Just got this item sent to us via the Feedback page:
Laurie,
maybe a hook knife stashed in your leggie's key pouch will help get the point across if anyone ditches their kite too close ??
sadly this isn't just isolated to Cottesloe. Having watched the increasing number of "heroes" getting closer and closer to swimmers at my local beach, sometimes between the flags.
Watched a bunch of idiots yesterday at secret harbour high fiving and woop wooping themselves as they did tricks really close to the shore whilst swerving amongst swimmers, how unbelievably stupid can you be!!
They were truely heroic with their tripod, photo session and big chest posturing.
Funny thing is i mentioned the problem of the fisherman, their burley and the shark problem to one of my neighbours last night(he is on the local council/lifesaver organisation) and he told me that that isn't going to be a problem much longer as they have a possible kiting ban on their next agenda.
So all i can say is many thanks to the really really cool people who MUST kite through swimmers, well done!! Thing is i can't blame the local council/organisations for wanting a ban and i reckon if it came to a vote i would actually vote FOR the ban, my wife and daughter were almost cleaned up by a learner who launched upwind!!!! of the flags and if a ban is the only way to keep them safe then so be it. 
We all moan about this and that, but reality is we are wrecking the sport for ourselves.
.. it wasn't me .. this was an email someone sent in via the feedback page. Personally, I like space and will travel up/down our awesome coast to avoid congestion & being around swimmers.
Must be crazy down in the more populated area. Lucky up where I am no one goes swimming in the open ocean so it pretty much free range for kites.
But I did have an interesting conversation a member of the water police, he says there are discussion paper going around police/government about changing the laws about recreational boat license or PWC license to include any water craft that is not human powered (ie beach cats, windsurfers and kites). As well as making infringment actual affect your drivers license. So being a bad boy/girl means you could be walking or catching the bus
Its actually an interesting concept, a bit sucky to start with but could actually work in the long run.
If I see someone matching the description I will call the terrorist hotline + put on gas mask
Kite went RIGHT in front of a car yesterday at melville. The car had to emergency stop....after repeated warnings not to jump too close......
New guy, just in from France. It's easy to give advice to locals but the blow ins will be one of the most compelling factors in getting local beaches banned.
I am the terrorist, terrorist, terrorist, terrorist, tee ee ar ar o ar ist the terrorist, terrorist, terrorist, terrorist.
I got some surveilance footage I think the leader of the organisation is Andre Phillip.
It can be very hard to keep kiters and swimmers apart. Beachgoers come down see all the pretty kites and go for a look. Then they decide that they might go for a swim, right where the kiters and coming in.
Best part is after they drift down and out of danger, they walk back up and go for another dip.
Im sure if we were all like Meerkat, we would simply just keep moving away and making sure there is no other water user in sight. Its a good policy, please start today.
I hope this doesn't all end in a fatality, if the councils had any brains they would insist on 3rd party insurance for kiters, and then signpost designated kiting areas, with warnings to non kiters, which also reduce a kiter's exposure to liability if something goes wrong.
The reverse could occur for kiters who ride in non-designated areas, this could say, result in a invalidation of insurance.
I know it sounds a bit fun police like but its better to be told where you definitely can ride rather than being told you can't ride anywhere!
No one will stop me from going downwind!!!!
I will stay away from the beach as required but if you attempt to prevent us from traveling distances down the cost and box us in a designated area then you can count me in the terrorist team.
What is it again, you advocate compulsory insurance, compulsary lessons with IKO,compulsory membership in the local association, a registration sticker, quick release, defined riding areas, maybe we should all wear a gaff helmet too?
Maybe we should all ride compulsory 9 foot malibus as if you have an accident they are much easier to paddle back to the coast.
I am the first one to believe that we should restrain ourselves from bothering any other water user , The safety police is just getting a bit overzealous and setting up all the bull**** rules will not affect the incidents with idiots anyway as they are the one who ignore rules in any case.
There would be at least 50 times more accidents with surfers and no one would dare to attempt to ban them from the water
Why ,because they stand up for themselves( i am part of a surfboard riding club),they refuse bull**** and they will eventually punch up any idiot who doesn't respect the established order.
Peace
Those kite surfers were killing it at Secret Harbour yesterday, I loved watching them and I think all the swimmers were enjoying it too.
It was to windy for me to kite yesterday but I think I had much more fun watching them than trying to kite, all I usually get to do is watch the same boring kite surfers. I live in Secret Harbour and I would love to see more kite surfers like those guys yestreday, you all welcome.
The banks are really good at the moment, not only that you get to kite with dolphins.
p.s. next time kite a litttle further south and everyone will be happy.
p.p.s lets have kite stock at Secret Harbour next year.
Man that would suck if they did ban it, especially if it's not locals who are to blame .
Question: How close is too close?
We must all play a part which would include having a 'friendly' word to anyone not kiting responsibly - more people doing this would contribute to safety 'in numbers'!
ha ha, you guys are very funny and clever too!
My point is that the beach area at secret harbour is only crowded at the lifesavers carpark, right where the lifesavers setup, right where the flags and 90% of the people swim/surf etc.
There are carparks either side(2min drive) that are for surfers and such like. You will get maybe 5 or 6 people swimming in these areas as opposed to the 300 odd right opposite the lifesavers car park.
Its common sense to kite where there are slightly less people. Yes people are going to come and watch, and thats great(so is having lots of kiters) but to setup and launch right at the flags amongst all the little kids just so you don't have to drive 2min(or a 5min walk) is pretty selfish. Have a think about.
I agree Meerkat, Mike Mike and his mates love a crowd. You see them traveling the coast just looking for spectators. Even the big sharks traveling down from mandurah, they love a crowd.
From the stories I hear, if you park anywhere but right in front of the kiosk at Secret Harbour your car will be given a broken window in short time.
The last time I was down that way, the amount of glass in the 'surfers' carpark seems to give creedence to the stories.
I've been kite surfing at Guantanamo Bay for the last 4 years recently back in
Aus, sorry didn't mean to cause any offence.
D. Hicks
i'm glad i have the good old Australind estuary, the only thing you gota watch out for is the crabs
Politely tell swimmers that you have seen some nasty jellyfish floating around and show genuince concern. It works everytime.
