Dunno if there is much left to say about this thread!
One question I have tho, what about other countries? Is this type of behaviour prevalent on other over-populated beaches?
Would be interesting to know if any other countries have ban's, rules, pieces of paper saying they can kite etc....
I have just spoken to some Waverley lifegaurds this morning, namely young Harry whom I know personally, and were on duty at the time of this incident. They supported Grant's version of events 100% and told me they had no frustration or annoyance with Grant or were they given any lip by him. There has been no bad blood created as a direct result of this with the Waverley Lifeguards. Conversely, they were quite sympathetic towards him for his injuries and embarrassment. It is just very unlucky and unfortunate that the whole thing was caught on Bondi Rescue.
So let he who hath not sinned cast the first stone. I personally was dragged up the beach at Kurnell last month when I self launched and didn't tie one of my front lines. Duh!!! And I've been kiting for six years. I saw Steve McCormick loose his kite completely at Dolls this summer. Point is, we are all human. There are only two kinds of people, w**kers and liars. I'm not afraid to admit which one I am.
It's nice that the lifeguards aren't angry at him, but i didn't think this was really the issue.
And yes you are right - this loop of death business can happen to anyone. I guess that's why people don't tempt fate by kiting on the nation's most high profile, busiest beach.
It's not nice that he got yarded - I don't think anyone wishes that on people (play nice!).
But really - his crash simply looks so bad for all the rest of us. That's the issue here.
Yes it is bad luck there was a film crew there, but it's Bondi! Skinny tourists in bikinis! Of course there's a film crew there! That's why it's a good idea to steer clear of places like Bondi.
I reckon it's poor judgement, poor judgement that unfortunately affects us all.
Subject: kitesurfing accident – Bondi Rescue
Given that Bondi Rescue have used the footage of my accident, which I specifically requested that they didn’t, and then they have used it as a trailer to promote next week’s episode, this has opened up a can of worms.
These are the facts and this is the true sequence of events as they happened;
1. FACT - Kitesurfing at Bondi Beach is allowed once the flags come down. The flags were down and I personally asked the lifeguard for his permission if I could kitesurf and he said "100% Yes"……… I had kitesurfed with another guy at Bondi after the flags had came down in early summer with the lifeguards permission…….and their feedback was after the flags come down at 6.30pm you are free to kitesurf, but not while the flags are up.
2. I kitesurfed for Approximately 15 minutes when I then noticed a quad-bike coming down the beach to the south end with the lifeguard signalling me.
3. I immediatetly came in to see what he wanted and he said that they were starting a clubbies lifesaving event at the north end and it would be appreciated if I could stop kitesurfing. This I did immediately, and I was very respectful at all times. If anyone has ever met me, they would know that it is not in my personality make - up to be rude or confrontational.
4. I was then approached by a film crew and they asked me a couple of questions which I said they could use in the show. I then politely asked one of the film crew to catch my kite for me. Given that we were all getting along very well and the guy I was asking was young and fit………. I was surprised when he said he did not feel comfortable catching the kite. Given that it was approxiamately 7pm and there was hardly anyone on the beach, I politely asked him again but he refused to catch the kite.
5. I then tried to find another person to catch the kite but there was no-one else available except some people walking along the waters edge who were elderly and could not speak English and some Japanese tourists off to the right. I then moved away from the waterline to the left to self land the kite. I was quite overpowered and was constantly looking up at the kite and without my knowledge the safety line had wrapped around the left end of my bar. Whilst I was still looking up at the kite, I pulled on the safety line, it unfortunately did not activate and then went into a death spiral as the safety leash had tangled around my bar without my knowledge. I tried to regain control of the kite but by this stage the kite lines had twisted on multiple ocassions. I then tried to release my shackle system which was not the original system. In hindsite under the stress of the moment, I did not use the other quick release above my shackle system I have no criticism of the bar and line system, as I had adapted it, which turned out to be nearly a fatal error. Although I have on a number of occasions pulled the safety to self land the kite previously using this adapted system which had worked very well previously, on this occasion the kite went into a death spiral, but because the safety line had tangled around the bar combined with the twisted tension on the centre lines, and as a result of this pressure, the shackle system would not release. Therefore I had absolutely no control over the kite what so ever.
6. I then tried to regain control of the kite and called out to some people on the beach to grab the kite, rather they ran towards me and by that stage the kite had re-powered and I was then dragged across the sand into the concrete wall and fence.
7. I then thanked the lifesavers for attempting to help me and specifically went up to the film crew and asked them that any footage of the incident should not be used under any circumstances. I said they could use the footage of me kitesurfing and the interview on the beach, as it was that footage that I had approved the use of. I then emailed them and called them the following day with this request which I did in a profesional and polite manner.
