Crossing 2009

[Tim S.]

Is there a date for the 2009 crossing yet?

Thanks!!

[Tighe]

2010 Kite Crossing are March 5-7

[JRN]

I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE DETAILS. I thought The Crossing had gone the way of Fleet 8 since M. Fox had decided to hang up his spurs. Is LAKAWA going to sponsor the event?
I remember the 1st Kitefreeze events featured a day where Mfgr. Reps could demo their gear, newbies fly trainers, etc. I'd like to see the return of "Demo Day" either as a stand alone event, of as part of another one. I think Metro Area kiters would just as soon have it closer than Milly to save on gas, motel, etc. Or else, have an alternative event close by. Have we mentioned making PASA membership a requrement for participation?
It would seem like an ideal time to sign-up, when everyone is gathered anyway.

[steveb]

Last year Slingshot,Best and Ozone were there. Velocity kiting, Midwest Mountaineering and Scuba center had booths etc.
I had a brand new 09 sport for demo and the only person who tried it was Scott. What do we have to do, bang you guys over the head with a pump to make you realize people have made an effort to be there with demos for you to try.
Pissed, annoyed, sick and definitely arrogant. My Pasa acronym.
( joking too, just in case anyone thinks I'm remotely serious )

[BBAddict]

How about a demo day with wind?! Just kidding, but it would have been more fun to try the new Velocity Kitings LF kites or the Ozone Sport or the RPM that was there to demo if the wind had gotten above 10knots! Hopefully the same people show up this year with new product again and the wind shows as well. Always a good time either way, but scheduling a kite event seems to be a sure way to kill the wind. OK, this years Crossing was pretty epic...

[Tighe]

yeah my arms are still sore from pumping up all those kites.

Maybe we're missing something Jim. What more can we do? Are you looking for demos of other brands? That's out of our hands. I know Mike Fox contacts quite a few but only Best, Slingshot, Ozone and in past years Cabrinha have stepped up to the plate. If you're interested in a brand not represented here locally, you might consider attending the South Padre Event they started last year. Sounded like a lot of brands were on hand.

I also think that manufacturers have realized that for places like ours where the wind is inconsistent, it is more cost effective to support local riders who offer demos throughout the year, than to put a lot of energy into a single demo day that depends upon the wind.

Are we missing something here?

Or are you talking more of a snowkite promotional day? I remember that day down on Calhoun that was part of the Kitefreeze. We realized there wasn't much exposure for the sponsors out on Minnetonka but also realized we couldn't have a competition in the fluky winds on Calhoun. So Friday of the event we were going to have an exhibition ride, trainer kites and kite demo on Calhoun. We had very light wind but overall I think it was successful.

[JRN]

SORRY, MAYBE IT WAS ME WHO MISSED THE POINT. I guess I would need to be bonked on the head to get my attention, but... Even though all the reps were there, not ONE approached me and offered to let me fly a kite. Maybe I'm used to a more aggressive sales approach, but I personally feel awkward going up to someone and asking THEM
for a ride. Did anyone addresss the Sponsorship query? Is Fleet 8 no more, & if not who is putting it on? Any thoughts on moving it closer to the main population of riders? How about PASA or some other form of liability coverage? Could membership be included in the registration fee of the event, and offer the bonus of year-round coverage, too? Even though there were tons of what I would imagine was demo eqp. at the last event, who-ever brought it there never identified themselves to me, anyway. Am I the only one who got this impression? Does one have to be a savant, and try to guess who these strangers are, & what brand they are there to promo? I'm just throwing out these thoughts in order to generate some feedback, and hopefully spark some fresh ideas. It is not meant as criticism of anyone in particular, just a look back at things in general.

[Tighe]

really JIm?

I feel like I, and others are constantly mentioning the demo option, on this forum prior to the event. We put up flags, we pump up tons of kites, offer free beer and brats. If anyone show's and an interest we offer to take it for ride. Other than going person by person and offering a demo, I think we're all doing the best we can. Do you have any other suggestions for getting the word out?

I think Mike's comments about the last Crossing were pertaining to the water Crossing, not the Kite Crossing. Hopefully he'll chime in here.

I think it would be fun to do a Winter Gathering. Either at Kite Island or WBL. Throw a date out, maybe with a snow date, and keep it casual

[JRN]

U R RIGHT, AS USUAL, TIGHE. I know most of the reps who are locals, and would not hesitate to ask one of them for a test drive. In fact I've flown a few of your SS's over the years, and appreciate the free trials. I can't remember if it was a 5 M TD or a Rev which let me do some riding on that cold and windy Thanksgiving in SPI. That is the smallest LEI I've flown, after getting overpowered on a 7! Part of it is probably frustration on my part, cabin fever, & the lack of rideable wind..."No riding makes Jim a grumpy fellow!" Thanks for letting me vent, nonetheless.

