That's unbelievable Juddy! It's just not right I tells ya.

The wind is cranking 25 - 30 knots outside and your stuck, sitting down in a beachside cafe for most of the arvo.

I agree, we need to sort our ** out quickly, if not we may be in big trouble

The other day me and my 9 year old son was out swimming in the flags at Brighton (Scabs) when 3 dudes doing a DWer decided to buzz us in the flags. One of them, a old guy lost momentium and stopped in the flags a few meters away from where me and my young fella was swimming.

He was having dramas getting going and It looked like it possibly was going to end in tears. I got between him and shielded my son as the old dude looked like he was struggling. It was potentially quite a heavy situation as the dude was basically trying to water start 2-3 meters up wind of us and it looked liked the wind just dropped out. ( I reckon that situation would potentially scare the ** out of a non kite surfer person).

Anyway I shouted out at the Noddy to not kite in the flags... I think he got the message, I hope he reminded his other Noddy mates.


In the time I was at the beach I also counted at least 2-3 other people kite through the flags....

I hate the idea or regulations etc but I now think it may be the go.

dogfish said...

i don't get this 'ride thru swimmers' caper. saw a couple of tools (a blue and a green slingy, one a fuel) at nth scarb on NY, working the waves, leaving less than a metre's leeway as they carved thru swimmers.

there's miles of ocean, uninhabited apart from the odd GW, and stretches of unused beach.

WTF for endanger other beach users? go round them you dicks!

& imho DW's ease the congestion. all it takes is an ounce of courtesy. prob is, our culture is increasingly besotted by FU self-interest.

the authorities' default will be bans, not registration. AKSA should be pushing the registration option to keep kiting legit (just like other powered water craft) otherwise the door will slam in our face.

It's a sad fact that what you say is so true dogfish - "prob is, our culture is increasingly besotted by FU self-interest." is exactly the size of it.

I'm starting to think the registration option in some form will ultimately be the only saving option. I agree, it should be getting some serious thought before councils get the big hammer out. Yes, the guys who believe in freedom of the beaches etc don't want it happening but when you're dealing with selfish pricks such as are coming into, trying out the sport, blowing through, (pun intended!) what other option is there?

stabber said...

I've said it before...."if I had a dollar for every tosser " .....I'd be a millioanaire twice over again....

Specially if you lived in a house of mirrors.......

heyjoe said...

I agree, something must be done, unfortunately I am not in a position of power...

My humble request to those in power, directing the future of our amazing sport/recreation/hobby/pass time;
Please don't penalize those of us that take responsibility for our own actions by making sure we know the rules,
making sure we assess the conditions and location and equipment,
making sure we keep ourselves and OTHERS safe,
And essentially keeping our commonsense and logic intact whilst ripping it up and having the time of our lives...
(all the stuff you are taught in your lesson..NO.1 being safety)

Instead;
Find a way of penalizing those of us that are the opposite to the above, whom plead ignorance despite being human and from planet earth like the rest of us that make the effort.

Well said joe.

NoBS said...

easily recognisable Waksa comitte members with a fistful of flyers should do the trick..

You would think....

Or is it that hard?

Mate, it's not that hard really. Some of the new guidelines maps with all 10 location maps have been being handed out at beaches over the past month or so. Guy Singleton (regular @ Melville) has been doing a stand up job distributing flyers @ Melville. The maps are also available from all kiting shops around Perth.

Why don't you jump on board & help us out at your local? PM me & I'll hook you up with some. It's not that hard I can promise you....

wdric said...

PelicanPete said...


Confiscate it!

If the clubbies where allowed to do this with kites passing though the flagged area and it happened to a few during the the season I believe word would spread way quicker be very effective.

The message would be spread over every communication medium we use quicker and cheaper than anything tried before it

Even if the clubbies just tried to confiscate it, the word would travel pretty quickly. Chase them on a jet ski or something....

