Kitesurfing on the Gold Coast Beaches

As more and more people are learning to kite and beginning to kite on the Gold Coast beaches it is becoming increasingly difficult for the people who have been enjoying the surf to pass on their knowledge and concerns to newcomers and tempers are beginning to fray.

The Gold Coast have many great spots to kitesurf. Some are great places for people beginning in the surf and some are only suitable for people who have had lots of experience developed skills in the surf. On some days it’s OK to come to some spots to get experience in the surf and on other days the same location would be entirely inappropriate.

Many of the people who kite regularly at the popular locations have been doing so for the last 8 to 10 years and previously had windsurfed at the same locations. Sometimes the experience at those spots can be as much as 20 years.

Over that time they have developed trust and respect from the other beach users and the lifeguards and the have helped guide newcomers to the area to show consideration to other beach users and not risk the reputation that has been built over a long period.

Recently, at Narrowneck, I have seen a deterioration in the behaviour and awareness of a small number of kitesurfers and an alarming unwillingness to listen to advice. This is probably due to the increase in numbers and the fact that we have no prior connection.

These are the common sense guidelines for any beach:
Launch downwind of the flags
Do not under any circumstances ride through a flagged area
Do everything you can not to drag through a flagged area
Talk to the locals first
Spend enough time on the flat water to be a competent rider
Be aware of other kiters
Understand what bearing away is and where someone is likely to go on a wave
the person on the wave has right of way
Know what it means to drop in
Don’t follow someone you don’t know around(give them space)
Don’t stand/ sit on the waters edge having a rest with you kite hanging in the sky
Look around before you launch and let people already riding finnish their wave or turn around before you launch into their path
Don’t do short runs in and out and wreck everyones waves

So here is my 2 bobs worth for Narrowneck (Main Beach)Narrowneck is not a good place for your first experiences in the waves because:
The flags are close together and it’s easy to drift downwind and end up in a flagged area.
Many other beach goers use the area.
There are much better locations nearby (e.g. the Spit where the flagged area are much further apart and there is not nearly as many people.)
Before you Kitesurf at Narrowneck you should.
be comfortable in the surf
Be able to stay upwind (if you find yourself walking back upwind constantly you are either not yet ready for Narrowneck or the wind is too light for you and your equipment. You should pack up and go somewhere more appropriate.)
Be ready to listen to any advice.

FINALLY
Narrowneck is not that great anyway. There are better spots nearby.
Sunny weekends with lighter winds are not good for you first days.
Do not teach any one at Narrowneck.
Launch you kite and get on the water
Don’t beach jump
Don’t play with your kite on the sand
No body dragging
Bring your own pump
Bring beer
We only need a few more days like today before we will be fighting to keep kiting at Narrowneck or any of the Gold Coast beaches

My Name is Andy come up and say Hi I really am a nice guy. I love this sport been doing it for ten years always ready to help and wont give you a bum steer.

greenleader said...

sounds like another frantic day at "the neck" andy

hope people read what you've penned.

probably not ,but hopefully others will who ride there and will spread the message to those who couln't give a rats

are you the asshole that wanted to punch my face in yesterday?
i was kiting on mainbeach and yes i was in the wrong, i was having fun on the waves didn't realise their was flags till i was too close because i only thought their was one set of flags for the beach(what im use to)and couldn't hold my tack.. anyway i went through the flags, i no i should of gone behind them and walked but i thought i was going to make it till i stacked it...
anyway some asswhole and im not sure if it was you came up to me and pushed me over as i was starting to walk up the beach.... yelling at me "YOU ****ING IDOIT YOU ARE GOING TO GET US BANNED!" the retarded guy repeated this phrase for awhile yelling at me trying to push me over... i was trying to explain myself, telling him i was sorry and i actually didnt see the flags.. but he wasnt interested in what i had to say he was more interested in trying to belt my face in..he then started yelling "U better start showing me some REspect or im going to teach you a lesson and belt your face in"
then he told me i was banned from main beach and if he sees me here again he was going to belt me up.
he told me to pack my kite up and get off the beach.. i been kiting for over 2yrs now and i have never meet such an asshole of a kiter before in my life. kiters are always very nice people who are always willing to have a chat and help out.
the guy also told me he lived just behind main beach or something.
im not new to the waves and i no the rules...
and no one gives u the right to ban another kiter from having fun on a beach. get a life you retard, and learn to use your mouth rather then your fists.
you need some pills mate and some help, u need to learn how to deal with people. i said i was sorry and i new i was in the wrong and i wasnt going to do it again. i was new to the beach and i didnt no their was flags every 200 meters on the beach. back in sydney we have 1 set of flags per beach. the life guards came up to me and told me, so mate get a life and dont do other peoples jobs.
ohh you must be the guy, i remember the guy yelling at me i have been coming here for 10 yr's and your going to wreck it for us

bennie said...

