The Mechanics of Beaurocracy.

Councils can stop groups or individuals using certain equipment or doing certain activities above the high tide mark if they deem that activity to be a nuisance or public risk.

The Department of Transport can classify certain craft to obey their Maritime Rules, however for a type of craft to be prohibited from a section of ocean or estuary would take a Supreme Court ruling to change the Maritime Law, usually instigated by "an incident" and a recommendation by the Department and the Water Police that this type of incident is an ongoing and real (usually life threatening) problem.

Water Police will only act and fine people if legislation is in place and agree that extra bans and Policing of fringe activities only add workload to an already understaffed force therefore will probably not push for banning of anything.

Marine Rescue Groups are made up of people who volunteer their time to "rescue" people in distress and they take great joy in rescuing people with no idea from the cruel sea and then giving them a tongue lashing about safety and the need to approach the sea with caution.

It is unlikely that bans will occur in the ocean ever.

Councils may prohibit certain beaches from rigging. (bad for commercial operators)
However maybe you may have to launch at a less crowded spot!
Boo Hoo if you cant cop that sweet.

Stupid people with kites will always be stupid people with kites.

Jimmyz said...

I say we should stop focusing on solely on not getting banned and realise the bigger picture here - consideration for others.

I don't understand why registration would be such a bad thing? Sure you'd have to pay a small fee, but who cares! It'd be minuscule. It would require people take lessons to get one presumably or at least get approval. All it would mean is that simply the kiting community is able to enforce VERY BASIC codes of practice which ensure the safety of ourselves and others. Its a matter of education. I think retailers will probably have to take responsibility for informing people (about registration).

I saw two special people the other day trying to launch a kite by holding onto to opposite wingtips and RUNNING it upwind... as if it were an aeroplane taking off, no safety leash either, beach jumping 10 feet, lets face it there is NOTHING to stop people from doing that, nor is there anything telling little johnny not to fly his 20m C kite in 35knots unless he looks it up.

How the heck are we 'self regulating?' in any way beyond our individual self-restraint?

Cutting people's lines etc is a short-term solution.

As much as I despise the majority suffering at the hands of a few its a small price to pay when compared to what the authorities could do if they have to take the wheel on these issues.

You couldnt police it though,not everyone kites in designated areas unless you going to pay people to travel up and down the coast all day looking for unregistered user's, and even if you did catch some one using a kite that was unregistered etc its not like you could have any power to stop that person using it or that you could cut his lines, that would be like seeing a bad driver on the road failing to give way and slashing all his tyre's, im pretty sure thats illegal and so would be doing any sort of damage to kiters property.

The only way i see you self regulating would be to have designated kite beaches where only kiters where allowed to go, and sign post all other beaches "non kite" beaches, that way you could keep an eye on the problem kiters and educate them

Era said...

Why doesnt Kitehard offer free lessons one day a month to change bad habits of would be kiter's problem solved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well i can say from my own experience Kitehard does a lot for free already, and has always being supportive of the kiting community.
so it all comes back to responsible people doing responsible actions. its more of journey of change rather than just an immediate change.

Kitehard said...

This is to all the kiters who are intent on having our sport banned.

WE NEED A LICENSE AND COMPULSORY REGISTRATION

lol. ^^^
I need a 6ft wave and 20 knots of breeze.
75% of the nation's kitesurfers don't need formality.
They don't need a stupid license,
They don't need a rego number,
They don't need a cattle tag,
They don't need the herd-mentality of Kitehard.
lol.

waveslave said...

Kitehard said...

This is to all the kiters who are intent on having our sport banned.

WE NEED A LICENSE AND COMPULSORY REGISTRATION

lol. ^^^
I need a 6ft wave and 20 knots of breeze.
75% of the nation's kitesurfers don't need formality.
They don't need a stupid license,
They don't need a rego number,
They don't need a cattle tag,
They don't need the herd-mentality of Kitehard.
lol.

A license and compulsory registration is just a fully certified approval to kook-out.
lol.

f.u.c.k. you ^^^

indeed we are stabber :)) hehehe at least one thing no other nation (not even whole god damn eastern block) can be a match for us :)

hee hee

slashing lines... stabbing kites... hacking, getting into a raGE, bricks in peoples faces... woo hoo (insert gorilla beating chest pic here) sorry for such bad ideas (not all my ideas but i like em').... just sitting here -5 or colder other side of the world green with envy of your warm windy situation + a busted ligament in my knee so no snow kiting...

but surly it is not such a bad idea to have a line slashing here or there to keep the excitment in this overly boring sport...

back to topic... you bad kids need to tell the police man if you left your kite out at sea and decided to swim home... or we might have yet another new article of stalking sharks..

stab slash hack
Posko

common 2868 said...

Australian kiting scene would definitely look a bit more skilled and in line with the rest of the world. So far we are all waaaaay behind everybody else. Keep on bitching!!

You mean regulated and banned like it is everywhere else in the world. It's these kinds of discussions that prevent us ending up like Germany, Holland, the US, France and pretty much anywhere else I've ever kited.

The next few years will be critical in deciding whether kiting ends up regulated or not.

Personally, I think the only thing to do is come down on people who are being d*ckheads on the beach - the person who said 1% can spoil it for everyone is kind of right, especially if we begin hurting other people.

I'm not so concerned about the risk of banning from people hurting themselves kiting - people already hurt and kill themselves on their toys without much sanction. But when they begin to hurt others we have a problem.

kiter789 you should seriously consider research before you say something as ridiculous as that. Obviously your idea of “the world” is a bit well…narrow….or maybe you simply didn't care enough for the subject to be bothered with research while pumping your kite on Chiemsee or Sauveterre.

Don't you just love listen to people who think that have any knowledge about the subject and gaps in research fill with daft bollocks.

I would be more than thrilled if we would adopt German or French for that matter, regulations. Which BTW would most probably eliminate self learners and other idiots form spots. Kitesurfing should be regulated and not matter what you do it will be! The only question is how….and by whom we will be regulated? This is not the case of “whether” and “in next few years” – it will be, as any other mass growing activity that puts you and spectators in potential danger.

Kitehard obviously was a bit angry when he wrote his essay hence his ideas of controlling the kite sport is defined by his a bit overwhelmed brain so do forgive the poor overworked bugger and move on to more reasonable ideas before “the gov” will force us to.

quite right mate

after living at mullaloo for 2 yrs and seeing heaps of crew blatantly riding sooo close to swimmers etc.. including me and my girl, I won't be surprised when its kiting is banned,
because it will be eventually. And too be honest i wont care since its such a ordinary place to kite! every time theres good wind its like a washing machine out there..

sooo lucky it's not an enigma then hey!

ho, lets go.

ramones......sorry

Kitehard said...
<SNIP>
Two nights ago a guy was reported missing and swam into Pinnaroo at 10pm from being way out. Although he self rescued he had no business being out beyond the rocks which are 1.6km from the beach. You are not allowed more than 400m out in open waters without a PFD Type 1. This can be enforced, do you want it to be? Jeesus!
<SNIP>

And did this kite have lights. No.

Could any glow sticks be seen while his kite was in the water ? No.

Could any other vessel in the area clearly see this full moon kiter in the relative darkness ? No

Kiting at night brings the sport into disrepute because its fundamentally dangerous.

This sort of thing that will happen every time someone gets into trouble kiting after dark. Apart from all the obvious issues, other other people cannot see you at night - even if only to assist you.

Bring on regulation/licensing. Lets get the bloody idiots out of the sport before they kill some gullible newby with their promotion of night kiting without regard to the safety issues.