All - Coldshot has very valid points, regardless how he may have come across and delivered his message – you will never please everyone.

Leave out personal feelings/emotions and the message is clear...if kiting behaviour/etiquette is not changed at Pelican Point then we will see the great sport banned there and unfortunately that may snowball and lead to further council bans at other locations due to increased traffic at other areas and thus an increased number of incidents! It will hurt everyone who kites in WA, even the unsuspecting tourist.

Pelican Point as some people have pointed out is not an ideal spot to kite, not suitable for beginners due to is location and bird sanctuary – it has a very limited launch/landing area and thus needs to be met with the utmost of care for your safety and that of the general public. If common sense is employed although high risk it is possible to safely launch and land there, however kite to conditions...yesterday the wind was extremely erratic and in hindsight Peli Point wasn't the safest spot to kite. Not many venues were to be honest!

It is up to all those who kite in WA to educate fellow kiters be it newb's or tourists. Generally a friendly approach to someone doing the wrong thing will be met with a friendly response.

If you have any foresight & decency you will take a proactive approach to doing the right thing by the sport you all seem to love.

Unfortunately evidence is surfacing that even the presence of kites outside the yellow markers is disturbing the rare migratory birds that visit this area. A complete ban of all kites during the migratory season would be advisable to help protect the critically endangered birds.

Personally I think the yellow boys should be spaced out every meter. Becomes very obvious you are not supposed to be there. It also becomes a hazard in itself so you keep away. Just like the kiting around moored boats, you don't.

Freddofrog said...

... in hindsight Peli Point wasn't the safest spot to kite....

No hindsight required. I spoke to people before I went out and they all said it was extremely gusty. Everyone knows gusty conditions are the most dangerous. I quit after 30mins, just wasn't worth it.

Nothing against you mate, if it wasn't for u, than that's fine, others had a great time, including two gals (ask them next time u there:).
It was WELL worth experience.

Freddofrog said...

Personally I think the yellow boys should be spaced out every meter. Becomes very obvious you are not supposed to be there. It also becomes a hazard in itself so you keep away. Just like the kiting around moored boats, you don't.

Hm. Did you kited with dolphins there? Windsurfed? I did, a few times. The best experience ever. Let's ask them as well what would they think? :)
As said, nothing personally, just thinking outside the box.

birddefender said...

Unfortunately evidence is surfacing that even the presence of kites outside the yellow markers is disturbing the rare migratory birds that visit this area. A complete ban of all kites during the migratory season would be advisable to help protect the critically endangered birds.

If may I ask, what is your statistical sample for saying this? Based of how many years of observation? I witnessed a group of 10 dogs in the area for more than 1hour , all going in the water on a low tide for more than 20-30m. You only see kites:(

This has just come in VICTORIA METRO, check out ALL the 5 KNOTS either side of the wind sports area and the rest of the metro coast line!

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/478186/Werribee-to-Williamstown-Boating-and-Swimming-Zones.pdf

This is in effect as of January 2012.

I give it 5 years here in perth and we will have one or 2 spots on the beaches in the METRO area.

2 years tops, NO kiting spots on the river on a SW wind direction! Writings on the wall!!

Can't wait to kite with 100+ kiters in one little spot!!

coldshot said...

I give it 5 years here in perth and we will have one or 2 spots on the beaches in the METRO area.

2 years tops, NO kiting spots on the river on a SW wind direction! Writings on the wall!!

Can't wait to kite with 100+ kiters in one little spot!!

Totally agree with ya. The only thing that can be done is compulsory registration and some form of permit. This will dramatically reduce the numbers of clueless tourists, retards, noobs etc. PITA for local kiters, but it's a small price to pay to ensure that at the very least every kiter on the water has done a course and passed a test. Kiting is just too easy to do and too easy to get into. You can be up and going in a few days, this means you have guys out on the water, in the surf, who have very little experience in the ocean, no idea about right of way and very little common sense - attached to a 10m kite.... it's a recipe for disaster. Self policing isn't going to work. It will to an extent, but considering the volume of incidents and near misses, something a bit more extreme is needed. You can't rely on a few dedicated locals running up and down the beach trying to educate ignorant morons, especially when half of them have such a bad attitude that they don't really give a f**k what advice they're being given.

Monty Python have got nothing on you guys, funny as

I have spoken at length with Coldshot this morning about the recent situation @ Pelican Point & explained that WAKSA has a series of guidelines that also covers advice for Pelican Pt. Self regulation (and obviously, lots more of it) is the key to keeping Peli Pt open. Whilst it's a pain in the _ _ _ _, patience and even more considered explanation to our Teuro friends may be necessary unfortunately.

If one or two Peli Pt regulars could PM me please to arrange pick up & distribution of the guidelines @ Peli Pt, it would be appreciated.

doggie said...

Monty Python have got nothing on you guys, funny as

^^^^^^^^^

Monty Python IS in the town:)

An Evening with John Cleese (22nd - 25th, 27th, 28th, 30th & 31st January 1st & 2nd February) - Regal Theatre

^^ would that have happened doggie style?

Oh one more thing about PELICAN POINT!

All the guys who love to bring down their mates, girl friends etc.

Especially the 14 year old with one years experience teaching another younger kid, who sliced another kiters KITE in HALF!!

I only hope you so called "INSTRUCTORS" ALL have INSURANCE cause if you stuff up and injure someone or even injure the student and say break their neck example land head first into a tree or dunes I bet your student or innocent bystander will be going after someone to help pay their medical costs!!