There was a time when to be a 'kiter' put you into a mindset that meant that every other kiter out there was a mate. There was a sense of community that reached way beyond local beach groups to where you knew you could go anywhere, anytime, show your "yeah Im a kiter" credentials and be immediately accepted into the universally elite group we then were.
Well Ive got news for you all.
We still are! As a kiter you are one of the select few who know that thrill that only the power of a kite pitched alongside the beauty & wonder of nature can bring.
To my rough estimate kiter numbers are around 1 in 25000 of the Oz population. That puts you in a class equivalent to being a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang. Why is it then, with nos. still as exclusive as this, you dont see kiters still wearing their colors proudly. Standing together as one with a loyalty and kinship the bikies have managed to maintain far longer than kiters have ever existed.

Last weekend was the annual WAKSA Redkite Downwinder. Heres the perfect opportunity for Perth kiters to get together, do something for some of the least fortunate of non-kiters out there and have an awesome group kite. All compliments of a free shuttle bus provided by the generous efforts of the volunteers running the organisation we should ALL consider the core of our sport.

So where the bloody hell were you??? An afternoon of near perfect wind for an event that was within the capabilities of all kiters (excepting perhaps the newest of newbies). IMO a huge opportunity lost to all who didnt rock up.

On the brighter side - the snippet of news I heard before leaving the apres-kite drinks at Clancys was that, despite the poor turn out, the funds raised were heading towards an all time positive record. A huge shout out for those who took advantage of this great fun event and backed their great day out with a big effort on the fund raising side.
And huge props to the WAKSA crew - yet again.

And to everyone - lets make it a rule to never lose that great bonus to the addiction we kiters only know. Make kiters around you as important as kiting itself. It is a magic part of the sport I, for one, really dont want to us lose.

I don't think the WA crew realise how good a job WAKSA does... Organise plenty of events and comps, which must have a large volunteer base.

Over in NSW, the event scene seems to be much quieter... Probably due to the lack of AKSA support in the state?

Be good to see the difference in state member numbers, no-one else in my area is an AKSA member but majority are in WA...

Agreed stamp I kite to get away from Homo sapiens. Then again I work in a very people orientated job, so I'm all socialised out by the end of the day.

Um, the comparison with outlaw bikies, flippant though it may have been, is all sorts of wrong. Their so-called "camaraderie" is largely based on fear and intimidation. Just as an apostate of Islam is supposed to be killed for their change of position, anyone who leaves or tries to leave the protective embrace of an outlaw bikie gang has "hell" to pay. That sort of "collectivism" has no place in kiting and no place in civil society.

Stamp's words resonate with me. I have no problem with organised kiting events, but they're not really my cup of tea.

Me, my minimalist gear, an opportune combination of the elements, and perhaps a few other kindred souls who are there not out of obligation or commitment, but simply because that's where they are at that moment.

Hi puppet et al

Have been following seabreeze for a year and finally felt the need to speak up.

The forecast for Perth was dire, so I drove nearly 500 kms to where it was nothing that green arrows. The wind was as promised, and every single Kiter I met was on the same page as me.

I too had been feeling something was missing after a year of kiting around Perth, most days I just self launch and keep to myself to avoid the crowds. So it was very refreshing to help people launch and land at what can be a cramped launch site, to share tips and pointers, receive unsolicited offers to try out a nearly new surfboard just to see if it worked for me.

The spirit of kiting that I knew and loved is still out there, but we might have to go the extra mile.

Oh and as far as I am concerned windsurfers are in the club too, when I stepped on a cobbler it was a couple of Swiss winsurfers than patiently heated water and helped me through the pain.

In five days I did not see or experience one 'give way fail' on the water, I yield and gave up waves for windsurfers and Kiters as did they.

I did not ask a single person their name nor did they ask mine, as it did not seem important.

I appreciate what WAKSA does and have met several of the hardworking volunteers, but was otherwise engaged this weekend.

I too chose to drive up the coast for a better fore cast, have done a previous Redkite downwinder though.
You can donate to Redkite at any time and with out being a WAKSA member, although its sad that some are chosing to no longer be WAKSA members especialy since WAKSA has been instrumental in saving access to a few spots around Perth,

And thanks for landing and launching my kite about a dozend times Windywanderer, I owe you a go on that board I guess

I am a big fan of the Redkite downwinder and have done it for the two years before this one. Unfortunately it clashed with another appointment this year, so wasn't able to make it. I will certainly be there next year if it is on.

Well done WAKSA for organising it, and to those who took part.

