WA
3 posts
When are you people who insist on launching and kiting in crowded public places going to WAKE UP and realise you are going to stuff it totally for everyone else.
(Just go down to Brighton - Scarborough on any good day and you will witness it for yourself) Every time I kite at Brighton I see kiters setting up and launching right in the middle of everyone. Not only that, they are leaving their kites in the self launch position, lines out or not this is seriously stupid and hazardous.
I fail to understand the attraction in kiting in areas where there are many swimmers, if you’re into waves swimmers are a pain in the arse, you can’t go down the line without having to worry about them being in the way or popping up unexpectedly.
I think it comes down to laziness and Ego’s,
There are very simple ways to address these problems
1) You could simply walk - park your car 100-200 meters further south and be well away from Jo public
2) Forget your ego and quit trying to show off, unless you kite at an extremely high level you not going to show them anything they can’t see on any other day and probably wouldn’t appreciate or understand its level of tech. If you have to show off show someone who kites and can appreciate and understand how difficult your trick was.
Sad thing is there are kiters out there who are experienced and influential here in WA preaching safety but are seriously guilty of this kind of conduct. These people should be setting an example; this kind of action only tells the novice that, “hey he does it so can I”
Some points t0o conssider that may help protect our sport here in WA
If a Kite goes down on the land or in the surf the first to see should do everything they can to quickly assist and secure the stray kite, on to many occasions I have seen kites go down in the surf and no one has jumped to help.
• If you kite without a leash *%!@#$%well get one
• Launch assisted at any opportunity this minimises your chances of missing rigging mistakes and helps to safely launch
• Never launch in crowded public areas EVER even if assisted
• Don’t kite through crowded swimming areas
• Check your safety leash is strong and safe
• Check QR’s are in working order so you can release quickly and safely
• Don’t beach jump
I apologise for the length of this thread but this is a wake up call people we are going to get flogged if we don’t change our ways
Even the most experienced and seasoned kiter will stuff up at some time it is just a matter of time, but by avoiding the public as much as possible will help to minimise our interactions and preserve our access to beaches and this sport.
WA
33 posts
I totally agree citizen x I was shocked when I was kiting down at Brighton the other day to see how stupid or naive some of the kiters where down there. When I walked down the beach to see how many people where on the beach I was sure to walk at least 400m upwind of everyone to get completely away from everyone on the beach. Also kiters where coming in so close to the beach and turning around smimmers how stupid! As much as people think they are safe in there kiting practices there is no way to predict and inncodent and in a crowded beach there is no way to control the inncodent. I think that people should take this as a wake up and realise that this is a sure way to hurt or kill someone. If it continues we will lose our beaches! Please think about what citzen x has said.
woohoo
WA
705 posts
Question for Chief:
can Council's legally exclude kites below the high water mark?
WA
54 posts
JJD -- aren't you the lawyer ???
WA
92 posts
Once complaints are made. DPI (Dept. Planning & Infrastructure... used to be Dept of Transport) would be notified and it wouldn't take long for new restrictions to be introduced. Pelican Point seems to be another problem area. I don't know of any incidents at Lucky Bay yet.
Look at all the Boating Prohibited signs on beaches around the river. I have been fined for anchoring a boat just inside one of these signs.
Anyway...Side tracked.
Ski areas are another example. Jetski's etc
WA
705 posts
Security - long, but relevant story. Chief will understand.
To do with a dog, a National Park and a prick of a Ranger. Got off a $400 fine by arguing that the beach was below the high water mark and therefore outside the boundaries of the Nat. Park.
May be lucky this arvo eh? Gear is in the car.
WA
350 posts
what sort of car do you drive.... he.. he.. he!!
Careful of those theives remember!
WA
705 posts
only if you want to nick a homemade board! Kite is with me at work.
WA
59 posts
don,t think you need to get council attention. their are rules already in place stating that no person or persons will conduct any activity they may endanger the public( the fine is upto $3500.they are already using this law against kiters in queensland.i was shocked when in queensland. i asked a local kiter what the local rules were(i have kited for 5 years) i was told no rules just kite where the windsurfers are. a couple of near misses later and they are fighting the council over beach access.
WA
108 posts
Dont know about what part of the Q.L.D Coast you are talking about? but there are no access problems that you talk about on the Gold Coast. Some local kiters have decided to become the law, in not letting kiters that can not stay up wind kite in some small and busy beach areas. This I can understand as any accident to the the public, reported to the Gold Coast Council or to find its way to the Paper would be disastrous. In saying this last week a guy that i know and is quite a good kiter took, his kite from 12 o'clock to the ground only missing a mother and child by meters. I think all you can do is stay at least the length of your lines away from other beach users and be ready to use your safety its, not needed for any one to go on some ego trip, jumping as high and as close to the swimmers as you possible they can see you just fine from a safe distance. Our kite is our responsibility not the person catching the it.
