Great contribution Manny...like the hand signal idea, nice in universal.
The only ones that come to mind at the moment are below....surely there are more...3 would be a good start.
1. Thumbs up for "ok to launch."
2. Pat on head for "land me please."
3. ?
Hi Guys,
I have read most but not all of this thread and I feel compelled to throw my 2 bobs worth in. so here it goes.
1) Kiteboarding is an inherently dangerous sport. We rely on an uncontrollable and unpredictable power source. We ride on an unpredictable and constantly changing medium. These two facts make sure we will never have all the bases covered. Accidents will always happen and unfortunately deaths will never be fully preventable.
2) Self regulation is the only REAL course of action. We cannot rely on IKO, Schools, Shops, Council, Rangers, police or any other government agency to regulate our behaviour on the water or enforce rules upon us or our sport. The way to start regulation is first to identify the culprits. We could have registration on all our kites so we can be identified. This maybe the easiest solution and cheapest. It will meet with opposition by some, but face it, if you ride responsibly and safely, you have nothing to fear and nothing to lose and everything to gain. 
3) Voluntary registration numbers on our kites are a great and easy way to police our actions. You ideally would need to be registered to kite any populated beach such as Mullaloo, Pinnaroo, Scarborough, Cottesloe, Leighton, Melville and Woodies. You could still kite unpopulated beaches without registration numbers where you can kill yourself away from the public and other kiters without any protest from the mass population, you'll barely make headlines.
Problem with self regulation is the majority of kiters need to be on the program. Just Yesterday there were more than a dozen kiters out at Cottesloe when a few kiters turned up at the Phone Box site and started to rig up. They were all riding new Switchblade 3's. I came in and asked them to move further South to the required 100m safe zone and explained the problems kiting has faced at Cott. They asked how much the fine was if caught? WTF? I re-explained the issues.
I rode off. To his credit, one of the riders moved upwind, the other three stayed and launched and landed repeatedly on the banned beach despite the sign and my request. 20 minutes later there was three more kiters turned up and began rigging at the phone box. I came in yet again and a little more sternly asked them to move. Again, only two guys moved, the rest stayed there and continued to use the beach even trying to launch with kite on road side in the lee of the prominent headland. NFI. 
No one else seemed concerned or have we forgotten the battle fought by Johnno Keys just a couple of years ago?
The disrespect of the kiters using the beach despite pleas to move, and the apathy of the other riders to do and say nothing. Here within lies our problem. Everyone thinks it is someone elses problem until we get closed down. Then we all bitch about how unfair we are treated and how "the man" is taking away our freedom. He ain't taking it from us, we're giving it away!
So what do we do about it. Compulsory membership to WAKSA with each rider getting and keeping his/her own rego number. You should be encouraged to put these numbers on your kite. If suddenly you are able to be recognised and identified, suddenly I think we will see a different behaviour from all riders. Kiters without rego numbers would identify themselves immediately as potential trouble makers or visitors either way, people would be less happy to see them kite at our local beaches and pressure would be applied by the masses to conform, buy membership, get insured and tow the line. No one is forcing you, but there would be an underlying pressure to do the right thing.
This is the best way to handle our issues in my opinion. It doesn't take away our liberties or freedom to ride where ever we want to, it costs almost nothing to enforce, we exclude "the man" from regulating us, we become accountable. Our numbers in membership swell the WAKSA database and bank account, we get a stronger voice to deal with authorities as we then are ALL represented and most importantly, WE ARE looking after and are SEEN TO BE looking after our own and the PUBLICS best interests. "The Man" is happy
For a couple of extra dollars membership fee WAKSA/AKSA could even supply the numbers/letters for the rego of our first kite and we could buy any additional numbers for additional kites for a couple of bucks on a subsidised fee.
Think about it. The idea has flaws, but it is better than other ideas thus far????
I'd like to hear what others think.
Good winds,
Kitehard I can't believe the people didn't move. I expect it happening to myself, being young and all, but a response like that to an older person is crazy...
I can think of no way to combat that other than to get another mate or two, and politely tell them to F^*& OFF!.
I really can't believe some people.
OMG!!
After the weekend a few sane people have come out of the woodwork.. You know the kind of folks who, even though they don't agree, are here for the good of the sport and those that participate. Crazy behaviour.. lets hope it is catching
BTW I have actually tried to keep a sense of humour but it has been a bit tricky - I did lock the cage door behind me when I left on Fridee though 
Darren, I think you have raised some very good points. The whole reason I threw the cats out there in the 1st place is I know your experiance of 'old codger' style friendly advice is so often thrown back in your face by those that only give a stuff about their own fun on that day, and have no care for other users or the future of the sport and potential bans. Sadly they are the majority I believe.. self regulation is probably not going to work for these selfish, unsafe tools..
There is no simple answer to these increasing problems, and increasing numbers, but as I stated earlier, if kiters aren't going to move (and discuss politely and rationally for a start) then 'The Man' will and it will be along the lines of "Fk orf all shared beaches" and go illegal perhaps?
I would hope at this point the flamers can show some restraint (Ay Loz - might be time?) and FOCUS on the important issues in front of all of us..
Keep the ideas rolling..
Kite rego numbers large and visible. Make people accountable. That is the root of the problem.
3 cheers for Kitehard, let's go with that.
In response to observations noted here on this forum and my own observations at local beaches I would like to offer to anyone in the kitesurfing community free theory and safety information courses. That’s right Free “no strings attached” just come
on down and get informed, for everyone’s sake.
