Thanks for putting the below in the photo section.
www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=8443
1. Have safety leash.
2. Don't fly kite over road!
3. Newbies learn downwind of big white gum tree and second yellow bouy.
When it is gusty and windy Melville can be lethal....don't screw up.
Yes please do this. More and More beginners and more and more problems.
Especially go downwind of the gumtree or where there is plenty of space if you:
1) Don't know how to fly a kite, keep crashing it, almost on top of people.
2) Can fly a kite and ride a board but don't know how to stop. Ie Run the risk of barreling downwind on the board through someone trying to go around you.(Who was initially a good 50-100m downwind from your start position)
If you go downwind then you have plenty of space and don't run the risk of cleaning someone else up. Also you don't tend to get in the way of guys doing tricks and actually can learn without getting worried about so many people going past.
And yes I do instruct and you'll always see me south of the gum tree when teaching. Actually is better because my students can fly the kite around and not worry about cleaning people up or get stressed by people going past all the time.
Also a note for people who do know how to ride after seeing a couple of experienced riders get cleaned up by beginners far downwind: If you can see someone is learning give them plenty of space downwind. If you have spotted them as a learner who has poor kite control and you ride close enough to get cleaned up then maybe you should ask why you were that close downwind(ie within a lines length) to start with.
On another note if you are learning and getting pissed off with you friend's crappy instruction come and see me. Need to get as many hours as i can to get IKO level 2 Instructor attainment. Ask any of the regulars and they'll point me out.
Jocks are best not worn on ones head
When it is gusty and windy Melville can be lethal....don't screw up.
Nick ,
i love your comments but when isnt it gusty , that photo is a gem.
Instructors South of the Gum Tree please! It gets incredibly frustrating to see seasoned kiters walking there pupils into the upwind 'sweet spot' each time they get pulled down wind. It means the guys trying staying upwind have to avoid you either by pushing to much into the wind or go downwind of you.
Welsome to melville!
It has been an expensive summer down there for me too, not only is my GPS somewhere in the water but also a pair of black kiting sunnies as of today ![]()