There seem to be a lot of learners coming to Sandgate lately. A few words of advice -

- If you are upwind of someone, keep your kite high so the kiter downwind of you will pass you with their kite low. Same applies if you are downwind of someone, keep your kite low to pass.

- Standing with your kite at top does not mean you are allowing people to pass. In fact you are blocking the way for someone trying to pass upwind of you. Same rule applies, upwind keep kite high, downwind, keep kite low.

- Do not kite into people's killzone. For people who do not know what killzone is, it is 50m downwind of a kiter. This applies especially if you see someone learning, or those in lessons. Stay well clear.

- Do not stand at the beach with kite at top. You are creating an obstruction blocking people trying to get out or coming in.

- Do not try any jumps or tricks 50m to shore or people downwind. Consider the safety of others even if you don't value your own life.

There is so much space at Sandgate, spread out, and stay well clear of others, including people walking the beach. Common courtesy prevails and allow everyone to enjoy the sport without endangering others.

Our school is at Sandgate 7 days a week. If you have any doubts or questions about the area or safety, feel free to come and ask.

gotta run a business mate, prob one of the safest spots for it,u were a learner too, if ur any good you should be able to stay away from them

Brad2 not to hijack the thread as you have not given too many details and you are trying to do the right thing and make good a bad situation, it's good that you are doing that and what needs to happen more in the future to keep all happy.
But I could not agree more Rattlehead, I think greed is doing damage to the area and turning the place into a crowded school. We all had to learn and we all needed some space to make mistakes but we don't need to take up huge amounts of beach. And schools should know what space they can operate in to suit other users for THEIR enjoyment and THEIR safety. It use to be that learners stay downwind of the launch area and were told the basics of give way with their kites. This does not happen very much any more and causes the most propblems. I think rules need to be made so that dedicated learning zones exist that are flexible to suit wind and tide conditions and learners are asked to stay in thoses zones.
A said thing is that just about all the long term kiters do not go to the pool or 19th ave any more due to the crowds.

jas73 said...

Has anyone noticed the big void between Brighton and Sandgate. you are lucky to have anyone in this area when both ends are full. Does the wind not blow there???. All i know is that when the tide is low there is plenty of room to set up. I have no idea why everyone rides on top of each other when there is so much beach. Does anyone know.

Just to show off

is that where u kite jas?

I think its a wind direction thing to be honest. People who are competent tend to move away from the noobs/schools.

I like 19th down right close to the bridge at clontarf. It tends to get you away from potential trouble/over crowding as no one seems to go there either.

I find that it gets a bit gusty at Sandgate in a south easterly and tends to get cleaner the further you move towards Brighton. Not as many obstructions i guess.