Yesterday afternoon a kiter appeared on lake Calhoun apparently ignorant of or apathetic to the self-imposed ban on kiting on city lakes (except for on ice in winter).
Yes, I know I'm being a tattle-tale here but this guy was an exceptional piece of work. He rode right through the middle of the swimming area and landed his kite on the middle of the north beach (yes, there were people on the beach).
Slingshot inflatable kite, younger guy, short hair, maybe a goatee... didn't recognize him.
Kiter on Calhoun 9/11/12
Moderator: MK
-
ice_kmauve
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:18 pm
- Location: St. Paul, MN
Re: Kiter on Calhoun 9/11/12
To anyone uninformed: in order to keep the lakes safe and peacefully continue to use them, the local kiting community here has agreed not to use Calhoun, Harriet, Hiawatha, Nokomis or other inner-circle urban lakes unless the water's frozen. Wintertime use is okay.
Please -- we've all agreed to this. Check out the much more favorable conditions on Waconia, Mille Lacs, White Bear, etc. If you have questions, ask around. Hopefully this was an isolated incident by someone unfamiliar with local rules.
In brief, Here's why:
1. Calhoun is crowded and a runaway kite could cause major mayhem. If your kite got loose and made it onto the busy parkway just north of Calhoun it could get into traffic causing major havoc, injury, car accidents, or get somebody killed. It could also tumble onto a swimmer, roller blader, cyclist, child, baby, etc. Imagine the horror knowing you'd crippled or killed somebody just so you could get a session in.
2. Eventually something like this is inevitable which is why we agree on this ban. But even the risk of this type of thing could cause Minneapolis to ban kiting on Calhoun, which would set a precedent for banning kiting on other lakes.
Don't risk people's safety !! We can continue using the area's lakes if we're respectful and if it's clear that the kiting community is willing to put safety first.
The safety of innocent onlookers is your #1 priority in kiting. after that is your own safety. Usually they go hand in hand. I know it's tempting to use Calhoun b/c it's allows major exposure to [attractive spectators] but still, rules must be followed. If you want to use Calhoun take up windsurfing.
Please -- we've all agreed to this. Check out the much more favorable conditions on Waconia, Mille Lacs, White Bear, etc. If you have questions, ask around. Hopefully this was an isolated incident by someone unfamiliar with local rules.
In brief, Here's why:
1. Calhoun is crowded and a runaway kite could cause major mayhem. If your kite got loose and made it onto the busy parkway just north of Calhoun it could get into traffic causing major havoc, injury, car accidents, or get somebody killed. It could also tumble onto a swimmer, roller blader, cyclist, child, baby, etc. Imagine the horror knowing you'd crippled or killed somebody just so you could get a session in.
2. Eventually something like this is inevitable which is why we agree on this ban. But even the risk of this type of thing could cause Minneapolis to ban kiting on Calhoun, which would set a precedent for banning kiting on other lakes.
Don't risk people's safety !! We can continue using the area's lakes if we're respectful and if it's clear that the kiting community is willing to put safety first.
The safety of innocent onlookers is your #1 priority in kiting. after that is your own safety. Usually they go hand in hand. I know it's tempting to use Calhoun b/c it's allows major exposure to [attractive spectators] but still, rules must be followed. If you want to use Calhoun take up windsurfing.
"They call me Doctor Love.. Doctor love!!" - an obscure rock band.