WA
422 posts
Ok, I've recovered.......what to do what to do.(thinking)
I was wondering, a kite competition for the masses, that's everyone, not just the hot shots. Ive got a couple of ideas doing circle work and burn-outs in my head and I want the feedback from you people out there.
Remember...I want as many kiters as possible at this one, a truly "for the riders". Extraveganza.
Of course it needs to simply have lots of riding, in good conditions. I have a couple of spots for that. I would expect that flat water is the go for most but some will want waves, I can do that.
The party will have to be pretty good and I envision something similar to what was experienced at the windjam, an outdoor type thing, except no driving. so I'm thinking an all in package, accomodation, comp, food, booze... the works.
I'm thinking Port Gregory. I'm thinking footy oval, band with everyone camping in the caravan park in on siters and in tents. I'm thinking kiting woodstock type feel. maybe get the Slavo's to cater us for the weekend.
I'm thinking...not such a loose structure, kinda like Mambo, criteria doesn't just include tricks on the water.....
Feedback please.....Geraldton is a fun town, but I need something bigger to bite into and chew on til I choke, and no...I'm not that way inclined, so hold the jokes. serious feedback please.
WA
642 posts
If you want the masses to come, have it closer to Perth (for a change!)
Lanos would be perfect.
NSW
99 posts
Something like the Mambo would be good. Mambo gets lots of people there and the conditions arent exactly perfect for kiting, i.e slightly offshore, gusty shifty wind.
Somewhere that there is a spot with 2 or 3 locations within about half an hour of each other would be ideal, like merimbula, with the main surf beach, pambula mouth and the back lake offering something for virtually everyone.
Concentrate on getting kiters there to party more than getting kiters there to compete. A non stop bbq and bands etc would go along way...
Pitch it to some surf companys using the mambo as an example of how succesfull it can be, you might get somewhere.
Don't forget tho, your talking outside of perth which makes it a bit of a mission for east coasters to get there, one factor for mambos success is its about half way between melb and sydney, so 50 people from each city + a few others from here and there makes it easy for them to get good numbers...
WA
1097 posts
what about dongara
u can kite i am sure in granny's bay for flat water and then tack out to the point for a sick wave.
there is a caravan park right there on the beach which is a great setup???
i wood be keen for surrre.
WA
267 posts
i use to live at dongara and i think its a top place to have something like this.
grannys is not a very good spot to kite though the wind is messed up by the groin but south beach is the go, you have got miles of beach to set up on, there are usually 3 banks that the waves break on starting out about 200m and heaps of flat water in between.
if you want more waves you can head around to suicides, the bay or the point.
there is a surf club and kiosk at southbeach carpark we could get involved and the footy oval for bands is not far from there either
there is the caravan park at grannys as mentioned and one at southbeach as well.
there are also plenty of close out of town locations too.
cheers wayne
WA
368 posts
The format sounds great Gavin , Dongara sounds good .
Not sure what it is really like at any of the places mentioned as I have not kited any of them but have heard quite a few people talk up Dongara.
The main thing is a sheltered spot that everyone can comfortably watch the action from (including families and friends ) and spend the day listening to the music and enjoying the BBQ.
Get the party right and the kiting won't be as important if it isn't perfect , a bit like going to the races ( most never see a horse all day )
If you can get the camping spot in walking distance to the spot it would be perfect .
Also a spot that has waves would allow for a mal or surf expression session if the wind doesn't come in , still letting everyone have a good time .(Need something to laugh at )
Not sure where you get your energy from Gavin but can you send me some .
I think this format will get a lot of people turn up , looking forward to it as I have no doubt you will come up with something soon .
Mike
NSW
609 posts
GH The Comp Maestro
even if its half of what the Nats was
it will be quality
Go Gav Go
WA
422 posts
It's intersting what comes out you know. Dongera hey?. (Dongera tourism task force) actually approached the GWC wanting to hold a kite comp and were really keen. They actually wanted the Nationals too.
I'll follow up on the contact person and get them involved on this forum. Lets see what comes of it.
where do I get my energy from?. I reckon there's so much kicking around because there's so many complacent people out there that give up their share for the taking.