Hey thanks puppe'
Every kiter on the beach IS your mate. Do they all want to join in the organisation or is part of the reason they are kiters because there is no club membership required? No reliance on facilities provided by others and only the wide blue sea to play on.hahaha
Hey, don't ever compare us to criminal, mysognynist, intimidatory gangs.
There is a deeper and truer bond in those dependent on the weather for our kicks than a poor show up for a sketchy fundraiser may indicate.

Seabreezeb said...
losing

^^ best comment

bring on the red.

I kite with three other blokes and we have a great kinship going on, but I don't kite to socialise. We only chat as we set up and pack away, then try and outride each other in the middle.

I had a great time at the Redkite Downwinder. Loved it, met a few new kiting blokes, and am very appreciative of the WAKSA organising effort.

Total thumbs up WAKSA, I know what its like to organise these type of events, its a loveless task! Well you've got my admiration, thanks so much guys.


PS my missus took lots of pics, I'll lump them into dropbox or somewhere (about 400 photos...) and post a link this weekend.

Maybe I'm looking at the wrong places but I hardly see all any results of the hard work that WAKSA puts in.

There is Kitestock, L2L and this downwinder.

The only way I take advantage of WAKSA is that I got the insurance.. I've kited in WA for 3 seasons and if it weren't for the fact that I checked the seabreeze forum now and then I wouldn't be aware that there existed such an organisation. And looking at the comments here there might be to much mutually admiration and not enough efforts to reach the people outside the inner circle.

Snalberski,

Given that the event was officially endorsed by Redkite, there is/was an obligation on event organisers to ensure that the event organisers (in this case obviously WAKSA) have appropriate public liability insurance - so that Redkite aren't caught up in any unfortunate incident/problem.

As a WAKSA event, the public liability insurance that membership provides, only covers current members, and may be voided if non-members participate.

With this particular event, membership/non-membership has a double edged sword because inevitably non-members want to participate & donate. However, the $$ you are donating to Redkite still get to the kids we are all helping out, so kudos for you in making the donation directly to Redkite.

^^
1) without the PL insurance, it doesn't get the official ok/support from Redkite & without that, their name can't be used for promotion of the event.
2) any organised event also has to have PL insurance to use the grass/sand/dunes etc at Brighton beach (and any other beach). The policy would be voided if knowingly, organisers allowed non-members (& those not covered) to participate.
3) Your idea (that non-members sign a waiver & then are liable for injury/incident) would prob get torn apart by lawyers then expose the Association as ultimately responsible - and as we all know what insurance companies are like, any opportunity to re-neg on a policy....

djdojo said...
Um, the comparison with outlaw bikies, flippant though it may have been, is all sorts of wrong. Their so-called "camaraderie" is largely based on fear and intimidation. Just as an apostate of Islam is supposed to be killed for their change of position, anyone who leaves or tries to leave the protective embrace of an outlaw bikie gang has "hell" to pay. That sort of "collectivism" has no place in kiting and no place in civil society.

Stamp's words resonate with me. I have no problem with organised kiting events, but they're not really my cup of tea.

Me, my minimalist gear, an opportune combination of the elements, and perhaps a few other kindred souls who are there not out of obligation or commitment, but simply because that's where they are at that moment.

I think motorcyclists (in general) is pretty apt though. I ride a bike and some times I like to go off for a ride on my own and sometimes on organised rides with mates, or tag along with another group. When your out on a ride, almost always another biker will nod when going the other way. (Except harley riders who are too cool for the rest of us!) The feeling is similar to kiting, no one but another kiter/ bike rider knows the joys.

Number said...
Maybe I'm looking at the wrong places but I hardly see all any results of the hard work that WAKSA puts in.

There is Kitestock, L2L and this downwinder.

The only way I take advantage of WAKSA is that I got the insurance.. I've kited in WA for 3 seasons and if it weren't for the fact that I checked the seabreeze forum now and then I wouldn't be aware that there existed such an organisation. And looking at the comments here there might be to much mutually admiration and not enough efforts to reach the people outside the inner circle.

Mate IMHO WAKSA do a great job with a limited number of volunteers that benefits our sport which benefits you & I.

I heard about WAKSA through my instructor & see their pamphlets at some of the kite shops & i see the postings here on Seabreeze and very occasionally i'll go onto their website to check for info + there's emails.

I'm interested to hear your ideas on how WAKSA & KSA can let more kiters know that they are there and what they do for our sport & most importantly what they do for us as individual kiters.