Pelican Point is NOT a beginners area.
Read the signage. The only reason kiting wasnt completely banned at Pelican Point several years ago is because the powers-that-be were assured that experienced, competent kiters could avoid the pitfalls - which are many.
Beginners shouldnt even try. Apart from the obvious dangers and ignoring the rules it is a terrible place to learn.
Find somewhere else to learn and leave our one inner city kite beach for those competent kiters who are unfortunate enough to HAVE to kite there.
Pelican Point was one of the longest running and difficult negotiations WAKSA has ever had to save a kite beach. If beginners are coming back into the area we may not be as successful next time round.

Cant think of a better shallow, onshore, flat water beginner's area north of the river. I agree if you guys are so "hot" why don't you join the men on the ocean? What sign????

I know where you live bumsmack!

I have been windsurfing at Pelican Point for 25years, and have never seen so many problems as there is with the kite surfers(water bogans). Pelican Point has always been known as Gumbys, for two reasons;

1. you can stand up just about everywhere!
2. Because it is a fantastic place for beginners to learn.

I suggest that you idiots work out some etiquette before someone get hurt or all water sport from the area get banned.

My suggestion is;

1.No kiting within 50m of the wall (launch and retrieve only)
2.If you are a better kiter,(or a pro) keep out of the road of the learners(because you can)
3.be curtious and help land other peoples kites on the river side of the foot path walk them to a free space of grass.
4. starboard has right of way(right foot forward or left foot forward whilst riding switch)
5.people landing have right of way over people launching.

Have fun keep it safe and rember this is public space for all.

Natural said...


I suggest that you idiots

this appears, to me, to be an odd phrase to use when giving advice to strangers.

Natural said...

I have been windsurfing at Pelican Point for 25years, and have never seen so many problems as there is with the kite surfers(water bogans).

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Thats like saying that you have been driving your volvo around the streets of Adelaide for 25 years and have never seen so many problems as there is with the formula 1 race car drivers

I have done both at pelican point for many years and its silly to make comparisons when dealing with 2 very different sets of variables... and those idiots that you referred to are probably a high percentage of newbies making the transition from pole to kite.

Natural, makes some great suggestions, common sense really. Beginners at PP need to walk, yes walk through the water upwind so they can practice. Pro's need to give these guys some space, (you were once a beginner) i.e. stop show boating to your girlfriends (more likely boyfriends) in the car park. Show your skills further down on the point. Kiting is an I.S.A.F recognised sport so, Port gives way to Starboard, windward keeps clear of leeward, overtaker keeps clear of overtaken and the onus is all all parties to avoid collisions. Its not that hard!

Natural - windsurfed for 25 yrs but first post on Seabreeze?

I would agree that everyone needs to allow slack for beginners and that kiting in/near launch/land areas is stupid. HOWEVER, Peli is NOT a good learners area. Had a dude teaching his mate crashing kite from upwind of the flat water area that is there with the banks atm. Came within 2m of being taken out by powered up diving kite...

Peli is on-shore all the way along the bank and sometimes can be hard to keep upwind of the eviro exclusion zone.

I would suggest anyone that can't stay upwind is better off at Melville - heaps more space. While I'm on it could beginners kite downwind of the big gumtree at Melville? This was the way it worked a couple of seasons ago and was much better because no crashed kites in the inside flatwater section...

pfr said...

so many problems in WA. glad i don't live there.

Yeah, we're glad you dont either

Hey

Just want to say that it is a little bit rude to say that experienced riders should not kite at PP and stick to the ocean. I know people who have kited since kiting started and have had PP as their local kiting beach for a decade now, is it just me or isnt it a little disrespectful to tell these people to all of the sudden not go there? It is convenient if you work in the city (sometimes the only place to go on a weekday) and sometimes good for a change as it is one of the few shallow spots around.

When I started I had the fortune to have experienced riders around me and they have taught me so much about both safety, etiquette on the water and how do to tricks - you will learn so much more if you actually go up to them and ask questions and take their advice. Some of these guys would also climb trees for you or rescue your kite on the water when you loose it! I love PP as a spot and I do remember what it was like to be a beginner, but lately I have really started to dislike it because there is no respect left there and lots of arrogance instead, people are cutting each other off constantly, pracitcing jumps without looking around etc. One example from a few days back is when a guy told some new guy not to put their lines across the footpath (because he has seen cyclists injuring themselves from this in the past) and instead of taking the advice the guy just grunts back arrogantly.


And when it comes to doing tricks close to the beach, yeah it might not be the safest thing to do, however the reason it is being done is NOT to show off but because there is a really sweet spot there for doing tricks. As long as the person is not in anyones way, then it is only his own problem isnt it?