I saw this in the news section .A great idea and I will be promoting it here for sure .this was suggested a few years back on forums and it was poo hood but there were not as many kiters then .Hopefully it will get taken up now
www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Kitesurfing/Brisbane-Introduces-L-Plates-for-Learner-Kitesurfers_4628746.aspx
Yeah its a great idea :) You can already see them popping up at Brighton beach, lets hope everyone gets on board! 
At our local we kinda know who is learning and who is maybe not still learning that you should stay clear of. I think a little streamer on the kitelines is going to be hard to spot until you're right on top of them.
Poo stance and upwind ability is a dead giveaway so not sure if this system is really required.
if you dont have enough ribbon then just paint a huge yellow and black L on your kite
Thats our point - experienced kiters can pick a learner a mile off - but other learners might not be able to spot them so easily. Hence the ribbons... You'd be surprised how easy it is to see.
Ha, point taken. I guess at the spots I regularly kite there are usually only ever one or two raw beginners there at a time, so they're unlikely to give each other too much grief.
Good idea. It will be good for other water/beach users as well - who are not experienced kiters, and can't tell the difference between the skills of one versus another rider.
Sure you can spot em a mile a way.
I think i'll put a ribbon on anyway, so everyone stays away from me and i have lots of space to play
We have a few Beaches in the UK that run a similar system, but we use rash vests, red for beginners, green for good riders and blue, for club members and marshals.
might not be the right colours but you get the drift, this system came into place just as i started travelling.
they were running it as a trial with the local council and the BKSA to see if the process works.
from what i have heard it has received mixed opinions mainly from those who are beginners who don't want to be labelled as a newbie. but those that do obviously get all the help and assistance they need.
I assume everyone else is a beginner, until they demonstrate they are not.
Now before I get bagged by everyone (oops too late) that simply means I give them I wide berth and don't get too close to them - nothing more, nothing less. 
WTF, why does the idea of a ribbon for learners always cause so much angst .At least there is more support and people doing it this time around .I like the idea of the guy putting one on anyway so everyone gives him more room to play
I also heard the idea for a blue and yellow one for visitors from a certain part of the world
Select to expand quote
I also heard the idea for a blue and yellow one for visitors from a certain part of the world
what ...Stockton..!! i thought stabba's fav colour was red!!!
Ribbon is a great idea!
It will stop the kites from falling out of the air easy.
Total noobs always push the bar out, especially when the kite is at 12 oclock, standing on the beach. Guaranteed f-%k up.
I dont see why someone should have a problem with it, I've had one lesson and first thing I'll do when I purchase my gear and first time set up will be put one on so everyone knows to stay the hell away from me. However Rhys was my instructor so I am probably bias.
It might also be a case of the general public looking at this idea if it get's used across the country and seeing that kiters are taking a responsible stand when it comes to learners. It's easy to knock but what's the harm in trying it.
I still think it needs to be attached higher than the trim strap just to make it more visible from behind.
Why not just make all kiters were a ribbon all the time then normal people will know who to avoid when walking down the street / sitting on a bus / drinking in a pub / just going about their daily lives ???
So you see heaps of new guys getting around on C4's and RPM's do you
I know a guy who still has quite a stand out poo stance when he kites but gets himself around the water just fine.
we have areas where the learners go nice and shallow, stay away from their zone and theres no problem, most of them realize its the best place to learn so easy to spot em, kook corner we call it
