Hey Marty, Thanks for being attentive to our needs and to the needs of the industry. I'm sure that you as a kitesurfer would have the foresight to know that if there is a lesson in progress that you wouldn't distract the instructor as that could have dire consequences. As far as the "kite coming down where you would have been standing", I am happy that you weren't in the way and again being a competent kite surfer, you wouldn't want to stand in the general vicinity of the lesson in progress. As you were the only person who complained, I would think that others who were there were paying more attention to their surroundings than you were. As far as our instructor "not being certified or a member of AKSA, your comment was and is misleading. Our Instructor is IKO certified, though we are not members of AKSA or SEQKA as of yet. I would expect a little more less "politic-ing" and a little more working together, as this sport needs. Why would you attack us in the forums instead of contacting myself or the shop directly if you had any concerns. Remember if you need to talk we are there for you.....

rodsound2k, First of all I am just letting people in general know what's going on. As loco said "This forum is a great agent for change - it airs issues that would otherwise remain out of the focus of we, the stakeholders." Secondly regarding my comment being misleading, as I said in my original post I asked your instructor if he was certified and he told me that he wasn't. Surely IKO must teach you not to conduct commercial kitesurfing lessons on a busy beach! Also how do you know I was the only person that complained, isn't it better for me to let people know on a forum rather than ringing the council? Have a look at Kitepower Australia's comment "KK used to have an Ozone account 2 years ago, but it was withdrawn, they do not sell Ozone anymore, unless its 2 year old models. The primary reason it was withdrawn was lack of knowledge on how to safely sell and promote power kiting and kitesurfing. Other brands did the same thing." Surely there must have been some complaints for that to happen?

Gold Coast foreshore, (less than) perfect for kite lessons one day.
Banned the next.

Rabble?

baldrick said...

Paul 1 said;
"Marty is clearly trying to stop kiting from being banned at Mermaid by advising your instructor that it is dumb to teach there, but surely you must know this seeing your shop is 2 mins from the spot ?"

Well it all makes perfect sense to me now. ^^^
Why would Kamikaze Kites do lessons kilometres out of their way......
when they have a convenient kite-dragging beach at their disposal just 2 mins down the street ?
I guess career suicide is kamikaze's short-term business plan judging by the photo.
Or is it ?
If Mermaid gets a kite ban, Kamikaze will just zero-in on their next target.
They'll find another kite-flying beach for their newbies to dick around on.

Ioz said...

That photo was taken on a quite day !

You should see the swimming areas mid holiday !

I should add; with the tide out and a wide beach that hasn't been eroded by a number of solid swells, right now the with a high tide the waves wash up almost to the sand dunes!

Well I see the off-season nastys have set in already. [}:)]

Teaching on crowded beaches is stoopid and inviting trouble for all concerned - simple as that. Doing it when the conditions are cr@p and control of the kite is suss is sooper stoopid.





Right - I am hiding until the sweet breezes are back and everyone is back to the over-kited, exuasted, love thy kiter vibes again.