Hook knife

I was one of the instructors teaching in the line on Saturday. The wind was onshore so the rotation system did not work. It only works in cross/cross-on conditions.
To answer your question: yes, we do consider other kiters around us. In fact we have to consider everyone that is kiting in the teaching area for our students sake.
If you would like to have a bit more space then go further down the beach towards Port Melbourne or in the kiddy pool as nobody is teaching there.

While I agree with you Saffer, I was able to kite on the kiddy pool on saturday without too much of a problem and I'm a noob who has to work to stay upwind.
I would have preferred to stay off the kiddy pool because I don't want to get in the way of the guys who want flat water for boosting/unhooking/etc but I was left with no option due to the row of instructors blocking a clean run out through the breaking chop which was left as the only entry point.
And it seems to me lately the instructors have been chucking learners on whatever they have rigged already instead of what's ideal. The last few times I've been out there (saturday excluded) I've seen people under instruction hopelessly underporwered, struggling to generate enough power to get going, then spending ages try to relaunch because they're kite barely wants to fly.

I'm not trying to argue that it is annoying to navigating around 20 people with their kites at 12. Conditions were not ideal that day but if schools would only teach in ideal conditions than we would have 5-6 teaching days so far this season.
The way I see it is that students spending their hard earned $ to get into our awesome sport. To learn in a comfortable environment you need space.
People tend to forget what it was like when they first started. Who do you reckon is more freaked out, you that has an inconvenience kiting around people or the student that is doing his first body drag?
One reason I love this sport is that there are no battles over territory. Have you tried going surfing on a spot "owned" by the locals? Don't go there man...ask me friendly and I'm more than happy to put the kite down so you can get out.

tbranse said..

I'm not trying to argue that it is annoying to navigating around 20 people with their kites at 12. Conditions were not ideal that day but if schools would only teach in ideal conditions than we would have 5-6 teaching days so far this season.
The way I see it is that students spending their hard earned $ to get into our awesome sport. To learn in a comfortable environment you need space.
People tend to forget what it was like when they first started. Who do you reckon is more freaked out, you that has an inconvenience kiting around people or the student that is doing his first body drag?
One reason I love this sport is that there are no battles over territory. Have you tried going surfing on a spot "owned" by the locals? Don't go there man...ask me friendly and I'm more than happy to put the kite down so you can get out.

We had one of the St Kilda schools take a road trip down to Aspendale on Saturday..... So how did our new friends fair...

They started by setting up right in the middle of the no boating area close to the life saving club who are usually tolerant to the small band of kiters who set up at the very end of the car park. If you are going to venture into other areas at least respect the local protocol, your 1 trip can ruin it for many regulars... I am also a member of the life saving club and they are not happy... We had a very serious kiting accident at Aspendale in very similar conditions some years back, many seabreezers will remember Laurie and the horrific injuries he sustained, the SLC definitely do and do not want any repeats.

When the wind was gusting very strongly early in the day a large number seemed to launch and just stand on the narrow beach with their kites at 12 o'clock, after a while they decided it was too windy and landed their kites again.

Aspendale beach is always very rough with a westerly wind, when the troupe finally ventured into the water many had no clue how to handle the conditions leaving carnage along the length of the beach, many unable to get out through the waves. One of the many strong gusts saw a few of the kites disappear into the bushes. One ended up wrapped around a power line up the street from the life saving club...(not sure if this was part of this group).

Learners were crashing their kites onto the beach in the middle of the no boating zone around their buddies while instructors watched and laughed.

There are some days that are not OK for learning or teaching, Saturday in a squally westerly was one of those. You are right, learners spending their hard earned $ are entitled to a comfortable environment, this includes wind strength and safety...

By all means come but respect the area, respect the conditions and most importantly respect your students by not putting them in danger.

Last couple times I went to St kilda I just kept on going!
Lots of schools, lots of learners. They've got to do it somewhere and St kilda is ideal so I've given my space to them and I kite elsewhere.

I remember when i ventured out on my own at st kilda, I found it so hard to get my own spot to try to get my board starts down pat, because there were instructors all around and i did not want to hit them. They should have a point that divides the two, even now it is hard to get out because you have to find an opening and get there quick before someone body drags into it. I am not really fussed about it though it doesn't normally take long to find a spot to get out and we all have to start somewhere. I did move to my local area Brighton/Hampton and have mobs of room. But it is to packed at st k.