I'm not going to get drawn into a battle here, as this thread inevitably re-appears every year in variations of the same theme. You can search SeaBreeze forums if you want to read what's been written over and over.

Let me just make quick summary:

Both AKSA and state organisations were originally formed as a way for members to communicate and as a consolidated effort to acquire cost-effective third party public liability insurance.

Beyond those two objectives, all of the organisations are constantly canvassing input from kiters, both members and non-members, as to what they would like these organisations to do for the sport and for their members. Sadly, virtually no one ever makes the effort to contact us to provide input, suggestions, ideas or anything else to give us guidance for how to best serve the membership. Consequently, we are left to guess, as best we can, based on the limited input we do receive, to do what we think is in the best interest of the membership and spend the member funds in a way that best serves the needs of the members.

The initial criticism in the first message in the thread suggests that AKSA and state organisations are "highly reluctant to help anyone out financially". On what basis is this criticism made? We DO support as many requests as we believe reasonable, but not all members want an unusually high percentage of their membership funds to go exclusively to one thing like contests, so therefore we don't allocate ALL the funds to supporting contests, etc.

To date, in addition to the provision of best-value public liability insurance rates, that has been providing thousands of $$S to support for state and local competitions, local social kiting events, membership social gatherings, the purchase of equipment to support those events as well as spending time lobbying of regulatory authorities protecting the rights of kiters such as kiting beach access and preventing all kiters from having to wear life jackets at all times, etc.

SO, having said that, if you WOULD like to take the time to make suggestions, PLEASE, by all means, do it. The Committee welcomes any genuine input and will do its best to accommodate any reasonable suggestions.

[email protected]

For example, do you think NSWKBA should financially support state contests? If so, how much? If not, then what should be supported? What would you like the committee to do that it isn't already doing?

The Committee intends to email the membership with such questions and more later in the season but it would be useful to get input on what sorts of things the kiting community at large thinks the committees should be doing and where the funds should be spent.

So, I'll throw out the challenge now to anyone who's not happy. (or even if you are)


Tell us what you want, what we should be doing, where the money should be spent. We want your input.

If you want to have an influence on the sport and to make a difference then join your local committee. We are always happy to have additional members on the Committee who are willing to pitch in and help out, but only if you are willing to contribute, not just turn up and whinge.

Remember, all of the committee members are volunteers who donate their valuable time, who are doing it only for the love of the sport and who at any time welcome input, feedback or ideas of how members would like to see the membership funds spent, but sadly, almost no one ever takes the time to provide input.

So, here's your chance, again:

[email protected]


Rob Smallwood
NSWKBA Committee