Has anyone had a local law passed against them to stop kiteing on a beach. If so what restrictions were put against you and what arguments were put forward by kiters to try and combat this.

Can anyone tell me if a kiteboarder is clessed as a vessel. I know in Vic that we have a exemption from wearing life jackets if we are within 400m of the shore and wearing a 3mm wet suit (which in this water we always do. Too cold).

Saw that exact this in the weekend at St Kilda!! very scary even more scary when the guy holding the kite said I think your lines are twisted dioes that matter the guy attached to the kite said no just throw it up.

At that point I felt the need to explain what can happen with twisted lines, lessons, and not playing on the beach with lots of people around. Atleast the wind was really light!

also at St Kilda on the same day I overheard a young lady talking to someone on the phone as ' A kitesurfer has just hit me what are my rights'... I don't think she was to smart lying in the middle of the beach with kites flying all around her but we all need to be a bit more careful with the public or a ban might just happen

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Originally posted by magilla

... She told me that on previous occations she had rang the police and was going to do so again.

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All complaints made to police are registered with the name of the person making the complaint... some people are just serial complainers, the police know who they are and weight their complaints accordingly.

That said, no-one should give the reasonable person something to complain about.

Boris, if i were you id delete that last post just to save people getting up you. Just some friendly advice
Cheers.

Azza, the Aussie way of life infects me daily. My accent becomes victim to this also...it is bonza ay cobber?

Samio, I believe in freedom of speech so I will accept peoples views if they wish to reply. But thanking you anyway for you advice

it also happened outside my head because the voice inside my head told me to do it

immigration!! (no joke) (you ilriterate plick!)

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Originally posted by Yousurf

... He was laughing and saying something about 1/2 a D with no T. I don't get you lot

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I had 1/2 a D with no T once. Damn it went to my head! I was so drunk that I nearly bought a sailboard!

Actually Yousurf,

There was a windsurfer who intentionally beared away and ran down a kiter in Maui a few years back whilst the kiter was body dragging to get back to his board.

The attack was deliberate and ended with the kiter getting a bunch of stitches to close the wound in his leg and stomach from memory. That windsurfer was later gaoled for unprovoked assault causing harm.

He had a record of such attacks. Those that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

I know Boris wouldn't have done this, but god I did laugh at the thought of it. Highly inapropriate behaviour to even suggest, ah but in the minds eye

Always act with humility, patience, courtesy and respect when dealing with the public in such cases.

Good winds,

I think Boris is related to RICHRELATIVE.

Fitzy Gold Coast OZ

Yousurf,

That sounds like it was my uncle Zoris (aunty Doris was probably having a cuppa in the campervan at the time).

Kiting is much better when you've got 1/2 a D in your stomach anyway.

Anyway, that's what you can expect more of. All jokes aside, it is well known that the rule of kiting is if you are within range of the kite then its your fault if you get hit, and you deserve it. If we do it on purpose then that's ok too because you can't prove anything.

Kiters, start practicing your "WHOOSHKA" swoops!

KITING RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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In the not too distant future, kites will be compared to unlawfull, out-of-control, unleashed dogs.
Roaming canines on public beaches were eventually deemed unacceptable by beach-goers and authorities.
Regulations were put in place.

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So back to my original post. What can we do to prevent this from happening.

What do people from our associations think? Or are they just about collecting revenue and issueing insurance for when things do go wrong?

My personal thoughs are that we need to be proactive and not reactive. It is time we as kiteboarders stop stuffing about and started to petray a responsable image within the communities. I know the majority already do this but the minority are stuffing it for everyone.

With surfing you would get a smack to the head if you acted stupidly, maybe we need to start dishing out that kind of enforcement.

I like many other kiters have made misstakes and had equipment malfunctions but to act in a deliberate, stupid and spitfull way should not be tolerated.

Have fun on the water but be mindfull of everyone else. Dont atract attention for all the wrong reasons.

Up until joining the this forum, I was one of the ignorant masses, I had no idea that the surf kite strings can do so much damage, and that launching or landing is the most dangerous time. How is the public supposed to know not to stand downwind of the kite - telepathy?

My little 2m quad lines and deltas attract a lot of attention, and I don't mind people talking to me as I have them under complete control, I even play games with my kids chasing them around with the quad and knocking over their sandcastles.

Joe Public has no idea about large kites and that they are barely undercontrol and that a strong gust would see even the best kiter dragged down the beach over them. If their first experience is getting knocked off their feet or if one of their kids are injured then the councils will get tough on us. If someone takes a council to court over a kite surfing incident then kite surfing will get banned by every council along the coast. I'm just starting this sport, and already I hear the Redland shire ( the closest beaches to me) has banned it on their beaches - don't know why but there's a $360 fine involved.

Boris, what would you do if my "accidentally" let my rottweiller of the leash and flattened you, what if it decided to rip your arm or face to shreds, . I suspect you would complain to the authorities about a visious dog on the loose and want them removed from the beaches?

Ian_B, I'll be very concerned if your rottie tries to fly a kite on the beach. Then you'll have some explaining to do (and probably a few dog shows to enter).

registration and a test (passing an appropriate stage in the lessons)

i agree totally with kiterdan. Just on Saturday i took my dad to show him kitesurfing, and i showed him where everone else kites and said that is just too dangerous. Then on Sunday i hear that 2 kites flew across the road.

As it is the "in-thing" people like to show off to their mates, and kite all together in a pack. I hate kiting like this, and always kite upwind of these guys, get the water to myself, and have the confidence that i can try a new trick and won't be endangering anyone else. No-one gets to see me, but i don't do it for others.

If laws are implied at my local spot, i will do everything possible to get around them. After all, i am only a boy flying a kite.

James