Gotta say, the pass is dangerous enough as it is just with swimmers, surfers, and dive boats going in and out.
What this does do, though, is remind us all that it's gota be worth travelling an extra 10 - 15 minutes and kiting somewhere away from the crowds to preserve the future of our sport.
A total ban in one area will surely only set the precident for angry beach goers to get bans in other areas.
Lets think smart, kite AWAY from premium swimming beaches, and ensure that we all have beaches to kite on in the future !!

Having watched them yesterday I blame the Euros!

Some kitesurfing tourists have no perception of manners nor regulations and when you tell them to stay away from flagged zones or dangerous areas they just smile, shrug and keep going. Even in 10 knot crap winds.

Someone has got to come up with a way to get through to new or visiting kiters the spots you can and can't go and the wind directions and strength that work there.

AKSA's C.L.E.A.R policy works for people with intelligence. But it's not enough. I think we need a more specific guideline for each region and distribute it through kite shops.

It appears the freedome of the sport is starting to go out the window. The glory days are long gone i feel!

Bigwavedave said...

Having watched them yesterday I blame the Euros!

Some kitesurfing tourists have no perception of manners nor regulations and when you tell them to stay away from flagged zones or dangerous areas they just smile, shrug and keep going. Even in 10 knot crap winds.

Someone has got to come up with a way to get through to new or visiting kiters the spots you can and can't go and the wind directions and strength that work there.

AKSA's C.L.E.A.R policy works for people with intelligence. But it's not enough. I think we need a more specific guideline for each region and distribute it through kite shops.

There is an easy way to resolve this issue as it has worked out for lots of spots around the world (Maui, Tarifa,....) put up a sign with your local rules which is approved and signed by WAKSA in order to give visitors (domestic and overseas) the chance to follow your rules. You can not blame a visitor not following local safety rules when he does not know them! And to make it even more helpful add the priority rules as well to this sign... this might also help some locals.

And to be honest... if a stranger approaches you telling you what to do and not to do it won't mean very much to you because he is not an official and might try to establish his own rules to get more space or the better area for himself.

So make it official get a sign and this will most likely make it easier for you and visitors not to get in conflict with lifeguards and other beach users.

The other thing is that if you have published this regulation you as a local can approach a visitor and ask him to follow them because you refer to it.

Disclaimer for the Kooks of this Forum:
Most likely I will be flamed again for this post but I can tell you what... I do not care.

Cheers

Granini

is this why the byron bay kiting school is for sale....?

It's not such a bad idea regulating kiting at Byron Bay - its such a busy beach - I personally would not consider kiting there - there are some awesome uncrowded places not far at all from Byron....

...so unless you're into posing in front of lots of people then it's no real loss.

Why anyone kites at the pass is beyond me - it's just too friggin busy!

All you have to do in drive 5 min or walk 15 min and you get all the room you need, and don't have to share with anyone, except maybe the odd surfer.

I agree that some of the tourists don't know the rules - but for f@ck's sake, it's pretty obvious! Why go kite with a thousand other water users???

I agree with Bruezi, get the info out at the airports or perhaps AKSA could advertise rules in an international mag?

The other local newspaper 'the byron news' mentioned that a kiteboarder ran into a swimmer's face and rendered them unconscious - and someone told me that they kited away! Does anyone know anything about this?

Their might be real merit in ASKA formalising with the SLSA the "Grumpy Sam 3 warnings" into a SAFE KITING POLICY Australia wide.
(Legal issues, procedures, training and funding for the SLSA would need to be addressed; which might incorporate some multi-lingual brochures and diagrams for Patrol captains to use/handout)
Obviously a bit of work and funding required, but no one wants bans and over-the-top restrictions as imposed on say, jet skiers.

until this situation is resolved, byron kiters should pm me if you are going to kite anywhere between wooyong and kingy so i can come too.

PS i like the idea of kiters dobbing in known repeat trouble makers and i like the idea of the 3 warnings and the kite associations liasing closely with life saving organisations. especially because life savers are often exactly where the public could be at risk from irresponsible kiters. perhaps a portion of aska membership donated to sls clubs to help us in the aska to self regulate more thoroughly in the interest of safe fair beach usage.

It would be a real shame if they ban kitting at Byron. I regularly camp at Clarks Beach Caravan Park and have had some awesome sessions there. I am a responsible kiter and make my way out the back and stay there. I would have to think that the dive boats cause a much more serious threat than kiters. “Australians don’t become Americans”

There is no ban at Byron Bay. The local rag misrepresented the actual resolution at council, which is from
http://svc020.wic009tp.server-web.com/Download.aspx?Path=/files/Meetings/2008/20080228_Ordinary_Agenda_1_Pages_4-128.pdf
on page 6

"Notice of Motion No. 6.1 Recreational Kite Surfing in Byron Shire
COR405527 #741598
I move that Council receive a report that investigates the suitability of Shire beaches for
recreational kite surfing and consider public safety, protocols and information from other councils
and government agencies.
Signed: Cr Jan Barham
Councillor's Background Notes
The Social Plan Committee has recommended that this matter be considered by Council. The
issue of commercial kite surfing is being considered by the Commercial Activities on Crown
Reserves Committee but the issue of recreational kite surfing has been raised as a community
safety issue that needs to be considered by council. The social plan committee has been made
aware of complaints made to council about the risk and safety aspects of this activity on crowded
beaches and resolved that Council consider the matter and seek advice from Government
agencies eg. Marine Parks Authority and DECC and the Cape Byron Headland Trust. There is a
need to assess the suitability of the activity and whether there is the need to restrict the activity,
especially on crowded beaches and if there are areas that are suitable if there is a need for
protocols and depending on these assessments if there is a need for signage to be erected to
inform beach users."

So, there is no ban, but the council spotlight is on our beach access. The timeline is by the end of June, so there is time to get some submissions together. At the moment there is hardly any beach left to set up on, so please give Byron a miss for a while.

Greg