Guys,

A little bit of light reading below.

This is a copy of our current "Safe Kiting Guidelines" which we have now been using for a number of years with minimal changes.

How about having a read and post your comments the forum.

WAKSA intends to further update these guidelines in the coming months, so we will be taking notice of all comments. Hopefully after a bit of discussion it will be quite clear what has to change.

Thanks,

Ian.

W.A. KiteSurfing Association Inc.
WAKSA SAFE KITING GUIDE

Kitesurfing is easy to practice safely with a little forethought and common sense. Ultimately we are responsible for minimizing the risk to ourselves, and others, which will help protect the future of this great sport.

· Kitesurfers are primarily responsible for their own safety and for the safety of others in their vicinity.
· At all times exercise common sense.
· Know your limits - assess the conditions to avoid getting into dangerous situations.
· Select a safe, clear launch site with consistent side or side-on-shore winds. Do not launch from or land on a crowded beach.
· Make a routine check before every launch. Check quick release, kite, bridle, lines and harness. A kite with tangled or twisted lines can take off and be uncontrollable.
· Always use a safety leash on the kite.
· Always prevent kites from inadvertent launching on the beach by weighting with sand.
· Never leave a kite in the self-launch position unless you intend to launch immediately.
· Always give way to the public on the beach.
· Always announce when you are about to launch so people are aware of this fact and are prepared to move in the event of a gust or problem.
· Disable unattended kites by removing lines on one side of kite, placing the kite leading edge down facing the wind and weighting with sand or a board.
· When launching, leave at least 50m of clear beach downwind of you.
· Avoid kitesurfing near any airport or runway.
· Stay clear of overhead power lines and similar structures.
· Always maintain a 'safety buffer zone' when on the water and on the beach.
· Keep at least one line's length (30m) away from windsurfers and other water users.
· Incoming kitesurfer to give way to outgoing kitesurfer.
· When passing another kitesurfer in the opposite direction, the windward kitesurfer is to fly high and the downwind kitesurfer to fly low in order to avoid contact.
· Give way to all water users especially sailing boats involved in racing.
· Don't assume the public automatically associates you with the kite, which is flying to leeward of you.
· Don't jump within 50m upwind of another water user.
· Don't use lines longer than necessary.
· Return the kite to neutral as quickly as you can after a crash - lines in the water are trouble waiting to happen.
· NEVER beach jump.
· Practice using your quick release in a safe environment.

right I could try to work on a Reggae style "Excuse me" song to blast on kitespots from my van

PS. I must say most of the kiters I've seen out there are pretty considerate and are happy to give us space once they've realised we're there. Lucky for us hang-glider type folks we don't get the "bikie" type crowd which I read from your kiters posts can be an issue for you. (they don't last very long in hang-gliding)

Good luck growing your sport, keeping sites open, especially in todays litigious society; seems we share a common set of tasks.

Have fun!

bikie attitude???I hope we don't get kitters that bad?? What do u mean that space monkeys is a bad movie??
u talk some bull **** sometimes
Do u think thoes guys on fire away are bikie kiters?? They can do the moves they are good people