Time and time again, you see posts on here about how everybody needs to help out each other when launching and landing at Altona beach. Well for the first time ever today, I was told " NO PISS OFF" when I asked one guy who was not doing anything at the time to help me launch my kite in 20knots+ Could not believe what I heard and had to ask the question again. I always kite at Altona and all the guys are usually fantastic but disappointing to see this guy just could not give a damn. Some might say, we'll he might not be a kiter. Well he was because his Eskie was parked on his yellow 12m Naish Park. Sorry have I said to much......... I really hope this is not coming into our sport because it's only going to take accidents like this guy to have the council step in and shut the whole beach down. I'm sure you know who you were because you were there all afternoon talking to all the other kiters and looking over everybody else's gear. I know this is just a disappointing moan but having seen both serious accidents that have occurred at Altona in the last 2 seasons, it's not to much to ask to watch each other's backs, please. Moan finished......

Yeah it ws really odd and the guy was just that little bit dodgy. I ended up self launching which I am happy to do but I know others down there don't like wtching you do that because it does not leave that safety margin so you ask someone to help.
Just not this guy........ I saw him again after my session and his behaviour was just weird. The way he looked at other peoples gear and wandered up and down the beach with no purpose at all. I did get his plates so I can look out for him at a later date.

I guess there was more to it than just not wanting to help with launching. But he was there for the kiting because he talked to the guy I had to borrow a pump from that day as mine broke.

I guess just another aspect to our sport, watch others who are around you and what there intentions might be.

It would be a sad day if Kiter's didn't help other kiters to launch (and land!). Especially at a known 'hot spot' like Altona. Perhaps he was a power cable freelancer looking for work...?

As my name suggests, I take all things with a pinch of salt, and we need to be mindful of 'naming and shaming' people and give them a chance to respond before we form a medieval style angry mob, especially from an embryonic poster ;-)

Thanks guys for all the posts. It ws good to see I was not just having a moan for the hell of it and that safety is just as important to everybody else in our sport.

Being one of the local paramedics for the Altona area, I often have the ambulance down there when not on calls through out the summer, 1 because I love the sport and 2, sometimes right place is the right time. It has happened for the last two unfortunate kite surfering accidents and given those more guys half a chance.

I would not be naming and shaming anybody that I don't know but was really disappointing to hear. ooops job time......

Had a session today at Altona. from 2 to 4pm alone mowing the lawn . nice warm wind , blue sky and sun.

9 meter long board with no fins , steady 10 knots + 14 meter Naish Ride