Righto,
So I've brought this up in the past, and have consistently been shot down, but I thought that given the increasing number of incidents and near-misses (including people nearly taking me out/not knowing who has right of way/melville antics), I'd bring it up again.

Is there too many kiters?

I wouldn't expect any of the shops to side with me (nor any guys that are relatively new to the sport or looking to get into it) but given the eased accessibility of the sport thanks to the introduction of SLE/hybrid kites, I believe the sport will become too accessible for it's own good.

Kiting with 50 other kiters isn't fun however which way you look at it. Above all, it's not safe. This has affected my interest in kiting unfortunately and now I look to other more secluded places to kite...although a trip scabs is just too easy sometimes.

It's exactly like surfing - everyone has a board stashed away in their garage and when there's a bit a swell, all the try-hards get out their gear and clog the line-up.
That is not to say that people taking up kiting are try-hards though...

The only thing keeping numbers from booming IMO is the price of it.

What do you reckon?
Compulsory memberships? Increased prices? Licenses?

Spread the anti-hype.

kiterdan, why don't you stop kiting? there will be less kiters on the spot

One day there will be a serious accident at a popular spot, and that would hopefully scare off all the unserious about it people.
I think a licensing thing is the only way to go.
Or we could come up with some kind of deterent. New use for old kites. Hang them at the peak of high trees at crowded spots, splash some red paint around the branches and erect a kiting emergency protocall sign.

there's a lot of ocean and coastline out there!
maybe do a few coasties, you'll feel a lot happier than staying at one spot hassling with the crowds,
or travel a bit to get some uncrowded conditions.

Poida said...

there's a lot of ocean and coastline out there!
maybe do a few coasties, you'll feel a lot happier than staying at one spot hassling with the crowds,
or travel a bit to get some uncrowded conditions.

I already have and do mate but that is besides the point. Although sticking with that , would you travel 1-3 hours out of town after work on a weekday, everyday? If you're an uni, you might be abe to organise a trip or 2 but unfortunately I have to work.

Too many kiters means more chance of collision and an even greater chance of someone getting taken out on the beach = ban. The new kites also allow cowboys (or those who think they have the right to do anything they want because they spent a lot of money) into the sport.
If you enjoy having to dodge complete beginners, out-of-control newbies or just heaps of crew at your local, then all the best to you. Have you seen some of the images from Europe with literally 100's out on a beach not dissimiliar to Leighton? I cannot for the life of me see that as a good thing.
Kiting is not a sport for crowds. Just like paddle-up surfing is not something that should be allowed at swimming beaches.

The main question you should be asking is why are you kiting with 50 other kiters? Is it because you are not prepared to kite someone else nearby where you may have to deal with a bit of chop?

I kited today with 5 other kiters while I watched on the horizon about 1.5km's away where 50 kiters plus were trying to kite on the water obviously fighting for space on some slightly flatter water at St Kilda. That brings up another question, why do kiters always flock to the same spots?

I don't think it is. If we all tried to play tennis on the same set of courts, we'd also have overcrowding issues. The fact that kiters are like sheep and go to the same spot is the major reason we have overcrowding, but if people spread out and went to different spots, this would not be an issue.

Kiterdan,

I'm sure that all the kiters that started 6-8 years ago were saying the same thing when guys like you started learning. Why should we prevent people from enjoying kitesurfing just because they were born a few years later or only just discovered kitesurfing. If you don't like crowds try the dog beach south of scabs, no-one ever kites there apart from the odd person doing downwinders.

Stay away from the scenes and you'll be right.

jay said...

Kiterdan,

I'm sure that all the kiters that started 6-8 years ago were saying the same thing when guys like you started learning. Why should we prevent people from enjoying kitesurfing just because they were born a few years later or only just discovered kitesurfing. If you don't like crowds try the dog beach south of scabs, no-one ever kites there apart from the odd person doing downwinders.

Stay away from the scenes and you'll be right.

Bang On!

"Too many humans?"

kiterdan,

got a bit of advice for you. get over it. Kiting is becoming a popular sport, and unless everyone stops enjoying themselves on the water thats not gonna change. If you dont want to give up your spot, you will just have to make do like the rest of us. You have two options i can see.
1- go to a more secluded or advanced spot. Ride the messy chop. Up here in townsville thats all we have.

2- go and take up lawn bowls or something. at least the popularity of this sport rests with geriatrics who are not far off moving on.

I'll be either travelling to a secluded spot when i want an awesome session, or i will work around the learners and the newbies and find my own space within the ruckus. If your a decent kiter you will be able to work your way around them, how about you try going further upwind than the newbies can get?

perhaps kook river isnt safest place to kite, try woodmans point offshore a much more forgiving kite spot, plenty of room!

Kiterdan,the solution is simple for you.

See if you can get some of your like minded buddies together and form a gang.

You could call yourselves "The Melville Boys" or,the "Me boys" for short.

You could then enforce some local rules,such as "No Bow/Sle kites allowed here"

or,"no one that is below our standard,in our eyes"

kiterdan said...


What do you reckon?
Compulsory memberships? Increased prices? Licenses?

We could set up scarbs so its like a Perth show ride, and have a height line, say 5ft 2". Anyone below the line cannot enter. That would erase you and Bevo, and free up a heap of space right in close where the waves break. Hopefully the taller replacements would be friendly enough to catch your kite after a session on the busier days...

Fair enough.

It is interesting to note that most of the negative/moronic replies are from relatively newer guys/newbies or forum tragics. The same guys that have brought this forum down. Goes to show you what sort of people kiting now attracts.

'Threads attacking beginners' is a load of ****. We aren't attacking beginners...we're bringing these issues up because we don't want the sport banned. Mine is not so much that as it is what happens when our spots eventually becomes too crowded...which it will.
How's this for a call...if it continues as it is, kiting at melville will be banned or at least regulated within 1-3 years. Would you like your spot banned? Or 'wouldn't you care. You could just go to another spot'.

Kiting upwind or away from others is a good answer but at the same token there is a reason people flock to the same spots...because the conditions/spot are are suited to your style of riding. But moreover, they see everyone else there.

And for the record, I've kited more of the WA coast in search of decent kiting waves than most...so your point about going where it's uncrowded is void.

Hmm, I am relatively new too kiting and found most people to be supportive; saying that, some guy was teaching his mate the other day at cottontree and I had a go at him as there were people downwind of him (including me) and he was ignoring any danger to anyone. Then his mate lost control, got dragged 30m down the beach on his face and nearly hit an elderly couple with the kite.

but one thing this topic does remind me of is the crowds involved in surfing. Go and have a look at Maroochydore beach or Coolum on a good day... 2-300 surfers in the water. Drive 20 mins and there are miles of beach with no one out. Same for the kiting here, go to CottonTree and there are heaps of people of all ability giving it a go (I go out there too on occasion during the week when not many out); drive 20 mins and you get beautiful uncrowded beaches even on weekends.

So, as a surfer I choose not to surf with crowds... as a kitesurfer occasionally I choose the same thing. As some mentioned, there might be more chop, waves might not be as good etc.... but just me and a mate out, priceless (actually, about $5 in petrol)