Ok, after this evening's latest "head to concrete and kite to powerline fiasco," it's time to take some pro-active preventative action.

Please, experienced Altona kiters, if you see someone setting up who doesn't look like they know what they're doing, say something.

Don't launch someone if they can't stand in the right spot in relation to their kite. Tell them Altona is a dangerous spot for beginners, which, with concrete wall, road and powerlines just downwind, it is.

Don't let obvious beginners practice flying their kite on the beach. (Tell them to get a trainer and go to an empty beach if they are still learning about steering and the wind-window/powerzone.)

If someone who looks a bit unsure is launching a 12m when guys the same size are on 8m's, ask if they know what they're doing. If you're diplomatic and sincere in your concern you'll be fine. The experts will smile and say "no worries, I love being powered up" and the kooks will look awkward, at which signal you suggest that they use a smaller kite or watch and learn on the really windy days.

Follow these simple steps and we'll have less kooks on the water, less stuff-ups on the beach, and less chance of bans.

(I'm not saying the guy tonight was a kook, as I don't know him, and I only turned around in time to see his head hit the wall as he released his kite. There were some kooks about though, notably, one on a white and blue naish that was clearly way too big for him who repeatedly transitioned without looking. I was keeping clear as he was clearly a liability, but still it was not cool.)

Lol I know exactly what kook you mean..
When I have to ride in a crowd I usually develop a 6th sense for them - I know when they are going to transition before they even think about it.

Since I have the great ability to ride upwind, I usually have to look over my shoulder as well to avoid running into people upwind of me.

That's why I prefer space - I want to focus on my own danglepasses rather than watching everyone around me.

what about commenting in those 'experienced' guys in white and black north kites with very bad attitude, the kind of guy that would jump and crush the kite in the beach, cut your line (even with no right of turn), fly through beginners and loop next to the pier...

Whilst i'm sure it's not new to KBV, i've just seen the Altona Beach Renourishment proposal which was dated for implementation at the end of '09. Not sure if was delayed or cancelled... but certainly explains the direction they're wanting to take with beach use in the area.



The interesting part is that based on the intended improvements running from Romawi St to the other side of the pier, it looks like the section between McBain and Romawi is indeed intended to be the kite beach, with all kiting then to occur to the west of Romawi - which is starting to make sense!
If they'd like to dredge some of the sandbars to make the beach that would be even better... but from the proposal they only want to use large grain quarry sand.

Yep, that's where i got that slide from. The renourishment plan was linked in the KBV submission to Hobsons Bay council.

There was one point in the renourishment plan that was a bit misleading and/or concerning. Specifically the cross section of how they were representing the beach and the drop off into the water. What was shown as a before/after was in no way an accurate depiction of Altona beach - it was actually so innaccurate that i don't think the consultants have ever actually entered the water at Altona!

The existing conditions that they show had a ~1m drop-off as the waters edge, then a progressive slope headed down into what was labelled Port Phillip Bay, whilst the proposed reshaping had a steady slope eliminating the apparent drop-off.

It's mostly irrelevant for the sake of this discussion, but i'm just wondering if they are indeed planning on dredging or resculpting the sandbar and tidal area. Probably a question best posed to Hobsons Bay Council.