Taurus said...
A dude came upto me on the beach last season asking for some advice on how to launch his 14m Torch on a 9-10m day. I figured he just lacked a bit of confidence, after I explained to him his kite no where near pumped enough - which he corrected. I was about to give him a launch when I realised he didn't have a harness, I ask him where his harness is and you guessed it, "I'm just learning, I don't need a harness yet".
The best I could do was talk him into moving downwind of everyone else, last I saw he was being dragged down the length of the beach.
Hi Taurus, I know it's a pain but in cases like this I think we have to step up a bit more firmly. 14m under-inflated torch and no harness! That's when you put on your most diplomatic and assertive voice and say, "Look, this is a dangerous sport and you're putting yourself and others at too much risk. You need to get some lessons and learn more about how the gear works. I'm not going to launch your kite, sorry, but safety and beach access are too important."
I've said such things very sincerely to a range of people, some much bigger and gnarlier than I am, and every time but two the person has understood and thanked me for the advice. In the two exceptions, the people were sh!tty but accepted my advice. I may well have saved their lives. One noob about my size wanted me to launch his 12m and another a lot lot smaller than me wanted me to launch her 9m when I (pretty experienced intermediate) had just come in for a break after two hours maxed on my 7m.
Appealing to people's sense of self-preservation works. Tell them too that they'll learn a lot by watching on the windier days until they have the right gear and skills.
Melbourne seabreezes are about to start and the kooks will be out in force. Those of us who know better will need to act on that knowledge.
As for the guy in the vid, no sympathy from me. Yes we all have to learn, but there are safe ways of doing it. It's not like information and instruction are hard to come by.