Undagkiter, I don't condone violence in any way, but I can totally understand that kiters anger towards you. That is his local spot, and your stupid actions help lifeguards and councils make decisions about beach access that we kiters HATE!.
Ignorance is no excuse, you have eyes, flagged areas are easy to spot.To suggest you didnt know they were there is BS. You should be aware of the spots conditions before you enter the water, if new to the spot ask a local. Its that easy . If you came to my local and rode through the flags, I would probably want to belt you as well. But I wouldnt have to because the other locals would be lining up do the same thing.

I hope this is a lesson learned 4 u

so you need some pills too then...
yes i no i was in the wrong, but acting like an animal isn't the best way to go about things...

its about time we had some drama on this forum - it was getting really boring

First Undagkiter, let me reassure I wasn’t the guy you met yesterday but I do know him and yes, he has been kiting for a long time. I understand you’re upset and I am not a violent person but I am alarmed at your justifications and your more than generous self appraisal of your wave kiting skills.

Not seeing the flags demonstrates an unforgivable lack of awareness

Not being able to hold an edge demonstrates a lack of skill

Thinking that people will be nice to you no matter how ignorant and disrespectful your behaviour is demonstrates a general disconnect with reality

What you need to understand is that the guy you met wasn’t just reacting to your stupidity on the water. It was a built up reaction that has been brewing for a while.

If it is any consolation to you yours was not the most stupid and ignorant act at Narrowneck last Sunday.

If you are genuinely sorry then consider yourself forgiven.

Good stuff andy!

Maybe talk to the people in a nice tone and manner first ,seems to work most of the time. JUST REMEMBER ONE PUNCH CAN KILL is it worth it.

Undagekiter said...

i was driving my car on mainbeach and yes i was in the wrong, i was having fun on the road didn't realise their was a school zone till i was too close because i only thought their was one school zone for the roads(what im use to!)and couldn't hold my control.. anyway i went through the school zone, i no i should of gone a different route and walked but i thought i was going to make it till i ran over a few...

Nice

I guess kiting is a sport that just makes it too easy for clueless gumbies to get into waves.
Surfers and poleys need to acquire necessary skills before they ever ride the main peak.

had u packed up ya kiting gear and walking back up the beach when u got pushed over

NumNutz said...

had u packed up ya kiting gear and walking back up the beach when u got pushed over

no i was walking out of the water when he ran up to me

paul.j said...

Maybe talk to the people in a nice tone and manner first ,seems to work most of the time. JUST REMEMBER ONE PUNCH CAN KILL is it worth it.

ditto. be nice first. get help from authorities before bashing...

Non locals should think before they act!

Ask a local about local rules, local conditions and advice on launching and landing.

After seeing some carnage this season I reckon over-confidence and arrogance are the major cause of incidence. Most dangerous incidents at my local have been caused by visitors from out of town. (read- europe)

Ok for them. They smile and p1ss off back to their homes, leaving us to mop up their mess.

I agree completely with andy59 's sentiments.

Ok i got a call of a lifeguard today about Daniel kiting at the alley now this guy is a bigger concern than the one off guy going through the flags. He was reported spaying families on many occasions and when the lifeguard on duty told him to stop it and go some where else he got a gob full about how he can do what he wants there's no signs so and continued doing as he pleased. Now this will get reported to the head lifeguards and will be just some thing else they can use against us.

So what can we do, smash him in the face i here you say but no. What i suggest is the same thing we have been doing at 23rd. Make him feel very unwelcome no one talk or help him. If you do talk to him tell him he is been a fool and going to wreck it for us all. I can tell you now he will not be welcome at 23 rd anymore at all.

I will never sell this guy a kite and if all other retailers did the same he would have to pay full price for his gear and might give it up. I can tell you he's not doing Ozone any favors and he's not doing our sport any favours.

Paul J

paul.j said...

Ok i got a call of a lifeguard today about Daniel kiting at the alley now this guy is a bigger concern than the one off guy going through the flags. He was reported spaying families on many occasions and when the lifeguard on duty told him to stop it and go some where else he got a gob full about how he can do what he wants there's no signs so and continued doing as he pleased. Now this will get reported to the head lifeguards and will be just some thing else they can use against us.
.

Paul J

Daniel knows better and has been told before many, many times. I hope he reads this because Daniel if you come to the Neck I will disconnect your lines every time you try to launch.

I know this sounds radical but Daniel has reached the point where he deserves some tough love. My suggestion is that a large contingent of Gold Coast Kiters should confront Daniel In a peaceful and completely non violent way. We should either at that point confiscate his Kites for a month or give him one last warning.

If anyone from Ozone reads this forum I would like to know how you feel about Daniel positioning your product on the lunatic fringe.

We also should let Daniel know that there is a way back for him. If he turns himself around we will be happy to be mates and enjoy each others company on and off the water.

PS Where's Gene when you need him ???