Hahaha sounds like a descent idea, would love the help,
What does everyone else reckon,
Thanks
Matt

How to pick fresh cannon fodder.

First off their must be lots of wind and way to much for their size kite and abbility.
They come in small tribes with their mates.
Set up camp right infront of the rocks.
Unroll their kite across the wind instead of down wind.
When they unroll their kite all the packaging bits fly away.
Start to read the instruction booklet as their trying to find a place to stick the pump nozzel.
Pump the leading edge up before the struts even without a one pump system.
They pump the kite up only just enough to give it some shape.
Have no idea how to place it leading edge down.
The whole tribe helps unroll and untangle the lines with the 5th line having every one stumped. Takes about a hour to get the lines attached.
Because they rigged the lines upwind because thats how EVERYONE does it the guy holding the bar pulls on the lines making the guys holding the kite struggle to try and carry and get the kite ready for launch.
When the kite is launched it's either a hot launch because it's back in the wind or their to far into the wind and the kite rolls back and tumbles all over everyone elses kites.
After their hot launch they stand on the beach for a hour with kite at zeneth with all the mates taking turns at pulling on the bar.
After standing on the beach for a hour the beach jumping starts.
After the beach jumping they move into the water about 5 feet off the beach in on shore winds with all the mates offering assistance in trying to position the board while the guy flying does stunt kite manouvers with his kite across the beach.
Within 30 sec the kites in the water with the tribe all tring to flip and reposition the wet limp kite ready for the next hot launch.
After a hour of trying to relaunch they give up.
The next week you always see these guys giving their new mates a lession.
Then the week after that their IKO instructors

Every week more and more just turn up

Kusu, love the hang gliding ribbon from the lines idea, that would work a treat.

Can't see how to make it happen though, unless they start selling kites with the red ribbon already on the lines.

I recall hating having L and P plates when I was a grommet, and I imagine newb kiters would have an even stronger aversion.

The other thing is - Don't the newbs stand out like dog's balls anyway??

as a beginner i reckon thats an excellent idea!! Perhaps if we suggested this to the associations they could make some kind of ruling. It wouldn't necessarily have to be enforcible - but those that were did think it was a good idea would then recieve the help/space that they needed etc.

Is there anyone from the associations reading this - that could comment?

Windriderau - do you want to send them an email? i am happy to do it otherwise - don't want to steal your thunder

I have emailed to the KBV and AKSA asking them to see if it should be considered on a volunteer basis. I think having special places are not really the way to go, because if it is a good spot then we should all enjoy it rather than being seperated.

It would be difficult to police, but I think a volunteer basis is a good way to go, I think it would help everyone, beginners and experienced kiters, as we would all benefit. Beginners benefit by being given a wider berth, experienced kiters benefit from knowing to stay away from those crazy noobs who might just do something really unexpected.

and yell at them and shake their fists at them.

oh, and poke their tongue out at them.

yeah maybe if people want some space and would like to tell other's they're new to the sport, or want some space as they are not comfortable with their own skill, then why shouldnt they let everyone know?

having a red ribbon or somthin on one of the rear lines would be a good idea, and it dosnt have to be mandatory, just fly it if you feel like u need space to learn or somthin.

that or go to an uncrowded beach, but i know that in some areas, u might not have a choice, so this is where this proposal would be beneficial [<-spelling?].

i am for it, and will support anyone who does wants to fly a ribbon, it shows we're taking responsibility for the sport and its newbys.

best wishes for the new year, and everyone have a good safe time

catch

a bright yellow rashie with a big L taped on, i had the L plate idea a long time ago but thought poor relie or hardie would have turned it into a joke.

@ what point is someone no longer a learner?

lucky bay has a nice old tree with an appitite for eating kites flown by learners.should find some ribbon there

the advantage of something like a ribbon is that if i'm not kiting in my local spot (since i don't really have a spot that's local (at least not yet)) then people who don't know me can see that i still suck (although that will bbe obvious!)

It probably sucks having ribbons or some kind of indicator to show that you are a newbie but in the long-term it's probably well worth enforcing the idea. More and more people are kiting at our beaches = more exposure to potential hazards!! Warning indicators could help prevent any problems before occurring. Encouraging the idea sooner should make the transition/change easier for the long-term attitudes of the many new masses of kiters to the idea. New Kiters should be made to feel confident that other experienced Kiters around them are aware of their skill levels. Should anything go wrong with a new kiter it would be identified sooner.