Well said lily.
Ultimately kite schools have most to lose if a place gets closed down or an accident happens. Established schools with licenses for a spot need to be more proactive in promoting safe kiting and respect for the spot. Schools need to stay clear of busy launch and land areas and/or be very proactive in helping out others wanting to get out when clogging up the zone. The biggest danger for schools is hiring unqualified non-locals with little respect for our treasures. Unfortunately most of the locals have no interest in teaching as a kiting career; so the schools are often filled with "fly in fly out" types with no affinity for our culture and do what ever the kn they want.....not all for sure, but there are some bad apples which it is up to the kite schools to police.
What a rant, but I did get 1.5 hours in today....still no decent wind here.
Select to expand quoteLivit said..
And who else teach in gusty 15-30kn without helmet?
I have tracked down the source of the problem.
We had (very foolishly as it turns out) lent some of our school gear to another school which was short of gear (long story but we were just trying to be friendly & accomodating to fellow kiters despite them being a competitive school).
Apparently they may have been teaching at Pt. Walter minus helmets & floatation etc. & perhaps not applying the rules as per KSS instructors would have - having undergone our normal induction program where we lay out the inhouse rules regardless of their previous experience.
We have recalled all our gear from these other operators - permanently.
If anyone sees any inappropriate teaching practice which you may assume to be linked to our school I would very much appreciate a call to my personal mobile - 0430 966 397 or the shop phone 9245 2949.
If your concerns are contrary to any level of safe & appropriate teaching practice then they will be corrected - immediately - without the need to slam us publicly here on SB unnecessarily.
If we dont respond appropriately - then sure - give us a public dressing down but I can assure all that wont be the case. The absolute No.1 priority at KSS is to improve the kite teaching standard of the whole industry to the all-round benefit of the sport . It will take time but eventually kiting will have a legitimate education program accepted & adopted by all kite schools. Thats what we are working towards.
Inappropriate, anonymous ?? totally disloyal, unAustralian grandstanding on a public forum doesnt help anyone - at all.
@ Livit - forget your free loan priviledges of SUP boards from KSS in future. As well as the offer of extended store discounts for ex staff. You of all people should have known that a friendly phone call would have seen the problem sorted.
Very disappointing; & even worse; extremely poor form on your part - without implying any racial bashing.
Its just not the way we Aussies stick up for each other.
Wow I'm glad that is sorted ..
Anyhow just a thought : we always see things that shouldn't be done and we don't do anything about it because we don't want to cause trouble etc ... I am guilty as anyone.. We all would all agree that we need to do more to ensure a safer kiting environment ..
Has anyone ever thought of a " safty officer" or "representative of the association" to be given the authority to supervise , advise , direct learnners and newcomers in the busy learner kite spots ?
Eg paid or volunteer position . Just someone with a recognizable vest on ... Can Waksa etc sort something like this ?
.. does anyone think it would be a good idea ? And /or at all possible ..? Am I dreaming ? I'm assuming that alway there would be legal implication etc that would stuff things up ...
You mean this dude, South Oz already has em...dont worry about legal implications he is the LAW!
No offence intended kitepolice from South Oz
Select to expand quoteMonkers said..
I'm thinking more like the Qld meter maid style :
Love it, wot a great idea, maybe you could run this past the WAKC girls
Hi Guys,
Back in the day, when I was kiting in Kailua Hawaii. The responsibility was shared amongst all the kiters at the spot. Each would take a 30 minute stint as beach police by helping people launch and directing traffic in what was and probably still is a VERY busy launch and restricted zone.
It was all done with plenty of Aloha and everyone helped out and made it safer and easier.
It does seem though in this country and in this day and age that people follow a rather hedonistic lifestyle and couldn't give a rats arse so long as they can go kiting.
I heard they were doing away with the meter maids in the Goldy. Perhaps the displaced, jobless meter maids could come over to our beaches and pump up kites and launch and land kites at the spots. 
In fact, just pumping up the kites would be all we really need 
DM
