Flat Rock surfing and kite surfing

Hello,

I was wondering what people think about right of way for surfers and kites in the same area. Usually not much of an issue but yesterday at Flat Rock, I went for a surf after a session with the kite and was pretty suprised how close some of the other kites were getting to those of us surfing. One fellow stacked it and nearly cleaned me up in his lines.

In Hawaii, I think surfers get priority, which makes sense bacause paddling is harder than sailing. Do we have a convention here in Aus?

Cheers,
Serge

I don't think most Kiters appreciate their relative location to surfers. If you have done both, you get a feel for how close is reasonable for an interaction. If you have only kited I don't think you do. Personal opinion.

but yes you're correct, same as everywhere, power gives way to sail, sail gives way to paddle.

If theres waves go surfing if theres wind ?o kiteing

Ive never seen there ever be any overlap.

You should be embaressed of yourself for ruining good surfable waves when your on a kite.

Plenty of overlap. Most surfers don't kite, and the desperado's (especially teenagers) will still be out there in the line-up when it's blown out crap.

Select to expand quote

sgro said..
Hello,

I was wondering what people think about right of way for surfers and kites in the same area. Usually not much of an issue but yesterday at Flat Rock, I went for a surf after a session with the kite and was pretty suprised how close some of the other kites were getting to those of us surfing. One fellow stacked it and nearly cleaned me up in his lines.

In Hawaii, I think surfers get priority, which makes sense bacause paddling is harder than sailing. Do we have a convention here in Aus?

Cheers,
Serge

Was it you who nearly got smashed on the rocks and had to be rescued when you kited too close to the rock shelf?

The rules at Flatty are simple, give way to every surfer and swimmer no matter what. And definitely do not try to steal waves off the few remaining windsurfers you will regret it if you break this rule. The new hazards there are prone and wing foilers as well as twin tippers. The worst offenders for chaos are the newer twin tippers as they kite very different lines to the kiters riding surfboards.
I always make a point of telling the surfers who might be hanging in the kiter zone to go for any wave they want, we/I will always give way.
When there are more than 6 kiters out I don't bother to ride there, especially if theres windsurfers and wingers as well as surfers in the lineup. There are often surf schools there too and its definitely a lot more crowded in the last few years with all the new housing and the M1 upgrade.

Surfers ALWAYS have right of way.

Select to expand quote

Gilly3 said..

KPSS Used said..

sgro said..
Hello,

I was wondering what people think about right of way for surfers and kites in the same area. Usually not much of an issue but yesterday at Flat Rock, I went for a surf after a session with the kite and was pretty suprised how close some of the other kites were getting to those of us surfing. One fellow stacked it and nearly cleaned me up in his lines.

In Hawaii, I think surfers get priority, which makes sense bacause paddling is harder than sailing. Do we have a convention here in Aus?

Cheers,
Serge

Was it you who nearly got smashed on the rocks and had to be rescued when you kited too close to the rock shelf?

The rules at Flatty are simple, give way to every surfer and swimmer no matter what. And definitely do not try to steal waves off the few remaining windsurfers you will regret it if you break this rule. The new hazards there are prone and wing foilers as well as twin tippers. The worst offenders for chaos are the newer twin tippers as they kite very different lines to the kiters riding surfboards.
I always make a point of telling the surfers who might be hanging in the kiter zone to go for any wave they want, we/I will always give way.
When there are more than 6 kiters out I don't bother to ride there, especially if theres windsurfers and wingers as well as surfers in the lineup. There are often surf schools there too and its definitely a lot more crowded in the last few years with all the new housing and the M1 upgrade.

Woah!!
Sounds like a cluster f**k these days....heaps of other lesh crowded spots around....its a big coastline

Yeeeeeahp fk that shiii##t ! Sounds ridiculous. That's the great thing about competitions...they all go there so you get all the other spots all to yourself and maybe three max
Such is the situation caused by secret spot salesmans ..
Yuk...

Sgro as above always give way to sail which gives way to paddle etc...or best still don't go there at all due to respect.....
I have learnt lately from convos with v experienced wingers.. that with experienced wingers(only) that can manoeuvre left or right quick you don't need to give way to them so much as they can 'do anything'..learnt this after loosing many waves being polite to wingers..