PLEASE, use some common sense when it comes to wanna-be kiters.
(LINK TO PREVIOUS POST FROM LAST YEAR) www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Please-dont-teach-your-mates-on-a-crowded-beach/After witnessing another scenario of profound stupidity at Umina Beach on Tuesday this week, am going to once again remind kiters to think about how dangerous it is when you give your kites to your mates to "have a go".
Let me emphasise here that the primary responsibility here lies with whoever the kiter was who loaned this bloke the kite to play with, who probably had no idea what potential dangers he was in for. As an uninformed newbie, most will have little idea of what they are getting themselves into --as an experienced kiter, you have a responsibility not to loan out your gear to untrained mates to play with. So, whoever the kite owner was (who I couldn't determine at the time) -- you are more responsible for the scenario below than your uneducated mate.
PLEASE, don't loan you kites to untrained beginners and please don't try and teach your mates on crowded, summer beaches.
LOCATION:www.google.com.au:443/maps?q=umina&hl=en&ll=-33.524045,151.328521&spn=0.001521,0.002736&sll=-33.754374,151.296265&sspn=0.012132,0.021887&vpsrc=6&hq=umina&radius=15000&t=h&z=19On 27 Dec, was kiting at Umina Beach on the Central Coast of NSW with several others. After about two hours of kiting came in and was speaking with the lifeguards who told me this story:
Terrain and conditions: 40m of beach, on shore wind blowing 20-25 knots. 20m downwind of kiter: 3m high bush scrub, trees, rocks. 30m downwind, beach road, parked cars, traffic and overhead power lines. Within 30 meters were sunbakers, walkers and children playing on the beach.Down the beach near the river entrance at the above location on Google Maps, a green 12m Cabrinha launched and went almost immediately out of control, dragging the attached person into the bushes. The lifeguards went to provide assistance but assistance refused. They asked him why he hadn't used his safety release when he realised he was in trouble and he replied that it was his mates kite and he didn't want to damage it.
The "kiter" dragged the kite out of the bush, and launched the kite again, repeating the above scenario. The lifeguards again attended and offered assistance. Assistance refused.
The kiter again attempted to relaunch the kite and this time was dragged across some rocks on his back and into the bush once again, with the kite coming to ground only a few metres from the roadway and power lines. He's this time ended up with significant lacerations across his back and arms. The lifeguards attended again, offering assistance and first aid, which was again refused.
When we returned to the beach and were told the story above by the lifeguards, several of us walked down to speak with the "kiter" to discover him jumping up and down with his hands overhead showing off his injuries (his back and arms cut up and dripping with blood) to the other beach-goers.
We asked if he'd had any lessons and if he were aware of the potential dangers of his actions to himself and others which included the nearby children, beach users, traffic and power lines. He responded that he'd just had a lesson as if none of these things had even occurred to him and then looked totally surprised that there could have been any dangers involved beyond his lacerated back and arms. Of course he was wearing no protective gear--vest, helmet, shoes, etc.
After a brief conversation where we suggested that if he wanted to continue he'd be best advised to seek out professional lessons, he finished his cigarette, flicked the butt into the sand and indicated that he'd probably leave it at that.
PLEASE: take note:
www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Kitesurfing/Kiting-on-crowded-beaches_4577390.aspxRob Smallwood
NSW Kiteboarding Association Committee
fair enough though good on ya.
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