Responsible kite surfing practices
Safety information
Weather analysis
Location analysis
Trim and tune theory
Understand apparent wind
Refreshing what you already know,
Filling in the gaps of information from self learning
Filling in the gaps of information from learning off “mates”, or your partner.
or you Intend to start kitesurfing
This is followed up with Q&A session, where you wont get flamed for asking a “silly” question.
This is a genuine offer to all fellow kite surfers/ kite boarders
For more information drop into Choice kitesurfing or call
Graham Baker to arrange your booking. Evening, weekday and weekend classes available.
Choice Kitesurfing
4/54 Rockingham Rd
Hamilton Hill
93367884 mob 0438382638
Helmets well they is expensive and i have thought about it many times and yes its cheaper then a funeral but maybe the goverment should put a reduction on safety equipment like no GST mso its more apealling to the buyer, but maybe these problems are only at public spots, up north WA there is miles of 'secrete spots' (i believe hehe), now its only yourself in risc at those spots and i reacon you can decide yourself if you wont a helmet 4th line of 5th line. Ruben Lenten fly's only 4 lines and he seems to controll his kite pritty well and doesn't hit anyone so you cant make them banned because they can be flown just as good as a 5th line.
Licenses gee another bloody card we have to get like the blue safety and the yellow security, i think that subject is up to the sellers of the product to manage, its up to them to decide wether the buyer is getting the kite they can handle and well ebay seller should decide what they are really achieving.
gear confiscation like hoon laws could be good, being told to move on doesn't really solve the problem a week later but loosing your gear for a week might be a solution. its up to the people abusing the rules i think.
BAN THOSE GOD DAMNED WAKESTYLERS AND THEIR SILLY BINDINGS THAT ARE REALLY BOOTS BECAUSE CAB'S ARE REAL BINDINGS, ALSO ban spacemonkey and his chums... they are real problem causers worste being kitecrazzzy... he even hits trees... THINK OF THE TREES
Tres funny home-boy
Like I said you don't av to agree with me but there has (eventually) been some decent discussion about these issues. Better that kiters sort this stuff out before outside authorities step in don't you think?
Watchya step too gangbanger or I'll pop a cap inyo @ss!!
I agree that no one should be forced to wear protective gear against thier will. I am happy to see someone go out in marginal offshore conditions, naked with bloody chucks of fish strapped to thier members.....as long as they actually know what they are doing, choose to do it and do not impact on members of the public or others enjoyment of the sport. I personnally like to wear an impact vest in the surf, but hate the idea of a helmet - but who cares, it is my choice and only I will be impacted by my decisions.
What I do not agree with is kiters doing whatever they want in crowded or high density situations where there is a real or perceived risk to others. This will impact on my enjoyment by kiting being banned there and elsewhere.
I absolutely think that key spots near cities where the above occurs we are going to have to perform more formal self regulation. Kitehards example shows that informal regulation is not going to work, and sooner or later the spots will be shut down for everyone. It only takes one incident to incite the public and we will be stuffed. Our state organisations can easily work with local councils to have acts passed that certain high impact/conflict spots must have accreditation/licencing to kite there, and put up signs to that effect. We can then self police and have the law behind us, and it will also preserve the spot for those who are happy to stick with the rules. If you don't want to bother with accreditation go and excercise your freedom somewhere else where there is no requirement and no risk of impact to others.
All kiters should be members of AKSA anyway to ensure you are insured against injuring others, surely it is not much of an additional step to issue competancy licensing with membership?
It does not have to be hard. Perhaps accreditation for a spot just requires you to have made contact with a local rep who will give you the low down on do's and don'ts and can confirm your competancy. It also provides a way to identify you if you do something you have been told is wrong and accreditation can be taken away. I don't like the idea of a number or badge on a kite, you would have to do your whole quiver - and people lend kites all the time. I reckon a colour coded plastic dog tag thingy on the back of your harness would work better, one per person and people generally change thier harness less often than kites. It would also be a bit easier to check as someone heads out with their kite in the air.
I am not suggesting this for all sites, or even very many - just the ones that councils already have thier eye on or there is a high risk of public interaction. Self regulation backed up by the council and the law would help preserve these spots. It will also assist in quarantining non accredited kiters from others if they do the wrong thing - ie they are acting illegally and will be prosecuted if caught. If we don't do it for these sites I bet we will start losing them completely in the not far distant future, especially with idiots around like the ones old man Kitehard encountered.
If you only kite spots that generally do not have others around, then you are free to do whatever you wish whenever you wish, however you wish - naked if need be.
In kiting its generally the 90/10 or 95/5 rule. A small percentage of people with ego problems and complexes that think they have to behave like idiots to prove they are good kiters. When people scream at them and call them idiots they get psyched up and do it more, same logic as hoon drivers.
The general problem is 95% of people are capable of self regulating. When there is no one on the beach they will jump close to shore and use discretion when the beaches are busy. Unfortunately there are 5% who will behave like hoons on the water, jump when other kiters are downwind of them, scream and shout if anyone gets in their way, and treat other water users like they are waste of valuable sea space.
The problem with this scenario is the 5% are going to be responsible for getting spots banned whether we like it or not, so sooner or later we will probably be forced to regulate because some idiots won't self regulate.
i agree with ran . we don`t need more regulation .common sense and a keen eye for those that are not doing the right thing in your local area . then a bit of verbal pressure .should be enough.
we have our hand in our pockets enough in sydney and i already have a boat licenece .
soon we will have to pay to walk down the street!
