Ignoramus Maximus

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> 10 years ago

General Gear Reviews Newbies The Hookup Foiling Lost & Found WA NSW QLD SA VIC TAS

Bowski

VIC

204 posts

Bowski

VIC, 204 posts

2 Dec 2007 7:05pm

pclarky said...

Anyone that can't launch themself is a retard.

Interesting quote. I don't like self-launching my new kite on some of the beaches I kite at as they are reclaimed land, all the shells and other crap in the sand mix can scratch the leading edge causing blowouts.

As for people coming in and tapping their head and yelling while i am laying out lines I hate it, people should appreciate the fact that there is someone in there to help them land, for if they weren't there what would you do?? Be patient and wait until they get an opportunity to help you, don't take it for granted, they are doing you a favour! I always help launch and land, but if there isn't anyone there i land myself, if you can't self land then you really shouldn't be out there in those winds, self landing was one of the first things i made sure I learnt, it can save your life, that and learning how your QR works are the two most critical parts of kiting.

PS To be honest if someone came in demanding a land while i was doing my best to get straight out on the water i would ignore them for a while too! Never expect learn to appreciate.

stanhalen

187 posts

stanhalen

WA, 187 posts

2 Dec 2007 7:01pm

I guess I should be honest and say I haven't kited in these locations recently. but the point I'm making is Ruben Lenton wana be's are always going to be around, hopefully that behavior will disapear, and they will buy a jetski. How many kites with 30 meter lines can a beach hold? throw a beginner in the mix and a few ****ers? not many

mintaro

VIC

32 posts

mintaro

VIC, 32 posts

3 Dec 2007 2:57pm

Saffer said...

I tend to agree, there is way less attitude at Altona than St Kilda. (not much attitude at Brighton when I have been there)

Speaking of which, why do people (mostly newbies) insist on walking back upwind along the sandbank instead of walking up the beach and then proceed to sit with their with their kites at neutral or out over the deeper water so if you upwind of them and trying to get out, it just makes it a nightmare. Its bad enough trying to get out with people waiting to launch, but with a ****load of newbies all standing on the sandbank, it just adds to the frustration.

I can't speak for others but for myself I walk out to the sand bar a) because it is close to the car park and close to where you put your gear.
b) it is fairly down wind (I've only kited in southerlies)
c) it is not too precariously close to the pier
d) my up-wind kiting is not too good. So if I start any closer to the beach there is more chance of my kite causing havoc with other people.
e) I figure that those with any skill would prefer to be upwind of us newbies so being down wind -- which also means being on the sand bar -- seems to make sense.

I'm totally open for suggestions if you have some alternatives.

Oh, and I re-read your post and you said "upwind". So sorry, I can't answer that one.

superlizard

VIC

702 posts

superlizard

VIC, 702 posts

3 Dec 2007 4:11pm

I agree with Minatro. The problem is there is always something that will annoy somoene. I can't really see how would a newbie know where else to start from than in the middle of the bank, some distance from the shore leaving some buffer. ANd given that newbies usually sit in a spot gradually moving downwind, the more experienced kiters should not have any problems overtaking upwind... Only now that i've progressed on being able to ride upwind, am i confident enough to walk up the beach (about 100 meters right of the pier) and start from there without having to walk back upwind.

Secondly - i too found Altona kiters very friendly in person and easy to chat with (i've spoken to ten kiters this season at least and none had attitude problem), and there is always someone that assists, and i always look around and am ready to help out with landing/launching. Perhaps the Ignoramus was not local.

Thirdly - sound frequencies don't travel very well in straight direction in strong winds, so yelling to get attetion may be useless in some cases.

Fourthly - a person could have reduced eye sight, making it harder to see if you are looking at him. Not saying that was the case with the original post as i wasn't there, but just giving possible scenarios.

But i do agree that as kiters we should look out for each other and protect the sport.

Saffer

VIC

4501 posts

Saffer

VIC, 4501 posts

3 Dec 2007 8:34pm

Don't get me wrong here, I have no issue with the guys launching from the sandbar, that will happen. The major issue is when people choose to walk upwind along the sandbar because that leaves no space for other people to launch. If they go into shore and walk up the beach and back out again, people who are launching can get out, but it becomes a nightmare is when you have 10 newbies all lined up on the sandbar or walking upwind, there is just no gap to get out. Once you get through, its easy enough to head out upwind away from the crowd and get space but the actually launch is just a nightmare.

Its also difficult for us to launch further upwind where there is a gap in the sandbar because the people are often undergoing instruction there and bodydragging but at the moment, the only place to get out is where these guys are bodydragging and you are kinda putting yourself in the line of fire for a real newbie who hasn't even mastered his kite control properly then.

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