any Mille Lacs kiting footy.