Do ya self a favour boyz and Licence up,,,its getting fkn out of control,,,like jacobes ladder at the 87 speeds,,,,in 97 i watched me good mate hover over water with amazement on his parashute kite,,back then not many could have forseen this explosion in numbers that want to be asssociated,,,,,,,,,,,lets face it anyone and everyone who takes a day drive along the coast, sees a self advertising kite and like a kid flying a kite wants to have a bash,,,,,,,,,everyfknone wants to have a go Dorris the 87 year old neighbour knows all about it and her skid marker grandson who only ever visits the beach for a piss up on his mates bday or whatever,can be out on the water in a couple of days without any questions asked,,,,,,,,,,,,,Now is the time to put a regulation in order for any new incomer who wants to fly a ocean kite,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Face it 1 t0 one mill in 10 years,,,,,,,,NOO order,,,,Who runs this show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DutchRooster said...

Population of 23m and land size of 7.6m km2. That's 3 people per square kilometre, with 25,760km of coast line.

No idea how many rules, but it seems there are quite a lot for a land with so much space.

Just my 2 (Euro) cents.

Agree wholeheartedly with this - and most of the issues come from WA, the least densely populated state with the most coastline...

To rip off Bill Hicks a bit: Every time I come onto this forum I hear stories about kite incidents, people getting in dangerous situations but whenever I'm down at my kitebeach it's <sound of crickets chirping>

Saffer said...

Sounds good. Can you let all the other euro's know they are free to do whatever they want without rules at one of the uninhabitable parts of the coastline in the northern territory.
Reality check

1. Majority of Australia's population live in the major cities.
2. Major cities = beach congestion with other water users.
3. Kiting after work (you know that thing that the holidaying euro's don't have to do while they are here) means you can't travel 3 hours to get to a secluded kite spot that no one else is using.

I understand that. I don't think it has much to do with euros, but yes city beaches are congested. We kiters need a bit of space, so it's not unreasonable that kiting is forbidden in Bondi and Manly etc. I don't think rules and registration is going to change that. Common sense points us the the more desolate beaches. I was pointing out that fortunately Australia has many of them.

Saffer said...


3. Kiting after work (you know that thing that the holidaying euro's don't have to do while they are here) means you can't travel 3 hours to get to a secluded kite spot that no one else is using.

Do you mean the same as Australians do at Whistler when they go for snow boarding?????

C'mon, I think it's time to grow up man, Euro's are not the problem. Just go to Europe and you will have a taste of how organized kitesurfing is over there.

Just to remind you that the sport you love so much come from Europe.....

Saffer said...

lostinlondon said...
Every time I come onto this forum I hear stories about kite incidents, people getting in dangerous situations but whenever I'm down at my kitebeach it's <sound of crickets chirping>

Where do you kite? I think its directly related to the number of kiters.

There have been plenty of issues at Altona as an example.

Brighton and St Kilda mainly... Altona I do understand has some problems and I only tend to go there if the wind has East in it...

I am totally new to this sport (having had two lessons) but can offer some information based on my experience as an experienced hang glider pilot and former committee member of the QLD Hang Gliding Association.

Hang Gliding is a fully regulated sport. It is illegal to fly a hang glider without a licence issued by a qualified and registered instructor who ensures that both theory and practical exams are undertaken and passed. Novice pilots are restricted to sites that are suitable to their experience and skill level – e.g. a newbie is not allowed to launch from the cliff at Lennox Head but can take off from the area adjacent to the car park. All pilots must display their HGFA (Hang Gliding Federation of Australia) rego number on their helmets as well as a sticker indicating that their membership is up-to-date – just like a motor vehicle rego sticker.

Most senior pilots are also safety officers and they take on the role of keeping an eye on the less experienced pilots as well as advising those who are visiting for the first time on matters such as site rules and designated landing areas. Pilots on holidays from overseas must obtain a temporary licence from the HGFA before they can legally fly.

