For the first time in 5 years a kitesurfer refused to acknowledge the old tapping the head, and wouldn't grab my kite when i came in on Gnarabup beach beach the other day. Most know it's very flukey winds on the beach , and I was on an old 07 Waroo and they are bastards to land , so I was practising gyebing and waiting for someone to turn up to grab it for me, couldn't believe it when the f***** refused to grab the kite, lost my cool and gave him a mouthful, which I probably shouldn't have, at 58 years old I should be old enough to ignore ****heads, but like Captain Beefheart said , i'm a hothead.
Got me thinking though, all the guys that have got into kiting the last few years have really missed out on the fear factor the old kites 5 years ago installed in us, those kites with very limited de-power were a death wish just waiting to happen, and when a guy came into the beach and wanted a grab, it was just as much a safety thing and looking out for your mates as it was a courtesy thing.
These days it's relatively easy to learn and get going with the big depower, ease of launch and landing of the newer kites.
Kind of sad in a way, as you dont have to earn your stripes now and all the posers and dicks can get a big head in a pretty short time.
The last few years I was worried about the crowds getting too intense, but that hasn't eventuated to be the problem, there's still plenty of room, apart from Mainbreak maybe. I remember 5 years ago the vibe of kitesurfing was like when I first started surfing 40+ years ago , we did it for the sheer love of it, and it was so cool to rediscover that with kitesurfing.
But now it's too easy and getting like surfing is now- all pose, big egos, I'm better than you, next world champ coming through.
Now you dont have to be a waterman, these punks dont even know what a waterman is.
Oh well, all things must change, and there are other waves , other places the dicks haven't found .

"Earn your stripes" What have you been smoking dude ?

You should probably practise your self landing technique.

I used to fly 07 warroo (just changed this year in-fact). Very easy to land as all SLE/bow kites are. Just grab the middle (front) lines, as you pull them towards you (the kite is just above ground at this point), come out of your chicken loop and very quickly move windward, grabbing more of the front lines, then when kite is nearly on its back, i.e you have the wind behind you, just work your way up the front lines until you get the kite.

On gusty days, do it all at once, as you come into shore, (sorry depower strap totally first), grab middle, throw bar, quickly move to side... warroo's are not hard to land at all.

As for the respect etc, 'earn your stripes' dude Y and Z gen' will not understand your sentiment, so I'd keep that stuff to yourself (how do i know, high school teacher). They grow up living through super celluloid TV heroes fashioned in the illusory world of entertainment, where things just all of sudden happen!!

And earning your stripes on **** old gear is dangerous and foolhardy. I love the fact these young guys are pushing the limit on new technology, if my body could, i would.

As far as the dude not catching your kite (if this is indeed what happened), then this is poor form, but every sport has em'.

I'm old too and you were still in nappies when I started kiting .Abusing someone because you started tapping your head like a gorilla and they didn't know what you meant is a bit much and bleating on about it here is also a bit much making out that anyone who has got into the sport since you started are wannabes and wankers .If you don't know how to self land you are a danger to yourself and others .Lighten up a bit too, lifes too short (and even less of it left for us old guys ).