Kiters & bystanders safety (lets keep spots open)

Yet another kite blew across the road from the pond today and in this case almost took a man pushing a pram waiting to cross the road, the kite hit powerlines giving him time to jump aside before the whole lot exploded. The event closed Safety bay road till electrical services got there. It was caused by a small front that came through increasing the wind quickly from a 15knotts average to a 27knott gusts (recorded at Garden Island). This isn't the first time this has happened and probably not the last, but if we want to keep this place open then here are a few tips for the new players.
If you choose to kite in a place that does not have a safe beach to wash up on, and in this place a major road, well used foot path and overhead powerlines then ditching should be your last option as it puts others using the foot path and passing motors in danger.

1. If you are in immediate danger and tried everything else then ditch your gear (sometime with equipment failure its your only option everyone would prefer to see this than a person seriously hurt from hanging on to long)

2. Know how to flag your kite using the safety systems on the kite; don't hook in suicide if you're not skilled enough to handle a squall.

3. Learn to drop your kite to the water on the edge of the window and sit and wait for the squall to pass. It will happily sit there even when you reach the sand stay on your butt in that position and someone can come and land you.

4. Watch the horizon and know the local patterns, NW and Westerly winds are quite often associated with frontal weather, keep and eye on the horizon and if you have to land for 15 minutes to find out the front didn't bring much wind, better that than being caught out.

5. Kite places that are in you ability.

I would hate for any passer by enjoying the foreshore to be hurt because someone couldn't handle there gear. It does not look good for us kiters. Stay safe and keep the places that are loved by all open!!!!

I especially like the way that the Western power dudes left the kite flapping up the pole, well after they'd got the power back on.

Just flapping out a warning for all to see - this is where your kite will end up

bit harsh that ^^

i agree with kite boy in a way, i have just got into kiteboarding again this season and never, (yet) found myself in that position to have to ditch, and having windsurfed at safety bay for many years i would hate to see, any sports (except jetskis) banned...

no-one got hurt, thankfully

get a 5-line kite

What a tool. They should make him pay for the costs involved, easily a few grand I reckon. What not insured, oh well tough t itties. Anyone get photos they can post, I need a laugh. Wait until the council finds out, kiting banned at Safety Bay by Christmas time.

you've got issues mate, seriously calm down...

Surely it is not always tourists that make mistakes. I've seen enough aussies make these same mistakes.

I live in perth for 2.5 years now and have my residency. But according to you I am not allowed to learn how to kitesurf over here? I have to go all the way back to Amsterdam, learn how to kitesurf for months and then come back?

Aussie, tourist, immigrant we all start on the same level doesn't matter if you're black white or grey. You are being ignorant. Perth's wind brings tourism and money into WA. These accidents happen just as much to tourists as they do to aussies.

Keep in mind that you might want to travel somewhere as well sometimes and kitesurf over there. How would you feel if some random starts bashing up your car just because you made a mistake and you are not from that country? Sure you must feel very welcome.

It would be a different story if these people actually deliberately started annoying and hurting people while kitesurfing. But surely nobody wants to have their kite parked in a powerline somewhere...

sorry mate gotta stick up for the beginners and tourists here...

I'm sure he is just venting (don't take it personally, it is quite irrational what he is saying), but I do understand where his anger is coming from. If my children 4 and 5 were on the beach and someone did the wrong thing and hurt my child I could indeed lose it. But in the end it won't stop the problems.

If we have violence also on the beaches even more excuse for those that make decisions to ban.

I think all we can do is educate as much as possible, but I'm afraid my learned friends that it is only a matter of time. Despite all my rage, we are still just rats in a cage. Only a matter of time...

Oh I totally agree with what you're saying. You can get angry if someone gets hurt (specially a kid). But he's making it sound like it is only the tourists and immigrants that are to blame... When an aussie does it, it is no problem?

everyone needs to start somewhere and accidents will happen. But no need to blame just one group of people. Instead of ranting about tourists telling them to F off, why not talk to them and tell them the guidelines at each beach? It will make things a lot more friendly and who know.. you might even end up with an extra friend or two

Sure kite boy gets the red thumbs, but the point being that this is where Perth's busy spots may be heading.

Guys who surf will know that fights and localism are common at crowded surf spots... as a visitor or noob you play by the rules or risk your head punched in.

I suppose Rick that the prospect to a local of losing his/her local spot can generate a bit of an emotional response. I don't go to Safety Bay but I understand it is a world class spot.

Back to surfing and localism -- imagine going to J Bay and acting in such a manner that risks the locals losing their world class surf break to regulation. I doubt you'd leave the country alive.

Can Someone make it clear what happened??? Were they launching or landing near the road?? Did the kite start death looping while in the water?? Leash give way?? Why didnt some one see it blow in and catch it.

Actualy I haven't always been good but when I was learning I stayed away from spots like safety bay and anyone who wants to have a crack pop down n see me, im not 17 and I'm not hiding but this isnt about who has the bigger dick the larger picture is that we have a serious problem that goes back to the schools there are kite schools out there that are not doing a good enough job at teaching people safety and proper kiting and tourists are not respecting the locals who kite a spot all through the winter when it's **** as well as summer when it is great.

If ya can, try to stay calm Kite Boy, I did the same thing last year down my local spot when some absolute cok suckers starting raving about on the open forum.

In the end I said some stuff that didn't help, threatening sort of language - although i must say I am more than capable of following through - ha ha - so it wasn't hot wind!

But I still sounded like a dooshbag, reacted to silly comments. Mate been in the sport for 11 years or 12 seasons, so I know how you feel about the situation.

I'm also sure you realise it is not just tourists etc that do stupid things, you generalised - some truth in every generalisation, but not the whole truth.

Mate here's what you do. Don't reply anymore to this, but do what ya have to do when the time arises, as I will. This tit for tat on the open forum does no good for anyone.

Take my advice or leave it, but I feel ya pain man.

Kiting somewhere does not make you own the place mate. I do understand it's your local spot and thats all good but don;t blame foreigners it's rediculous and very irrational and very much not the 'truth' as you call it.

as I said how would you enjoy it if you wanted to kite somewhere in a different country and they tell you to f*ck off just because you're oz.

no harm done just think about the (pretty stupid) things you're saying. It doesnt make your or anyone elses life any better.

I do understand that but no reason to blame all the foreigners for that. It just seems like mister kite-boy has a bit of rascist tendencies which annoys me since I'm foreign...

I live walking distance from Melville where kiting has been under discussion to be banned for a while now and I wouldn;t like that.. but I'm not claiming it to be my own nor am I blaming any of the tourists for it.

There is not really anyone to blame. I mean, accidents are part of the sport and they will happen no matter what.

I feel your pain kite boy we too have to deal with it every season when we get overun by Perth crew.