I know most would say that hang gliding is different because rogue pilots can thermal up to cloud base in the middle of an airport landing circuit and potentially cause much more havoc than even the worst kite boarding transgressor. This may be so but councils and local authorities don't think this way – they are justifiably more concerned about bystander injury and being sued for damages.

I predict a future with kite boarding/surfing being as highly regulated as hang gliding but, having already been there, don't regard it as a negative. Should not all those new to the sport be trained by qualified instructors? Should not all kiters be covered by up-to-date third party insurance? I fail to see how anyone can argue against at least these two fundamental issues.

G'day
I havent read through all the the posts yet.
hard to do at work so if its been brought up already sorry.

by the sounds of it kite board Australia if there is one needs to be the head group.
Im a hunter and firearms owner/user.
and no not a redneck but we have sae issues.
there needs to be one voice and for fire arms it SSAA.
join up to the big organisation who runs and helps the sport/hobby and not lots of little one.
the more little ones/groups you have they all have there own thing going and go around in circles. so one big head org is the way to go.

the thing with regos on kites
heres an idea to chuck in.
just have a jersey or rashy with a nuber on the back sort of like Rec rego on a dirt bike.
no need for big numbers and regos for kites and tranfers etc
you have you main Org number and they have all your details.
and yeah just have a rashy or somthing to wear.
not sure who could dish out the disepline but yeah my 2 cents
cheers cam

Is this the longest running thread ever?

puppetonastring said...



I dont want to have to drive to Lancelin to be allowed to kite.

yep that would suck

Hang Gliding is a fully regulated sport. It is illegal to fly a hang glider without a licence issued by a qualified and registered instructor who ensures that both theory and practical exams are undertaken and passed.

I predict a future with kite boarding/surfing being as highly regulated as hang gliding

Good on hang gliding. Bit different to trying to stay connected to the water than trying to soar in the clouds.

Your prediction?
nonsense.. No governmemental organisations with financial interest(civil aviation safety authority) will give a toss about kiters until we try and launch at the end of a runway...

Livit said...

Saffer said...


3. Kiting after work (you know that thing that the holidaying euro's don't have to do while they are here) means you can't travel 3 hours to get to a secluded kite spot that no one else is using.

Do you mean the same as Australians do at Whistler when they go for snow boarding?????

C'mon, I think it's time to grow up man, Euro's are not the problem. Just go to Europe and you will have a taste of how organized kitesurfing is over there.

Just to remind you that the sport you love so much come from Europe.....

Is whistler a secluded spot 3 hours from whistler?
Is whistler in Europe?
Kiting organised in europe? You mean beaches shut down everywhere cos you ****ed it for yourselves?
Bollocks kiting came from europe..Get off the hooch...

Does anyone know where I can get a set of chrome wheel arch trims for my Getz ?

RPM said...

some facts...

Most schools in perth have euro instructors. Maybe as high as 80%

It's actually hard to find a local instructor here in Perth.

Can other school owners confirm this?
If RPM is right, we have one major problem at hand and one obvious reason why newcomers becoming a problem in the popular beaches.

I would seriously put schools into the spotlight. They control education. They could make sure new kiters will not create problems by providing them with all relevant info and understanding.
To my knowledge there is no kite boarding course, no proper education... only individual lessons about basic technicalities... It is like learning to drive a car without learning the rules of traffic....

It is a strange desire that someone would want to become the kitepolice, but it's nothing new.

Power, money, do-gooding, corruption, huge conflicts of interests when it comes to commercial entities, ego - all factors that quickly make things go bad and diminish the simple enjoyment of going kiting for all but the kitepolice.

I'll stick to friendly advice to others in need of help/ direction rather than moaning on the internet about others actions - still have never had anyone tell me to go get fked, always happy for friendly advice...

I don't just rock in there with attitude, I bother to say a friendly hello, ask there name and where they are from and find a bit more about them to suss things out, they end up happy for the help/advice/direction if you take time to be friendly and explain. It really is better if the longer term more experienced respected kiters do this if there is a choice. I made many friends like this even.

James said...

Does anyone know where I can get a set of chrome wheel arch trims for my Getz ?

spinners even??