Hey Dudes,

A couple of saturday's ago I was setting up a couple of new Sandgroper Kites with customers at Shoalwater (near Penguin Island). Following this one of the newbies flew the kite about 20 metres out with the intention of body dragging. A group of tourists came in and paddled within metres down wind of the newbie. This group was with a tour group... so I sent an email off to the company. Please see below my email and the response.

Those of you who are jumping upwind of tourists in canoes... please stop. We dont want the council getting invloved... do we??

Andrew
www.sandgroperkites.com

MY EMAIL: (PS Ive blanked out their company details)

Dear ,

On Sat 22nd January, I was assisting a couple of learner kite surfers set up their gear close to Pengiun Island Rockingham.

Your tour group came in to the beach from Pengiun Island and crossed within metres, directly downwind, from one of these learner kite surfers. I suggested to the guide that he should be advising your customers to stay upwind, however this was ignored and your customers were placed in a very dangerous situation.

Within approx one minute of the group passing, this learner kitesurfer did loose control and was catapulted down wind. If one of your customers been in the way they would have been injured or possible killed.

I encourage you to please speak with your guides and educate them on the danger in which they placed themselves, your customers and other beach users.

For further explanation please do not hesitate to phone me on 9331 6077

kind regards

Andrew Walsh www.sandgroperkites.com

THE RESPONSE:

Hello Andrew,

Thanks for your concern. We pass by that same spot on a daily basis and realise the dangers present. last year we had to initialise a new safety talk on Penguin Island in regards to Kite boarders in the area on the way back to the mainland. Our clientele are aware and informed. We had never had an issue because the majority of the kite surfers know that we use that area daily and we try to avoid each other. On that day our clientele were first time novice kayakers aswell. I saw the learner kitesurfer as the kite initially went up, having a bit of trouble. I then saw him regain control with the assistance of one of your guides. It can be very difficult to make novice paddlers in such a strong seabreeze to just turn around and paddle up in to the wind to avoid a kite boarder who set sail within 20 seconds of us arriving. With someone yelling orders from the beach possibly makes matters worse. You were ignored because if we had of told the entire group to avoid this kitesurfer in this wind they may well of pushed straight into him making matters worse. I agree it was a dangerous situation that happened and I apologise for any dramas. Maybe your guides need to keep an eye out for other users of the area and not launch with a novice straight in front of a group of people coming in especially within such close proximity of a designated public beach access area. Maybe even moving 25 metre down the beach. We have been using this area for the last 4-5 years and back then Kite surfing was in its infancy at this location. Now when we arrive back on the beach there are all these kite boarders who think they own the place with strings across the path kites all over the beach etc. There has been a fatality with kite boarding at this location previously and from what I have seen over the years and especially your 22nd incident, there is a potential for more be it either the general public, people watching, walking their dog along a beach they have walked all their lives, a boarder or a paddler. If this is the case maybe something needs to be done about it or signs erected by the shire informing all users that it is a multi-use area. I would hate to have to approach the shire in regards to this issue but it may need to be done to prevent any further problems. I am sorry if I get angry but I have seen kiteboarders do the most stupid things before like trying to show off by jumping right in front of a group of people, stacking it and leaving strings flying at head height. Our clientele are informed about kiteboarders in a safety talk. Do you give a safety talk about other users of the area around your lesson and how dangerous it can be. We now carry knives in our jackets in the case that we need to cut strings that become entangled in or near our kayaks. Since this incident we have tried using an alternate take out point to the south of the jetty but due to cross winds it is easier to use our current location in stronger winds.

Regards


Manager/guide on the day

I agree with poor relative, talking about the dangers of kitesurfing (with possible fatal outcomes etc. etc.) much less putting it in writing is dum (sorry I know you have the right intentions at heart) and has obviously been done without due thought for the possible outcomes. IMO you as a kiteboarder and kiting business ownwer should be showcasing the sport in the most positive light possible. If the council gets so much as a sniff that even YOU much less the general public consider the sport a danger to the greater community look out!

With Public Liability issues as they are today - what would you do?

I generally find that a quite chat with the people on the scene is far more effective than going to print and possibly inflaming an already dodgey situation.

Andrew,
I have to side with Surgeon/Poor Relative mate, I reckon you've just shot yourself in the foot. Putting in print negative phrases like 'catapulted downwind','injured or possible killed','very dangerous situation' and 'learner kitesurfer did loose control'(sic) isn't too clever.

Newbies need to be far away from everybody and everything, for everyone's sake.

Din't think there would be a problem kitesurfing there orginal went there to get away from crowed areas around the corner.
There are the dumb kitesurfers out there
Don't piss people off or they will tell us to piss off

Andrew settle down and have a think about the natural progression of getting into an argument with other beach users - this is how I see things anyway:

Option 1. Kite surfing community (Suppliers, Kite Schools & Kiters) self regulate and promote the sport in a positive light = no complaints = everyone is happy.

Option 2. Go to council and ask for permission to erect 'WARNING' signs on public open space warning the general public of their imminent danger by using said public open space - jeez I'm no Einstein but I think if I was on the council I'd be going - 'what exactly are a handful of people doing endangering anyone and everyone that goes to a beach that is under my jurisdiction - I think I'm going to act now, what is easy - I know stop the dangerous act, after all someone has put it writing that there is a potentially deadly activity happening - if I do nothing now, that is tantamount to 'NEGLGENCE' I'm getting concerned - I know ban said dangerous activity!’

I know that it is the easiest thing to get frantic and warn people of how dangerous it is to be downwind of a kite and it’s a natural reaction; however there are smarter ways of going about things. You can politely ask someone move upwind while you launch if they have arrived while you were setting up or just plain move yourself. It’s inconvenient that other people want to use the beach however they have every right to be there and this is what all kiters must keep in mind.

I’ve kited Rocky – and to be honest with you I’ve seen some real dumb ar#e stuff down there – no offence intended – IMO the industry (shops & schools) need to ensure that all new punters are safe - not just cover their ar#e’s by recommending lessons or having a waiver signed (I know you have no control of 2nd hand gear). After all if the sport gets banned everywhere you won’t have an industry.

Andrew,
like it or not, Kitesurfers are right at the bottom of the food chain when talking 'beach users'.(Well, maybe jetskis are equal bottom).
Anyway, this tour operator guy has every right to use the beach without being inconvenienced so if I was you I'd cool it.
The last thing you want is for the Local Authority to become involved because I guarantee they will take the easy option which is a no-brainer......Total Ban
Get it.

I like it I'm sure you'll get a good response from Mr Kayak.

Everyone needs to remember that you are supposed to do sport for recreation (unless you’re a professional) if it stresses you into a rage to the point you need to rant and rave at people cause you’re having a bad day - pack up and go home. You’ll live longer, you'll be happier and so will everyone else. IMO for what it's worth.