[scottman]

Just a thought....maybe we stop with the EVENT stuff and just go about it in the way we did with the GAthering, no prizes or anything like that but just all getting together for a day out on the lake and the more people that show up the better. People who represent a certain kite brand just be there put up your flags or whatever you want to do and just walk around and let some people know your there if they are unfamiliar with who you are and let it be at that? If someone of a certain kite brand wants to take it upon themselves to give free trainer kite lessons put up a flag for that so that if there are any bystandards just standing around watching it might get them into kiting?

Me personally I have always been against events that have prizes or trophies and stuff like that, we have proved without a doubt that we can all get together and just have a great time such as the gathering. Maybe the next winter type gathering should be be called the Winter Gathering and it be held on Lake Minnetonka at Kite Island and it be held on 2-21-2010? Jim I really miss the Kitefreeze days myself, man those were the days, people came from all over the world to that event, most excellent, if we could ever get something like that together again, what a deal that would be.

So who's in Winter Gathering 2-21-2010 at Kite Island, I'll bring my grill and people can grill whatever they want and lets ride and have some fun!!!

[JRN]

I'LL BE THERE! Does bratwurst go with hot chocolate?

[drknap]

Jim, the reason no one has approached you and offered up their kite is because we've all seen you fly your foils at the bear, or attempt to fly that is.... J/K

[JRN]

MAYBE WE CAN CALL THE WINTER NON-EVENT "THE RIB FEST" IN YOUR HONOR!

[Tighe]

maybe we could do it on the day Adam broke 10 ribs last winter. Everything happens for a reason, so maybe that was the reason....to prompt a rib fest???

[JRN]

NOW, YOU'RE TALKING! How many ribs in a full rack anyway? If we add Adam's & Kurt's together is that 12? Do you think Famous Dave's will sponsor it? I'll take ribs over brats any day.

[Woody]

Scottman, listen to yourself dude.

"maybe we stop with the EVENT stuff"
"Me personally I have always been against events"
"I really miss the Kitefreeze days myself, man those were the days, people came from all over the world to that event, most excellent, if we could ever get something like that together again, what a deal that would be"

All this in the same post yet!

Simply put, events get people together. You don't have to participate in the actual event to enjoy the camaraderie/brotherhood of kiting. Just being around a whole bunch of other kiters and feeding of the energy of the EVENT is awesome. Support 'events', don't send out any negative energy towards them. Many fine people work very hard to bring us all together to meet at events. Hope to see you at the 2010 Kite Crossing.

Good winds...

[scottman]

Why in the hell does everyone on this website take everything anyone says negative, if you don't want another Gathering in the winter than that's fine, I suppose my trying to get something together without having to charge people for it and get insurance is a bad idea? Not a problem, please consider this my last post on the website, Tighe take me off the post file, I'm done with trying to get people togther to just get together and have a good time, everyone have a great Holiday" I don't want to say X-mas because I might offend someone" and a safe holiday and get out and have fun in the snow!

[Bryce]

Lets do both. The crossing was great and the gathering was great.

[Tighe]

whoa this thread went astray...

I agree with Bryce, let's do any and all options. It's a bit of a bummer in the winter, with so many riding locations available, everyone spreads out and we don't get a chance see eachother as often. I'm up for any attempt to rally everyone together to share some stoke, whether to just hang out and ride, push our limits in a competition, or just share some stories.

Anybody that wants to put some energy into a gathering or an event, I'd say go for it.

Here are some great options already on the books:

Green Bay Snowkite Jam
January 2-3, 2010 Geano's Beach resort, Green Bay, WI

5th Annual Island & Boulder Lake Snow Kiting Expo held 15 miles North of Duluth MN on February 6-7, 2010. details http://www.umdrsop.org/%28RSOP%20Web%29 ... _2010.html

5th Annual Sturgeon Stampede Kiteboarding event Feb. 12-14 on Lake Winnebago, WI.

Snowkite Soldier - Hill City, Idaho, USA
Fri Feb 19 – Sun Feb 21, 2010

Kitestorm 2010 - Vermont, USA
Feb 20 – 21 2010

US Open Snowkite Masters - Skyline, Utah, USA
Thu, February 25, 2010, 5am – Sun, February 28, 2010, 7am

Dillon Snowkite Open - Dillon, Colorado, USA
Fri, March 5, 2010, 3am – Sun, March 7, 2010, 9am

Mille Lacs Kite Crossing 2010 March 5-7 Garrison, MN

[scottman]

Tighe, please take me off this site, unregister me or whatever you have to do. I'll take off my classifieds stuff. Thanks for letting me use the site in the past.