Honestly, I don't watch tv. Simple as that. Too many cool things to be involved in that constitute life experience. don't wait for it to come along, just create it is my philosophy.
Any suggestions on the months? Late season maybe?. early?
Perth band suggestions that would suit kiting styles of taste?
Lets (that means everyone) create a comp from this forum. cant be that hard to please everyone surely.
WA
267 posts
hey Gav i will be in dongara for easter from thursday to monday, if there is any wind do you want to come down for a day to check out and discuss this possible venue and kite of course.
cheers wayne
WA
1222 posts
shannon is really good mates with GYROSCOPE he used the song fire away in fireaway they might be keen and they are pretty sick band
WA
489 posts
I dont know them Im just a groupie like Gale
WA
422 posts
We are a big network of people on this forum, we have a year, lets keep it alive and see what we can create.
The more input from people, who know people, who talk about it and get involved, the bigger and better it will be.
I will happily keep the motivation going over time.
I'll communicate with Dongera or wherever it may be that we have it.
But lets all go for it.
Actions speak louder.
P.S. Glad I didn't stay out at Wreck Point very long a few weeks back.
WA
3464 posts
I would be interested to know the diff. between Port Gregory and Dongara as venue suggestions? I have never been to either.
Perhaps northern WA should be the venue as the idea came from there, plus I can drive it easy and LOVED what I saw in Gero.
I did spend some time looking at what the net had to offer on Port Gregory. The geopraphics look awesome....nice reefs about 500m off shore..protected bay etc....only 100 people live there, and the Pink Lake (can it be ridden?). History there too...couldn't find much on Dongera, but it is south of Gero., and a much larger center.
WA
81 posts
what sort of comp is the mambo? ie what type of competition,what tricks etc...have u thought of having a speed course set up? just something simple with the local coppers speed gun...kiters of any ability could have some fun trying to beat their own times and of course there would be some mighty competition between friends! just a thought...steve
WA
272 posts
The more action the better, with the emphasis being on having truck loads of fun. Nothing worse than sitting round alday doing FA.(no reference to any VIDS)
Dongara, pt gregory, gero, I dont care they all have the goods. A concernt would be great, day or night we need entertainment.
Food: Big BBQ
Sponsers: required....to help finance
Time: weekend, mid summer---more chance of wind, but not too much.
Gav, I recon that we should try an get bloody truck loads of people and make this huge, even if they are not kiters.
Thats my 2 bobs worth.
Cheers
Dale
WA
3464 posts
Yep agreed with what Dale has to say. Perhaps we should have a little warm up event this Winter though, during school holidays ...check out the possible venues. Doesn't need to be huge, but a trial run could be fun. Road trip, hitting Dong., Gero, Port G. and further North if need be.....Denham, Monkey.......yummy....chasing the wind.
WA
3464 posts
...."I'm thinking"....weight categories....love those super heavies and the fleas....
WA
312 posts
Don't forget Denham, even though theres no waves theres a bucket load of bays facing different directions so it caters for just about all winds. A couple of years ago there used to be a down wind windsurf race from Eagle Bluff to Denham, about 20-25 kms that would be good for the masses. The bay at Denham or other spots would be unreal for a slider comp, it could be the worlds biggest slider park. Theres caravan parks, a couple of pubs and its on the back packer trail. Only prob is the distance from Perth. Wind up here for the last 5 days has been 15-23 kts sw, looks like I'll be on again this arvo.
Whaddaya reckon
WA
422 posts
Now we have some ideas a flowin!,
Love the speed gun idea, that could really be a hoot!.
On Shark bay.....Awesomest spot, but I'm already working with the shire on something for this October, and i don't really know how folks would feel travelling that far North.
That's something I need to know, how many would be prepared to travel and how far; and costings.
If I could swing cheapish airfares to the "shire of the shark" would people use them?. Of course it would be coupled with free shuttle services everywhere. Again, that has it's own dramas with airlines only being able to cope with so many people travelling.
