I would have to agree with you bonk and greenie.
Next to SUP'ing, Kiting is the booming water sport. To retain access to local spots requires action, now probably more than ever. I love to kite and have been fortunate enough to do it almost every day for the last 4.5 years. There are 8 spots withing 20 min. of home, so I can kite whenever there is wind..........almost every day here
I feel I have done what I can to keep my local(s) happening, but quite frankly what I see these days makes me both positive and negative about future access.
Most kiters bring absolute positive vibes to beaches because they are really nice people who have done more good than bad. Examples are: saving swimmers, cleaning up garbage, keeping "riff raff" out...the list goes on. First adopters are often the pioneers trying new things; they are interested and will take calculated risks. Once the masses go in things because they also want to have this fun, things get messy. People will become invisible to each other and the "buddyness" of "the local crew" becomes lost. All very simple stuff really. Today, I am seeing so many people kiting with kites that are too large and skills that are inadequate, it is scary. There are too many of these people for even "the locals" to help then all......so I too am beginning to turn a blind eye........not good because people are not invisible...or are they? I will keep being positive and try and land and launch kites and be friendly, but I too have only so much free time. To retain access, we all have to do our little bit and I think most do.
However, I feel that shops also have to become more involved in keeping access. It is the shops who are the major beneficiaries of a growing market. There are many ways shops could do their bit, and I'm sure some do. For example, who gives out location guides with local rules, who insist that customers are WAKSA members, who asks if they have had lessons, who has a photo inventory and track kites , who is really responsible for the instructors they hire, how these instructors teach, where do they teach, and what they are doing to keep the place safe and accessible?
My rant for the night, I love ESE, E, and then the lovely ENE
Hey greenie, I think you are right.........our people in WA are too busy dealing with lunatics all over the place..........under control here also, but seeing some funky stuff by kiters here.....but they are doing themselves damage from what I have seen. Nothing real bad so far this season really.
1 broken arm from falling out of tree retrieving kite.
Many ankle, knee and back pains, but nothing serious at all really.
Hear some dude lost a finger at Woodies yesterday, don't know if it is true though.
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