Do you ask someone if they have driven a car before you sell it to them ?

I can understand your point but surely i can still sell it to whoever i want.

Maybe the seller can just say "if you have never kited before, i recommend you get lessons"

It's pretty easy to spot someone with no idea. At our local beach we always go over to them and offer a hand. If it's clear that they are going to put themselves or others in danger we inform them of what can potentially go wrong.

Example
One guy, clearly a beginner, was teaching his brother on a narrow stretch of beach. I made a point of telling them about the power of a 12m kite in inexperienced hands, about the post and wire fence just downwind of the kite, the kids playing just next to them, the surf club guys who take a dim view of irresponsible behaviour and how accidents can ruin it for all of us. They thought better of it and packed up, much to my relief.

Not sure I like the licencing system as Saffer suggests. It was discussed on this forum a while back. Many questions will need to be addressed if a licence/permit is required to kite.
Who will issue the licence?
Who will enforce it?
What do you need to do to get a licence?
There will be a fee of course.
What about standards national/international/state.
How do visiting kiters from OS get a licence or prove that they are capable kiters?
Do we sit a test - practical/written?
Who runs the test - AKSA, Water Police, Coastal Patrol, Waterways? More fees!
Will we all be required to wear PFD's as is required in some states of Aus?
When someone has completed a lesson from an IKO instructor do they then qualify for a licence? Maybe 2 lessons?
Who will write the standards and who will endorse them?
If people from outside the kiting community write the rules I am very sure they will be unworkable.

As you can see there are many things to address. If you suggest AKSA do this then think again. AKSA is a small body of unpaid volunteers. Let's not even consider a licencing/permit system as it will not make kiting safer.

You can lead a man to knowledge. but you can't make him think!. ...... . . . . . .

its not the seller of the kite at fault its the numb nuts flying with no experience. there will always be people trying their hardest to remove themselves from the gene pool

Saffer said...



I'm not suggesting licensing is the answer, I'm just saying it would be the only way of preventing people just buying gear on the net and heading to the local kite spot.

So, we should have a licence to own a kite? Like a gun licence where you go to the police and prove you are not a criminal or have a mental condition. Half the kiters I know have a mental condition!!

I'm sorry, I agree there is a problem, but putting kites into the same category as guns and prohibited imports will not solve anything and only make matters much worse.

KIT33R said...

Saffer said...



I'm not suggesting licensing is the answer, I'm just saying it would be the only way of preventing people just buying gear on the net and heading to the local kite spot.

So, we should have a licence to own a kite? Like a gun licence where you go to the police and prove you are not a criminal or have a mental condition. Half the kiters I know have a mental condition!!

I'm sorry, I agree there is a problem, but putting kites into the same category as guns and prohibited imports will not solve anything and only make matters much worse.

I wasn't aware that you needed to prove you weren't a criminal to get a drivers LICENSE....oh wait, you don't...in hindsight it's not the greatest example to use is it? All you have to do is prove you're competent enough to use one safely.

You'll also note I said I'm not suggesting it as the solution, I just said it would be the only way to prevent people buying kites off the net and heading to their local. There are too many sources to manage at equipment level, but at beach level you could monitor it.

Yup, for motor boats..does your kite have a motor?

^^ Management at beach level is the key. If you see someone doing something dumb or dangerous speak up, preferably with backup.

tomstheword said...

Saffer said...

KIT33R said...

Saffer said...



I'm not suggesting licensing is the answer, I'm just saying it would be the only way of preventing people just buying gear on the net and heading to the local kite spot.

So, we should have a licence to own a kite? Like a gun licence where you go to the police and prove you are not a criminal or have a mental condition. Half the kiters I know have a mental condition!!

I'm sorry, I agree there is a problem, but putting kites into the same category as guns and prohibited imports will not solve anything and only make matters much worse.

I wasn't aware that you needed to prove you weren't a criminal to get a drivers LICENSE....oh wait, you don't...in hindsight it's not the greatest example to use is it? All you have to do is prove you're competent enough to use one safely.

You'll also note I said I'm not suggesting it as the solution, I just said it would be the only way to prevent people buying kites off the net and heading to their local. There are too many sources to manage at equipment level, but at beach level you could monitor it.

Sorry Saffer, but you corrected the word Licence with the American version License, which due to Australia using British English, license is incorrect.

I'll see myself out.

We have licenced cars, boats, guns, dogs (sort of) and people call for more restriction. Complete nation wide bans will stop the honest people but then there would be people that do it illegally and then the honest people that no longer do it would complain and on and on.

Each person just has to do their best to allow the sport to continue.

The problem is how you enforce management at beach level. There are only two ways to do it (legally) and one less legal

1. You have a club which has rights to manage kiting on the beach. People have to be members (cost or no cost) and this gives them the right to kite at the beach. If someone behaves like a douche, they are kicked out of the kite and lose their kiting privellages.
2. Local kiting body manages all the beaches. You need a licence to kite any urban beaches and the authorities have the ability to take away your licence if you behave like a douche.
3 (non-legal) - Local guys act like the mafia and intimidate/threaten those who act like douches when speaking to them nicely doesn't work. If that doesn't work, cutting lines, etc.