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Originally posted by leski
I agree on the fact that I don't really see the importance of always involving government in 'Spot' issues as I reckon if both kitesurfers and windsurfers where to discuss a bit more that would resolve lot of problems.
Sadly being really sided like you 'seem' to be, doesn't really help much.

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Great idea Leski, it happens here between us locals, we understand each other fairly well, (the kiters are ex windsurfers anyway). The problem is involving everybody else around the state. The trouble with individual sports like this, there's not a high percentage of participants members of associations. Somehow basic surfing "rules" are fairly well understood world wide. Is part of the problem that kiting is still too young? There certainly doesn't seem to be an awareness of the sports inherent dangers in some kiters, and even less in the general public.
When that guy in Rockinham was killed every body seemed completely surprised, I was surprised a fatality hadn't happened earlier!

Wow, didn't mean to rave like that, but now it's there I'll leave it.
hope nobody takes offence.


decrepit

We just spent 2 weeks in Cocos and still had to avoid kites.
A maximum of 4 kiters and 2 windsurfers, about 65 sq km of lagoon and you still have to make an effort to steer clear when they want to push upwind or launch from the beach.
The problem is not space it is attitude, respect and common sense.
The simple solution is for kiters to stay 6 metres downwind of windsufers unless they are 20 metres or more upwind or at least the length of their lines.
I find having to divert 20 metres downwind or sailing under lines can be a bit annoying but do it to keep the peace, for learners this is not always possible and therefore very threatening and intimidating.

All that aside the trip was great and the weather fantastic!



Paul Kelf

I am from Europe and mountains were my home for many years. We had the same trouble when snowboarding started many years ago. Skiers always made straight line with short turns down the slope, while snowboarders enjoyed large turns from side to side. Crashes were inevitable. There were many fights and for a few years snowboarders were even banned from many lifts. When it all settled down, side-cutted carving ski appeared providing even larger turns with much higher speed. So now it's a real mess. The only solution is to be more careful and aware. History repeats itself, here on the water. And snow is only frozen water, remember?

WTF is with that wearing pants over the top of you wetsuit. its pointless.

maybe i will start wearing a pants, a bomber jacket, and some bling over my wetsuit when i go in the water next.
heh

I LIKE WATER

its a shame kiters and windsurfers don't get along well together. we are all doing it for the same reasons and that is a love of the wind and the water. I feel that each should respect the other for doing what they want to do and understand that niether is better or worse than the other. on the water and on the land we have a duty of care to prevent any injury that could be caused by our own equipment and to encourage others to take the same precautions. If someone is injured or hit or other peoples property is injured through our own neglect or even by doing what we have always done,INDIVIDUALLY WE ARE STILL LIABLE and worse still not just one discipline but both will have their images tarnished in the eyes of the authorities and just provide fuel for them to tell us to go elsewhere.

Its our decision to put ouselves under this increased risk when using public, open access space. The non wind users who use this space NO NOT CHOOSE to put themselves at this risk and they are the ones who have the first right to the water, not us. As a kiter myself i understand that the risks associated with kites and the way they move in the air, while i understand it, non kiters such as windsurfers and pedestrians do not. Just think back to your first time fling a kite or standing on a board with someone experienced flying past and that will give you a sense of feeling when someone unfamiliar with the equipment gets too close.
really its up to the user to make sure people don't get hurt.

If this means seperate zones for disciplines like it is in australind so be it but where everyone is crowding into a small break, i feel distinct right of way passages are probably the safest option. Say 50 meters each side of the break and beyond should be used as a passage way. in these zones if you are aware that people are HIGHLY likely to be traveling in both directions then the likelyhood of accidents is far reduced.

People if we are not carefull we will start losing our spots, end up being crammed into small areas like jetski zones and to top it off we will all have to have licenses. its not that far from reality so dont assume it wont happen. the department of transport is currently working to introduce licenses for water craft and the last time i looked we were watercraft. at the moment i believe small wind powered craft such as dinghies, winsurfers and kites are to be excluded but it wouldn't be hard for authorities to change that. all it takes is for one innocent person to be injured and the media to turn it into a public event....

my two cents, sorry it went on for a bitprobably about 5 dollars worth by now, anyway i hope several kiters do end up reading this as well as the windsurfers

I love it a bit of passion, it never hurts anyone.Whats wrong with these kiters anyway, got the hip hop attitude,Boosting & boasting here and there.
Windsurfers learned very quickly to PULL there heads in and give way to surfers

So wake up KITERS

The faster kiters accept it,the better of we will all be on the water.

A good kiter dispite ability and experience already knows this.