Todays Paper page 13.
Lets hope Windsurfers don't get put in the same category as Kite Surfing.
BEACHGOERS are being threatened with a $200 fine for "harnessing the wind" without council permission.
Signs have sprung up at local beaches this week warning that using the wind for kite surfing and other unspecified activities is prohibited without a permit.
Port Adelaide Enfield environmental health manager Ian Hawkins said kite surfers were a danger to swimmers and others on the beach.
"The council had a couple of incidents involving kite surfers and one quite serious incident where a kite surfer ended up tangled with someone on the beach," he said.
Mr Hawkins said there was no plan to repeat Holdfast Bay council's ban on some hand-held kites.
"The permit doesn't mean that people can't do it, they just do it with the necessary safety precautions and knowledge," he said.
A new Port Adelaide Enfield by-law banning kites "used for the purpose of pulling or carrying a person" comes into force on December 21. Permits are only available through membership of the South Australian Kite Surfing Association at an annual cost of $65.
Mr Hawkins said the law was "just vague enough" for the council to crack down on new kite sports that may be invented in the future.
But some people have complained that ambiguity opens the door to abuses of power.
In September, acting Ombudsman Ken MacPherson told a parliamentary committee some councils were maliciously issuing expiation notices for animal, traffic and other infringements.
West Lakes Kite Shop owner Phil McConnachie is a key organiser of the annual Adelaide International Kite Festival, run in conjunction with Port Adelaide Enfield Council.
He claims he has been "targeted" by officials and told to cease kite surfing even before the new laws have come into force.
"They're basically trying to restrict the hell out of it as best they can," he said. "We are courteous to the other beachgoers and give way to everyone."
Charles Sturt Council is also understood to be considering restrictions. Bans already apply in areas of Holdfast Bay.
Sounds like there just picking on the kiters, should be interesting to see how far the councils go with it.
A few less kites is not a bad thing…….Just hope the councils know the difference between a Kite and a windsurfer……… Then again hitting a swimmer with a windsurfer can make a bit of a mess….. Carbon boards don’t like getting a hit from a swimmers head. 
This same problem came up about three seasons ago with the City of Holdfast Bay. I got hassled a couple of time from the dog inspectors. The funny thing is there rules state, any watercraft propelled by a person through water cannot use the water between Seacliff and North Glenelg, therefore this would apply to Sailing and Surf Life Saving Clubs as well??!
Hi Dave
Check the kiting forum
A kitting crew set to hit Lake reserve Rd & Rankings Landing
Dont stress lads, rob and me are the only dudes that speed kite and I cant see any other kiters going to goolwa lake just to ride or do freestyle.
Good get rid of the idiots, the small % of kiters that smoke each others pole are responsible for this and i say about time.
Last summer and every summer before it the kiter fang thru families showing off in close and being a danger to all the ussers of the beach.
I've been sailing seacliff for 27years and windsurfing has never come under the fire that kiting has, why?
Because the windsurf crew aren't a bunch of wannabes we paid our dues learning windsurfing, any numnut can kite in ten minutes, and you crew wonder where all the carnage is from, its from you guys disrepecting everyone on the beach.
I don care about your lines on the beach and i aint catching that hideous balloon out of the sky.
Why do you guys sail upwind of me at Seacliff and go nuts when i force you to raise your kite higher.
Why dont you all go downwind past the yacht club and go from there, then we wont have kooks frothing on the beach telling me they are gonna kill me, or waiting at the point and finally facing up out the front of the yacht club.
Yeah good one, lets have fight that'll help the situation and the next time your out on your kite you'll have every windsurfer come down and crowd you out.
Kite downwind and every wins, but do it while you can cause your kite days are numbered at brighton.
Why are people so gay???????
Does kiting do this to people
Narrow minded fellas. I am the first one to tune a kiter not doing the right thing but don't put all people in the same catagory. That's what hitler did in WW2. There are bigger problems in he world. Our beaches are not at all crowded so grow up and act like adults....
Ian Rushton got threatand just yesterday by a kiter who was giving death threats on the water, hard not to generalize when i have never seen one kiter stay up wind when the are always supposed to ?? Drop in when there not supposed to ?? and they are an eye sore wearing there shorts over there wetties 
lol
We all know there are some dickhead kiters out there that can be a danger to other beach users and as Scotty Mac says don't put all kiters in the same catagory.
Just as some of us know there was one windsurfer a few years ago at the Point Bower rd, who had a bad attitude towards kiters (threatning to bash their heads in,and see you in the car park and I'll sort you out, type of mentallity) but we certainly don't put all windsurfers in that catagory!!
Anyway, I windsurfed for 16yrs, and still do now and again go out on a 30-40 knt day, so I have 'paid my dues'
Incidentally, it takes a lot longer than 10 mins to learn to kite 
I haven't quiet got the jist of shorts over the wetties either
No need for bad blood- we all enjoy the same thing and get the same stoke, a bit of time to understand and respect each other will go a long way.
Violence is not an answer.
In the last month or so i have met alot of very cool windsurfers, had a beer and a chat and no dramas.
Why does there need to be this my sport is better than yours, you cause all the problems attitude...????
PS boardies over wetties should be mandatory...
This exact situation developed when sailboarding started.
Surfers were very pissed off when sailboards started appearing in the breaks and several all in brawls were had in car parks.
Eventually everyone will learn to live with the different water sports and it will sort it self out by people using selected wind conditions and locations for their particular sport
I wasn't intentionally putting kiters all in the same boat, but the actions of one is going to get it banned for many.
I like kiting but i dont like kiters going off for nothing when its flat and there's plenty of room for all.
**** your group hug.
I go down the beach for a fang on my gear not to deal with some arogant wanker kiter who doesn't like it if you get too close, then chases me up and down the beach like a tool!!
Some people have some major issues.
Here comes summer in Adelaide.
Flat and onshore
Yee ha.lol
Boardies over Wetties should be illegal , yes we should get along but only if Kiters stay downwind wind as they are dangerous to other people not just themselfs.
Hmm never seen one kiter stay downwind, they are always upwind ??????????????????
Can a 1 kiter answer this please ????
Hey guys, Johnny here. I'm a kiter and feel some of your comments are fair enough. We should stay down wind of you if possible but we are restricted to ride between kingston and the yacht club at seacliff making it a bit hard. Also everyone needs to give way and be nice. We are all out their for fun.. SAKSA is the association a majority of kiters are members of and if you feel it was benificial I'm sure the commitee would love to hear you voice your issues in a professional manner.
Also, Adelaide watewrs aren't busy, go to WA and there is likely to be 70 windsurfers on the water, another 70 on the beach and 20 kites. We are lucky to ride here. Lets all just enjoy it.
Happy riding boys and girls.
