Club idea sounds the go.

Signs too are really needed... Something like the ones down at Margs Main break... The signs need pictures on it to so the Euros can understand it.

The idea about the club id (rashie, band, tag whatever) sounded ok also. Maybe Euros etc can have visitors bands etc. Could the kite shops issue them out to the Euros on Waksa's behalf ( on the grounds the Euros are insured and know the guidelines etc ...? )

No visitor band/tag, no kite in the city... Maybe then they might head to Gero instead

the gibbo said...
I think you are pretty much on the money Oceanfire/neptune(good flyers already exist having been produced by WAKSA recently)

Definitely the WAKSA flyers are a great guide to the particular beaches.
But I was also thinking about something being produced with a bit more fundamental info on them too.

A lot of the incidents I've seen involve incorrect launching, one of the most fundamental things to know without question.
I just can't believe how many guys I've seen give the thumbs up to launch a kite that is flapping like a flag.

I saw a guy trying to jump out the way of a downwind drifting kite that was launched incorrectly by two guys that clearly didn't have a clue, while standing at the edge of the water holding his own kite in the air, it resulted in two crashed kites and a narrowly avoided tangle that luckily didn't end up worse.

I saw a guy and his mate and old dad trying to launch incorrectly and having his kite drift downwind towards an older couple blissfully unaware of any danger, sitting under their umbrella meters away from the errant kite.

I copped some nice line burns to the back of my leg as I was setting up my kite, courtesy of a downwind drifting kite incorrectly launched by an older guy with no idea, who only yelled to look out as it hit me, lucky for quick reactions.

I saw a guy doing his formal lessons get flung hard onto the beach, who needed medical attention- it seemed that the kite was too big for the conditions on the day, even though he was a bigger guy, and his skill level.

All I'm saying is that ** happens, formal lessons or not.
And to go down the path of regulation is a bit of a knee jerk reaction when other things could be done first.

It would be good to have something formal looking that made people question (hopefully) their current knowlege and understanding, and encourage them to ask the club members on the beach if they need some advice.

Maybe a flyer with questions on it like-
Do you know how to launch correctly?
Do you know how much space to give other beach users for safety?
etc
And encourage them to ask the club members.

Newbies flock to certain beaches because there are other newbies there, so they feel safety in numbers, but not everyone is confident enough to approach somone on the beach and ask what they think will be seen as a stupid question.

As far as the guys that blatantly act in a dangerous manner by kiting in the flags and such, well I'm sure that club members from different clubs would be able to give each other the heads up so that an eye can be kept out for these guys, that way someone can have a word to them when they are spotted the next time they are on the beach.

Saffer said...

...and ensure that people visiting the beach sign some form of acknowledgment of the local rules so they are aware of them before kiting.

You realise that this is extremely unworkable, right?

Joining a local club and acknowledging local rules/restrictions/safety considerations is one thing, however...

How many people are you going to need to grab every random kiter arriving at the beach to sign your declaration?
Where do we fence off the beaches to make sure every kiter goes through the interrogation/bouncing/signing process before being allowed to kite?

oceanfire said...

Saffer said...

...and ensure that people visiting the beach sign some form of acknowledgment of the local rules so they are aware of them before kiting.

You realise that this is extremely unworkable, right?

Joining a local club and acknowledging local rules/restrictions/safety considerations is one thing, however...

How many people are you going to need to grab every random kiter arriving at the beach to sign your declaration?
Where do we fence off the beaches to make sure every kiter goes through the interrogation/bouncing/signing process before being allowed to kite?

Yeah that's true. I was thinking that at some point it might be good if the local clubs actually have some sort of authority. As in, you need to be part of the club in order to be able to kite at that beach. Or when you are a guest at that beach you have to go have a chat with one of the club members who then will give you the guidelines and a 'guest tag'.

However getting the club to have this authority is the issue. This would have to go through council approval and I don't know how many people would want to sign a petition for that.

Also you are right about it being hard to get to everyone that enters a beach. The only way that that can work is when it is publicly known that you need a guest tag in order to be allowed or insured to ride there.

Something that could be achieved by simply putting some signs up.. maybe even build a little 'clubhouse' if the council would want that

ColdBreeze said...

oceanfire said...

Saffer said...

...and ensure that people visiting the beach sign some form of acknowledgment of the local rules so they are aware of them before kiting.

You realise that this is extremely unworkable, right?

Joining a local club and acknowledging local rules/restrictions/safety considerations is one thing, however...

How many people are you going to need to grab every random kiter arriving at the beach to sign your declaration?
Where do we fence off the beaches to make sure every kiter goes through the interrogation/bouncing/signing process before being allowed to kite?

Yeah that's true. I was thinking that at some point it might be good if the local clubs actually have some sort of authority. As in, you need to be part of the club in order to be able to kite at that beach. Or when you are a guest at that beach you have to go have a chat with one of the club members who then will give you the guidelines and a 'guest tag'.

However getting the club to have this authority is the issue. This would have to go through council approval and I don't know how many people would want to sign a petition for that.

Also you are right about it being hard to get to everyone that enters a beach. The only way that that can work is when it is publicly known that you need a guest tag in order to be allowed or insured to ride there.

