They don’t "see us", until someone does something that is emotive enough for the evening news or local rag news, like stranded out at sea, maiming someone, traffic jam caused by kite accident over bridges... so on and so forth. Ultimately it just ends up being a 5 to 10 second segment that gives the general brain dead tv watching public a poor image of the sport. .. Not a fan of the media – like a stereotype car salesmen really!


Otherwise it’s shown as an extreme (ha-ha) sport on a tourism/morning show to fill in time between segments.

Funny your right about newy and it's soem of the giuys who've kited longest who think they can still get away with it..
Had a friend approach a guy who was kiting throough the flags, and the guy said I can do it as I there isn't many on the beach and I know the life saver on duty. So what happenss tomorrow when some one comes down doesn't know any better and rides in the same spot and has life savers yelling at them..
I wnat to remind people we are a long way from where we started the older riders now need to set a good example of where to kite and how to be friendly to other water uses and people coming into the sport..

Great forum topic. My comments are;

1. Windsurfers tack at a lower angle than kite surfers and hence we run across their angles = conflict. The extreme of this is Maui and stringently defined kiteboarding and windsurf zones. Lets hope we don't get to that. (Just give way to the poor buggers).

2. The critical importance with the "paid" lifeguards is a close working relationship and regular communication. i.e. in Newcastle most of the local guys know the lifeguards on a first name basis and regular chats on how things have been going have been very successful (eg. Nobbys & Dixon Park beaches). The key has been the local riders speaking to, instructing and policing new kite boarders in the area. (So far so good).

3. There is no place for ego & bull**** etc etc. We all represent the sport (amateur or sponsored rider). If we have an issue with someone or group at our local spot it is in everyones interest to speak "calmly" to them about it ,- - Give it a day or two if tensions exist, but discuss it in the context of the future of the sport.