You don't see kiters walking, landing with lines over peoples heads, riding amongst the swimmers, beginners struggling to keep their kites up in marginal conditions etc ------this is what I meant by denialism in my pulled post. I regret pulling that post now when one of the state's top wave kiters (Respect for that part Corey!!) thinks there is nothing wrong with all the above. How bad is that for publicity?
Lads, there is some really valid points and some pretty good ideas flying around the forum at the moment e.g local signage, education forums, licence etc.
I gather we will need a co-ordinated aproach to stopping this. Apart from e-mailing the council what is our next step.
Waksa any ideas????
um, if you can't fly a kite in anything over 13 knots then you are a sub standard kiter.
20knots? - I don't think so. Nothing wrong with a 15-16knot breeze.
If it's lame and people don't want to kite in sub 20knot winds - no worries, I'll see you at the pub after my sesh 
I am sorry guys but obviously you guys are twin tippers, 20knots a starting point you got to be kidding me.
But saying that, you do get your sub standard kiters who kite near people in light conditions and stand upwind of of beach goers in those conditions - these are substandard kiters that need to be educated.
But Bo and Hilly, I understand were you are coming from but you guys are taking the mentality of your standard Health and Safety Officer - Black or White without any grey in the middle. I realize Hilly you are getting your stoke elsewhere but cast your mind back when you were kiting and rather think of a solution.
Rich
Nope i ride SB... Just like to be powered
It only goes green at 18knts
Pretty tAme riding under that
Thanks for not spitting the dummy people, and actually allowing this into the discussion. (BTW I havent been on a twinny for the past 2 seasons. Jimi Lewis Rad F or strapped surfboard, me)
Dudes you have all got to step back, take a chill pill and just read back the neurotic stuff you are producing. My god what have we become! Licenses, agro, opinionated sledging, wow, this thread needs to end.
It has outlived it's usefulness and is just getting downright depressing and bordering on 'Jerry' Springer.
Please, whoever runs this forum, don't let it get hijacked by whining, pissed off people! (And yes I see the hypocrisy in my statement).
End it please. Let's revisit it in the near future, when we have calmed down.
Yeah my 10 is a massive kite LOL! Apologies all - for getting off track.
Now, this "proposal" losing beach access north of Floreat groin is ludicrous and should not get off the ground. Until the council goes through the correct procedures to implement this lawfully - IT IS A COMPLETE FARCE!!! WAKSA needs to make the most of this wind downtime currently to formally restore this beach access before Xmas.
To the people who are bad mouthing kiting at this location, if you are a kiter - pull your head in and stop whining, restriction issues effect us all. To the non kiters - please go away, this is not your issue and you are just stirring the pot.
and it continues..... good points though, but still it continues... i think we all know the illogical reasoning here or maybe we someone else to word the ridiculous north groyne contingency plan in another way. On it goes, please make it stop
I don't want to get involved in who is right or wrong as this whole thing is ludicrus, the thought of giving up this joyous downwind run angers me but it had to happen one day, the kiting community has grown at such a pace.
I remember doing my first downwinders from City Beach in early 2003 and we never had to take a number to find a spot on the grass to pump up, nor sramble for some clear beach to self launch. There were never complaints back then but obviously, the number of kiters has increased ten fold.
Just throwing it out there but has anyone heard any truth to the rescue Helicoptor pilots who land and take off from the top carpark at Floreat Beach had anything to do with this? The Beach inspector told me the other day that it is hazardous for the pilots on busy weekends? (this may have been mentioned already but hell if I am going to read each and every post?)
The battle for retaining beach access at City Beach hasn't been lost to my knowledge, in fact, it hasn't really been started. I am sure WAKSA is already working on the most appropriate approach. If anyone has some strategically workable idea, WAKSA crew asked for feedback at the start of this thread: email to waksa@waksa.org.au.
Historically, when an army could not unite before a battle, always lost the battle.
The opposition against kitesurfers is most likely reading this thread. Every negative post here, criticizing and blaming kitesurfers, reinforces their position.
Being emotionally intelligent or grown up may not relate to age......
There are 3 options
1)licensing/Registration
2)Self-policing
3)Do nothing
At the end of the day there is a small minority of douche bags that are ruining it for the majority. I can't see any other option other than some form of licensing to restrict and minimise the damage they can potentially do to the sport. I know there are guys out there, trying their best to advise & educate noob & errant kiters, but it's not enough. In order to Kite any of the major Perth spots, you need to do a course and/or test to get your license and also register annually with WAKSA. Jumping up and down and saying it's Orwellian or we have enough rules is futile because sooner or later some tugger is going to do something stupid, someone will get hurt and sianara Kiting. It's a small price to pay to ensure you can Kite up and down the coast.
N.B I think having to get a license and register with WAKSA is a stupid f**king idea, but there isn't any other alternative.
There are many alternatives. Licensing is a bad idea. Just because you have a license doesn't mean you won't present as a hazard. Everyone makes mistakes or misjudges something.
Who would enforce licenses, who would manage the renewal etc. WAKSA are just volunteers don't forget.
My suggestion would be to go with this current council ruling and use the next 9 months to prepare submissions and get a lobby group together.
If we as a group can act responsibly, take it on the nose so to speak and prepare ourselves for battle over the next 9 months i think we have a much better chance of retaining the best downwinder in the metro.
I am more than willing to give up as much of my spare time as required to help.
The real issue is that we are being unfairly targeted.
Dogs will sometimes attack people, not all dog beaches are closed (the owner copes it and dog is put down)
Surfers will occasionaly colide within their group or inocent third party swimming with their family (ever looked at trigg point on a decent swell?). Once again, it doesn't automatically bans all surfers from accessing the ocean.
To my knowledge, kiters are an extremely low risk activity on par with joggers, boogie boarders, surfers.
Rather than enforce compulsory licensing and apologise for crimes not commited,WAKSA's role should be to chalenge those bans on the basis of actual facts (number of claims lodge with their public liability insurance compare to the amount of members) and reinforce the positive aspects (benefit to the economy, employment, tourist attractivness and of course the rescues).
I am not asking for any special treatment, only the right to practise my leasure with the same freedom than every other beach goers enjoy with their chosen activity.
Also since we are willing to respect and enforce rules to not disturb other users (flags...), and since we have gone with the trouble of creating a representative association (WAKSA), it would be greatly appreciated if any council about to implement decisions that will affect us directly could at least consult with WAKSA before bringing out the big guns
I think most kiters need to well and truly get over the 'we are being unfairly targeted' mentality.
We take up a lot of space and excluding boats/jetskis (that are registered and licenced) we are the most potentially hazardous craft on the water. Dogs are also required to be licenced. I don't think anyone is going to argue that boats, sailboats, jetskis and dogs need to be licenced.. so why are we so special?
And they are spot on.
Have you ever noticed that your 25 meter lines are pointing skyward?
The 25 meter argument is rubbish, I do not take more room than any windsurfer out there appart from launching when I am willing to comply with a designated launch area (unless if it is directly upwind of a man made breakwater wall).
I fully agree with keeping clear of all other water users to not stress them up.
Sorry GetFunky but your argument are the exact thing that brings of this type of issue.
It is blown out of all proportion. Are you sure your not on the ban kites payroll?
As Sebol has said, the kites are in the sky. They are not a danger to other beach goers when under control. There are no dramas of people getting knocked around by kites on a daily basis as you say.
Most of the time there are no people on the beach.
I agree some people might freak out if they see kites nearby. That is far from legitimate danger. That is someone who doesnt know how safe they are.
LOL.
BTW - the 10m C was a 5th line designed kite - but sold with a brand new 4 line bar. Nice.