Something that could be achieved by simply putting some signs up.. maybe even build a little 'clubhouse' if the council would want that

The local clubs would have to have some authority for this to work. As I mentioned, if kites have visible ways of identifying club members, then it would be easy to identify those who haven't registered. When they register, they sign a form to agree to the rules. It doesn't have to be fee based initially so people can't complain that its costing them money.

There are plenty of sites overseas that have already gone this route to protect their beaches.

[b]Saffer said, if kites have visible ways of identifying club members,

Ja oright ! , but streamers !!? AG NEE MAN ! , J

I think the white elephant in this discussion is that the pizz poor behaviour is often committed by competant (if not courteous) riders who simply do not give a flying fek about anyone else's rules, welfare or enjoyment of our beaches.[}:)]

You can't blame it all on Teuros - that just aint true in my experiance. It is all too often local riders full of their own self importance and belief that their activity somehow overides other's and the kiting in cvlose proximity is not having an impact on the other punters.

How else would you explain seeing again and again tools riding through perfectly visible flagged areas and withing 2-3 metres of obviously petrified kids/swimmers??

Feel good clubs and flyers do help - but just don't cut it overall I'm afraid. It always falls on a very few to do a lot for all and it wears out in the end.

Confiscating gear and time sitting on the shore will smarten up offenders and all the riders in the metro area like no other solution will. One or two impounded rigs and by crikey watch the change!

Bring it on. I'd personally like to see serial d!ckheads sulking on the beach and zero kiting thru swimmers/flags. Can't really see the prob there.

Just my 2c.

getfunky said...

I think the white elephant in this discussion is that the pizz poor behaviour is often committed by competant (if not courteous) riders who simply do not give a flying fek about anyone else's rules, welfare or enjoyment of our beaches.[}:)]

I think you are on to something here.... with the elephant in the room...

Ultimately, adrenalin sports attract certain types of people. Solve the "look at me" attitude, and it is likely some of the "bad" behaviour will be solved as well...

Just an observation from some of the folks doing dangly twisties as close to the rigging area, trees(!?!) and walk way at Peli Pt as possible...

great idea!!!

We are talking about North Korea Police State N.I.M.B.Y Kiting Association right? How do i get the cash to you?

You could set this up for everything I do to make me and everyone around me safe, that would be awesome. I am ready for you to qualify me right now! Can I get a discounted bear attack protection suit.

' only applicable in perth '

getfunky said...
One or two impounded rigs and by crikey watch the change!

Good 2c worth there.
Absolutely + + + imo - if WAKSA were able to educate rangers it could happen tomorrow.
Rangers; & clubbies for that matter; are loath to do anything unless they fully understand the 'guidelines' and the kiting scene sufficiently to able to clearly recognise offenders.
Understandably - if they are not educated then no amount of 'power' is likely to be applied even when; to a kiter; breaking the rules may be blatantly obvious.
Rangers need the input of locals to make sense of the local behaviour.
That = more reliance on locals as a reg'd bodies = KSA reg'd kite clubs.

Obviously this is whats needed at the Pond - not to mention other kite beaches almost as critical as this about to be lost hot potato.

more nanny state rules

puppetonastring said...

getfunky said...
One or two impounded rigs and by crikey watch the change!

Good 2c worth there.
Absolutely + + + imo - if WAKSA were able to educate rangers it could happen tomorrow.
Rangers; & clubbies for that matter; are loath to do anything unless they fully understand the 'guidelines' and the kiting scene sufficiently to able to clearly recognise offenders.
Understandably - if they are not educated then no amount of 'power' is likely to be applied even when; to a kiter; breaking the rules may be blatantly obvious.
Rangers need the input of locals to make sense of the local behaviour.
That = more reliance on locals as a reg'd bodies = KSA reg'd kite clubs.

Obviously this is whats needed at the Pond - not to mention other kite beaches almost as critical as this about to be lost hot potato.

The problem is not just the idoits who kite in the wrong area's
For 5 years now kite boarding perth have been offering free kite education to clubbies but they are just not interested, when you think about it this is actually a bigger problem than hoon kiters

Absolutely NO
Better have a fast boat to chase me

Baz said...

...Just to rub salt in, had four great days of kiting where none of the misbehavior mentioned has occured.

Exactly.
All the whining on this forum makes the (non)issues seem far worse than they really are.
And I'm sure that having the whining directed to you as the head of the association makes it seem like the (non)issues are far worse than they really are.

Reality check to all you whiners; if you were really concerned, you'd make a stand and take an active role in speaking to these seemingly rampant unbiquitous irresponsible kiters, instead of hiding on a forum and complaining your fearful little asses off about it.

sebol said...

Absolutely NO
Better have a fast boat to chase me

damn straight.

Andrash said...
The question is who is going to regulate kite boarding in Perth metro? The councils have the authority, the money, and officials who are eager to justify their salary by introducing new regulations. Obviously, local councils represent the majority, and they will act accordingly. After a regulation has been made we have no say. And their rules will be far worse, that what we initiate ourselves. Timing is crucial... if we don't do it now, the councils will do it sooner or later, and from there, there is no way back to the good old days.........

True words.
No one gives a f*ck about kiting except kiters; don't be so quick to give the power to the ignorant masses.

Time to grow up kiddies.