Today there was an incident at Pinaroo where a noob lost control of his kite and mowed down an instructor. Just want to make a couple of points
If you are new to kiting, please make sure you have lessons and understand the risks and line of fire if something were to happen. It's also a good idea to be ready to release your safety, especially on a packed beach.
The instructors reacted quite poorly in this situation and demanded the noob leave immediately and never come back, full of expletives. Sometimes I think instructors think they own the beach. The noob made a mistake, it wasn't malicious.. There were learners on lessons smashing kites between people all avo.
It was too busy today.. Hectic.
But I can see both sides of this..!
what time was this? i saw a ozone kite slam into the beach but people ran over to help the guy relaunch and suggested to go out a bit before water-starting
Judging by the majority level of competence its a beginners location so you have to expect ugly situations popping up. 
Yeah, good point..
Must have been 5 o'clock, you would have seen it, was like skittles..
And heaps of agro
I saw a Black kite, hint hint, get slammed into the beach. Say around 6.30pm.
I also had to rescue this dude 500m offshore who couldn't body drag to find his board. - and lets not talk about the incident with that euro chick dropping her kite onto another Kiter!
All these incidents have 1 thing in common, unskilled riders.
I'm sorry but if you can't do the basics, tick off. Your a danger to others.
Flame away, it's a small busy beach. One day one of these learners are going to get speared by a fishing rod, tangle others in lines, or worse.
Today I was teaching a mate north of Jindalee, 50m of beach, no kiters, no cars, no people. There are options.
I have nothing against 1 and 1 coaching. This wasn't a dig at AKS.
More the unsupervised noobs.
...... seams its ok to drop a kite if you're having a lesson, but if not you get told to leave the beach by someone who most likely wasn't born here (going by the general demographic of AKS instructors). That **** pisses me off.
I feel that just having the school at pinnaroo gives beginners the impression that its a really good place to learn so that's why some of them turn up. . .so in some very small way i feel they are partly to blame
It's been quite windy of late, if your a beginner maybe you should think twice about kiting when the winds strong.
Yep that instructor is an arrogant tosser. He never smiles, never helps land or launch and is always grumpy. Not the ideal characteristics of a professional teacher! I think he has a bee in his bonnet because he never gets time to kite and always has to hang out at perths only noob bea h.
Hang on guys, if I got had just been hit by a guy and injured I'd probably be swearing and telling them to leave the beach also!
Lets just report the incident and leave the personal attacks out if it, also maybe if you said g'day, talked with these people or share a beer together you'd get their story and the vibe down the beach would have more of that old school friendly feel again.
Agree/ Disagree. That exact same situation happened to me a couple seasons ago, was busy talking to my student at the waters edge and some rookie plowed through me, knocked me off my feet and into the water. Only lucky that I didn't have my radio or electronics on me at the time so nothing broke.
I stood up, ran to the guy and made sure he's okay, helped him drop his kite and checked the area. There is a professional way to behave when you work for a school with a good reputation and you're getting paid the rate that you are on. Inside I wanted nothing more than to clock the bloke but like i said, there's a way to behave when you work for a reputable school. new bloke sounds like a tosser from the general vibe.
I get what you're saying though Nick, when you guys first started riding there and we always had beers at the end of the day it built a pretty good little community and there was good vibes on the beach all season round.
To Cowboy, yes it's not always the best place to teach but when it's the only place the school is licensed to teach at the time (need licenses for insurance etc) there isn't much choice, and that school has been there longer than 95% of the people kiting there so I think it has a bit of right to be there. They are also the first ones down there 90% of the time. Others should move to other spots if they notice it's already quite full.
Select to expand quote
To Cowboy, yes it's not always the best place to teach but when it's the only place the school is licensed to teach at the time (need licenses for insurance etc) there isn't much choice, and that school has been there longer than 95% of the people kiting there so I think it has a bit of right to be there. They are also the first ones down there 90% of the time. Others should move to other spots if they notice it's already quite full.
I agree, I was more meaning noobs should be looking for a little more space when they don't have their kite control yet.
problem with pinaroo is there is only so far you can go up or down the beach before you're either in the dog beach or down in the designated windsurf area/ big wind shadow with gusty winds.
Where is a good place to learn to kite board? Seems to me that anywhere that there is another rider is not a good place!
Not wanting to condone or damn with regards to this beach or incident.
BUT
There are way too many lame brains out there buying cheap - often dangerous - gear on gumtree then heading to the nearest beach to give the sport a go.
This type of beginner SHOULD be discouraged ANY way possible to get them off the beach. Instructor or otherwise.
We get them in the shop all the time. As soon as you mention lessons the first thing they say is "Dont worry Im not going anywhere near the water until I learn how to fly the thing".
WRONG - & the worst wrong possible.
Rule No.1. The most dangerous place to fly your kite is on the beach.
AND besides there is NOTHING you can learn with a big kite (other than launch and land) when you are on the beach. Until you are moving with your kite - body dragging or on the board - there are no kite skills available to you.
IMO ANYONE who sees this sort of behaviour not only has the right to try to sort the dude out but it is your responsibility as a kiter.
They dont need the potential outcomes & we dont deserve to have our access further restricted because of tight arsed, irresponsible dick-heads.
I thought this happened everyday at pineroo point. And I think the guy in questions named Jason Zinetti and he was training for his pop stance world record.
When the wind blows, look-out,accidents happen! i don't know any details about yesterday at pinna's but don't people love to point the finger !!!! I can tell you there are incidents most days at mullaz's, only yesterday one of the sports oldest and most vocal was "attempting" to teach, when the kite and learner went out of control down the beach, thankfully no-one got hurt. IMHO having licenced and insured instructors on site can be nothing but a plus, most incidents are caused by "mates teaching mates" or knob-heads who think they can Rant over,