Where I live there is no kite stores, until very recently no one giving lessons (the guy that does now only does on weekends), and a crew of less than 50 kiters for the state. All this adds up to making kiting quite difficult to get into...
And we don't seem to have any of the problems I read about on these forums.
When people ask me about kiting I say " don't bother its expensive dangerous and you need a pilots license". Maybe if kites had less depower, and no-one taught people how to learn safely??

Flame on

the walks said...

Smithy said...

Seems like you guys in the west are really being tested this year!!

Any signs put up will need to be double sided and big ass sized otherwise the dicks doing the down winders through the swimmers will not even see them.

The other thing that you might consider is printing off a heap of coastal maps marked with relevant kiting details and stick them on the wind screens of kiter cars in the car parks. Include your association logos and maybe the clubby logo to make them look official. Let the clubbies know what you are up to and get their buy in. It can't hurt to show that we are at least trying to self regulate. If push comes to shove it could make the difference between a ban or no ban.

All of the above has been done, even had a cockhead on a bws continue past the signed zone, into swimmers at mullaz on saturday. The second time he did it a polite word was had, his response was "never kitered here before" FFS......
We're running out of idea's
Hate to say it but maybe rego's are the way to go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like the same guy that i have had words to before but he was there again today (10mtr BWS) kiting North of the zone, I thought the fact that the MSLSC patrol vehicle was parked right next to the sign watching might have made him think about staying in the zone but no.

I spoke to someone a few days ago that was North of the zone.
I said if you were given the choice of kiting in a zone or not kiting at Mullaloo at all what would you chose? he answered the zone.
I said well that is the choice we were given so why are you kiting here, answer well there is not many people around and I know what I am doing............
He may know how to kite but I really don't think he knows what he is doing.

From an outsider who doesn't kite, coudos for identifying that there are idiot kiters (there are idtiots in every sport, look at dirtbikes) out there and you all are activly seeking ideas in educating these people the correct ediquete of the water sport.


Well done, I hope any outcome of this thread will turn into reality and minimise the negative impact kiting has had to the shoreline of Australia.

Juddy said...


I'm referring to stupid, ignorant, and dangerous kiters who flagrantly kited too close to shore, too close to swimmers, and into and then through the surf club flagged area in front of North Cottesloe SLSC yesterday. I was at lunch from 1.00pm to after 4.00pm, and had as close a view to the action as possible. I had to give up counting the number of kiters doing downwinders who kited into & through the flagged area.

The North Cott Clubbies were watching what was going on, shaking their heads, & (appeared to be) making notes about the frequency with which kiters were entering the flagged area.

I'm a member at North Cott. Was on patrol yesterday morning chatting about kiting when someone started talking about these idiots that came through last Sunday. Apparently the patrol captain took photos of the kiters and sent them to the ranger. Not a lot the ranger could do, but not good if he is getting continuous complaints.

Also, a few weeks back there was a spinal case at North Cott. The guy is now an incomplete quadriplegic (has a little movement in his arms). No waves the day it happened and no one can figure out how he did it. The guy has no memory of it. It is unlikely to be true, but the rumor going around the club is that he was diving out of the way of a kitesurfer. This is a very uncool rumor to be going around, and it has come about because of these idiots kiting through swimming areas.

mbucat said...

Also, a few weeks back there was a spinal case at North Cott. The guy is now an incomplete quadriplegic (has a little movement in his arms). No waves the day it happened and no one can figure out how he did it.

Other side of the story:

Yesterday arvo at Peli Pt one guy was swimming in a wetsuit within the area where the most kite traffic is.

I really didn't see him and after jumped almost landed at him. Had a quick chat after, all good.

But if he dived and resurfaced, what one could do?

Perhaps this is already in action or has been suggested before...

Would it be beneficial to have the WASKA flyers handed out to local lifesaving clubs so they could then in turn be handed to kiters in the wrong? Obviously this would only reach kiters who are on the beach rigging or packing up but might help with getting them out there and send a consistent message.

In Queensland if you surf between the flags the lifesavers can confiscate your board.

so it really is that **** in wa eh? no point in having all the wind if ya got no place to use it...