8. I have been kitesurfing for over 7 years and this is the first incident I have ever had of this nature, and I do not wish it upon anyone.
9. There have been a couple of comments posted on this kitesurfing forum which are completely incorrect, bordering on slanderous. At all times I was proactive in getting the lifeguards approval once the flags had come down at 6.30pm. And when I was asked to stop kitesurfing, I respected the lifeguards request and did so immediately without any hostility what so ever. In fact, to the contrary, I was overly courteous.
10. I have never kitesurfed through a nippers contest, as suggest by another blogger.
11. The only other situation that has ever occurred when I have kitesurfed at Bondi and was out near Ben Buckler Point or the northern end of Bondi, which was year’s ago, when I could not retrieve my board after a jump and I was forced to body drag into the north end of the beach, I immediately packed up and then waited for my board to come into the beach with the surf. As I was body dragging in, a clubby on a ski about 150m off the beach did paddle up to me and ask me not to go through the buoyed area as they were about to re-start a comp, I followed his instructions and body dragged away from that area immediately.
12. I wished this incident had never occurred, and I am extremely disappointed that the footage has been used against my wishes. I can only blame myself for this accident, as I pulled on the safety without checking, not realising that the safety leash had tangled around my bar. For this reason, I suggest that every kitsurfer should have a safety knife attached to their harness so the lines can be cut as a last resort.
i hope no one is stupid enough to listen to waveslave. if you don`t use a safety leash you shouldn`t be on the water! they are there for a purpouse to save your arse if you have to let go and to stop the kite potentually taking out a family half way down the beach for example.
for any newbies reading wear a kite leash if you don`t and i see you i will definately insist you put your kite away and i`ll have the rest of the kite boarders on the beach standing behind me.taking responsability for your own actions and others can save lives.
I think the lessons here are clear,
don't kite on major metro beaches (especially those with cameras around)
don't modify your saftey releases
don't expect passers by to assist you if you kite alone
don't kite in overpowered conditions (especially if you kite alone)
someone with 7 years kiting experience should probably have known better than to be in this situation to start with ??
although I don't really wish anyone any harm, I'm quite happy if people who bring about bans due to high profile media coverage of incidents never get to kite again, 'cos bans affect ALL of us, not just the few who cause them
This is the most entertaining thread on seabreeze at the moment keep it going 
.
Interesting how you guys bag the sh1te out of one of your own without having a single solid fact about what actually happened.Then when the guy at the center of this thread responds all goes quiet.....
Surley you guys understand how a film crew and producers can manipulate footage to make you believe whatever they want....and face it carnage gets ratings.Woudn't matter if it was a kiter,jetskier or windsurfer if they caught some carnage on film they are gunna air it.Thats why they are there..Theres only so many ways of filming japanese tourists getting dragged out of waist deep water.
They struck gold with that footage i reckon...... and i reckon they do too
Oh there is another thread in the landyachting thats pretty good value as well.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36642
I think actually that the law says that your image is public property if you are in a public place with no expectation of privacy.
Could be wrong, it's been known to happen
Did that once, got a hell of a fright at the end of the session when I put the kite down and realised I'd been unleashed the whole time. Never did it again.
The one time i was unleashed, was when I was having a shot at someone else's kite before he packed up.
I was so pumped to try it I completely forgot. Until I came in to land, and went to unclip my leash. I kept that quiet
Good onya for replying here Grant. Impressed.
There's a couple of things I think we need to get straight for the record though...
Yep, with you there on this one slave. I have questioned instructors ,general kiters and noobs when the kite leash is colloquially called the "safety" .
Safety is playing lawn bowls or picking your nose in the privacy of your lounge while watching the footy(i think ! bring on the vids of extreme lawn bowls poleeezze)
ki
Nice thread. Guessing that those lines are good fun to be on one end of, but on the other it seems a different story.
So is windsurfing also banned at Bondi or anywhere?
No wonder why public perception of your version of wind usage is down the gurgler!
For your sports sake, keep lines away from people
Let me guess, there is no wind at the mom., and you can't go out to play any way....me neither
. Been a diggen ditches for 3 straight days now, after 5 hours in the trenches, the last thing I want to do is pump up a kite........yea I love Winter........not.
Rescueschmesque
Much as I hate defending any kiter, I've sailed with 'slave about half a dozen times and can say that he does indeed cut sick on the waves. Puts most other kiters to shame. AND he knows when to give way, unlike most teabaggers.
Respect where it's due, vishy.