Then there's the party bus option. Chartering a bus from Perth to travel North, a full bus or two with trailers for gear bringing you all up doesn't cost a great deal. Maybe get on Friday evening say 6:00pm, arrive in destination 5-7 hours later. Kiting videos on the way up, settle in sleep in, action starts mid morning Saturday. Party Saturday night, Action starts mid morning Sunday, some sort of gathering Sunday evening for a 7:00pm departure back South. Get back bright eyed and bushy tailed to Perth with a grin!.
Can someone source a charter bus company quote that would meet that kind of option?. what cost would it look like?.
I like the idea of Pt Gregory and Dongera as they are within a resonable travel range and have caravan parks right there that we could utilise easily. same goes for Shark Bay, but it's another four hours North of here and I don't know how a large group of people would cope with that. (20 hours travelling round trip by road)
On the winter warm-up option, a great idea too, only very hit and miss with the weather except for around now through to the end of May. I'm talking Pt Gregory, it fires reasonably well later than Gero.
I am definately up for doing a kite session (few days) there during these school holidays and will most probably be up there anyways. All welcome!!. I can organise an informal get together if we can lock in some dates when a few crew can be up. dates?.
Gavin
56 posts
Hi Gavin,
nobody mentionned Lancelin. A little closer (so you can make it on a short weekend), you have the waves and the flat water...
Sunset it Gero, the view from the camping sand-dune/hill is awesome, the bbq is great.
Rockingham could be nice, we could set up a judges stand on the sandbank, put some sliders, have a speed crossing to penguin island.
Port Gregory was great, but where are the waves? And going anyway further than Gero for less than a long weekend would be quite difficult...
What about Rottnest?
Jose
WA
3464 posts
Rotto would be very cool...will the saftycrats allow it?
WA
422 posts
G'day Jose, hows tricks down there in the big smoke?,
First question....waves at Pt Gregory are around that bottom corner to the North for a beach break. South around that top corner for a bigger break.
There are lots of great options for location in WA for events, get togethers, but there are limited spots that I can have any input on. I seem to be a minority in organising comps for kiting for many legal and logistical reasons.
I'm stoked if someone wants to do all of this at Lancelin, only it won't be me. Too far away for organisations sake. I don't know anyone down there and certainly don't have council support which I do have up this way.
It would be great to have a few WA guys getting together and putting on a low key comp at their favourite spot, going through the motions of getting approval etc. A competition is a very handy way to educate riders coming to your area of how it needs to work there.
Meeting the locals also seems to be best done at a comp. And with them in "official" roles it gived them confidence to be pro-active from that point on at that location.
So many good things come out of comps....
It's also a great way of making a local group of kiters "tighter" as a unit if they all work together for a common goal (all be it beers and giggles)
Good for tourism from the local council perspective and by going through the event procedure builds relationship with local council and "opens ears" when it comes to dealing with issues, if they have dealt with you before with positive outcomes.
I call it "pro-active politics" and hey....comps are fun!. parties after are fun, there is no escaping that fact.
Sorry Jose I got a bit carried away there.....did I answer your question?.
WA
3464 posts
Still doing the venue brainstorm...perhaps we should look at the Woodstock model, as in Gavin's original thought. Woodstock is 4 hours from NYC, some hours from Beantown...way out in the sticks...simply a farmer that agreed to the thing and said ok...and the people came.
It is the organisational logistics which might be a nightmare anywhere but in a sleepy place off the beaten path. I will go and check out Port G. and Dong. in a couple of weeks....thinking week of the 4th April....weather patterns must be good though.
I'll make contact with you Gav.
Hoo Roo,
Nick
WA
422 posts
Ok,
How about calling it "kitestock". Any other ideas?
WA
422 posts
I've decided to go to Pt Gregory over the Easter break for a session or two. If anyone is interested get in touch.
WA
354 posts
Hey Gavin,
Sounds great! Jake and I and a few others will be in Pt. G. over easter at the caravan park. Come stay! If not can go kiting!
Theresa
I'll be happy with almost any tunes as long as it aint pop chart covers of guy sebastian or Britney Spears. Perhaps some chilled Blues or funk .....hmmmmmm maybe even some good Aussie hip hop. 
