Hey all!
Had epic weekend at Coronation Beach, with 3 "kite-till-you-drop" sessions, followed by great company and enough beer!
The only things that bothers me (albeit only a little) is that the kiters seem to be the poor cousins when it comes to rigging, launching and landing zones. Were any kiters present at the discussions when these rules were made by the Shire? I'm sure the Shire rep is a windsurfer.
Not a big deal though, once on the water it seems as though all get along ok - only had a few words and gesture thrown my way, but typically couldnt understand them so I just smiled and waved! (except for one time...)
The launching wouldnt be any better from where the windsurfers set up. The launching area is a worry though but thats just the way it is. Once your 50m out its all good
www.waksa.org.au/locations/?view=location&id=22
Isn't the rigging area downwind of the windsurfing area? It wouldn't make sense to put it upwind...
A more disturbing issue is the recent influx of aggro Grey Nomads. They usurp the choice camp sites with massive campers, and get very snide when you squeeze a small tent in a corner up against the fence. Wind and kite surfers should be able to claim "native" title.
Kite rigging spot is in the right place its just ridiculously small, not even a line length wide and deep, surrounded by a treated pine log fence ready to break bones if there is any slip up. Launching area is hell gusty.
Apologies to this older guy, but I have never seen anyone kite with this get up, good on him for having a go, but I really think he needs to be convinced to ditch all of that dodgy "safety" gear. He is launching in the designated kite area!
His kite was a 4m Zeeko, the kite in the background was a 6M cat, I landed a 4.5M RPM, they were all lit on this size kite!! Old mate ended up downwind and back on the beach fairly quickly, someone on the beach was looking out for him.
(Edit) Someone also needs to let him know he has his kite leash hooked up backwards too, he will never be able to reach the release with it rigged behind his back like that.
Are they actually shire rules? When I was last there windsurfers told me that you had to kite outside the designated windsurf area, I'm always a bit sceptical when windsurfers claim territory which just so happens to be the best/most convinient spots, you want to sail without crowds and kites stop being sheep and explore a bit downwind or upwind instead of claiming car park beaches....to be honest they can have corros, bit overrated IMO ;-)
Was at Coros on Sunday afternoon. No hassles with the poleys at all. Best place to launch is the far north end. 1 min walk from the car park or you can drive up the 4wd track for 100m. No one else there at all; plenty of room to launch. My mate Gav taught me the most awesome self-launch technique--back your 4wd up to the edge of the beach; run your lines perpendicular to the wind; drape you chicken loop over the ball on your tow bar; pull your de-power all the way in; go back to the kite; hold it into the wind with the lines taut; let it go; then walk back to the tow bar; hook into your safety; grab your chicken loop off the tow bar and pop it onto your spreader bar and go! BRILLIANT! Best self-launch technique I've ever seen.
The red thumbs to my initial post must be that some folks think I have an issue with the poleys - not true at all. It was my weak-arse attempt at some humour. Anyway, the jist of it has been said already, I think the rigging area is inadequate and our fellow kiters dont rig-and-leave or land-and-leave but rather leave their kites rigged on the ground, lines layed out, standing around having a chat. With a space like this I don think anyone should be hogging it - quick in and out.
Yes Robbo, next time I'm there I will venture a bit south away from the hordes.
It's a fantastic spot, for me a gentle intro into wave kiting and great flat water for practicing some new moves, but for my more experienced mates some serious breaks and huge air.
All those posts and signs arnt very kite friendly city of herald ton has a bad habit of putting signs inthe road as well[}:)]
The windsurfers act like wayne-kers at Coro's.
The surf barely breaks where the kiters are allowed. Then if you get too close they scream and carry on like lamb chops.
Another guy told me someone threatened to slash his tires when he parked in the windsurf area (near his windsurfer mates - yet not kiting there).
The windsurfers have the BBQ's, shade areas and surf...
Kiters get ..... a shipping container.
leave the old boy alone, he's a legend. everybody knows that when corro breaks windmills is much better just downwind. i have found boosting over the locals the best way to mend barriers
I recon post more photos and flame away....gives me a break from looking at the friggin rain.....
And lets face it, if a person's a knob....they're a knob....there's no sugar coating it.
