Caloundra City Council have contacted us regarding 2 incidents which have occurred recently.
The CCC Supervising Lifeguard mentioned that a little girl was hit by a kite on Currimundi Beach recently and her mother has lodged a complaint.
A local councillor raised an issue in Council meeting today regarding kitesurfers inside Currimundi Lake. Several residents contacted council to complain.
Please be cautious while kiting at Currimundi.
Kitesurfing is NOT PERMITTED inside Currimundi Lake and kitesurfing in direct onshore (easterly) conditions on crowded beaches is dangerous and irresponsible.
Caloundra Council is very supportive of our sport but incidents like these are attracting the wrong kind of attention and will inevitably lead to restrictions if they continue to occur.
To get your 'danger zone' away from potential hazards such as other beach users, you have to walk at least one line length into the water, then you have to be able to kite upwind, against the push of the waves and wind to maintain a safe distance from the shore.
At Currimundi, a direct onshore wind is an easterly and, with only a short distance between the water and the tree line, it's foolish to try to kite there. Any mistake can be lethal for you or a bystander.
You would have been told this by your instructor. It is part of the curriculum specified for all IKO instructors. see http://www.ikorg.com/student_standards.php?menu_id=1
For more safety info see: www.aksa.com.au/safe_kiting_guide.php
Scenario,
Council takes a few complaints per day (see thousands!!!!)
"a kite scared my toddler"
yes maam we'll ignore the 14 neighbourhood domestic violence probs and chase a dude wearing a corset.
description
Edward Stringhands.
In NE or SE you will take off from the beach and head offshore away from the beach. In due East (particularly at somewhere like Currimundi where there can be a difficult shore break) you will end up zig zagging back and fowrward only a few metres out from the sand. This means that every time your kite goes down, it could either land on the happy Currimundi beach goers or in the trees.
