Sorry to bring this up but I would encourage absolute beginners not to go out at Brighton Beach. There are submerged reefs and rocks both sides, strong undercurrents, and little space for errors. To kitesurf there, you must be able to go upwind and otherwise have a fair levels of skills, especially in the onshores (westerlies).
Today my kite got tangled by an absolute beginner who just steered his kite the wrong way as he attempted to start from shore. We got out of it really lucky, but it was a potentially dangerous situation. The German Kitesurfing champion Silke Gorldt died during a kiting contest in 2002, after being slammed into onshore obstacles by her and another kite that had gotten tangled into hers. Others, two.
Sorry for yelling at you there buddy but that situation was entirely unnecessary and avoidable. Apart from that, very happy for everyone who is entering the sport.

Yep don't go out there in a notherly unless you know what you are doing and are prepared to swim, self rescue or potentially ditch your kite.

Apart from that, how was it? Couldn't get out yesterday.

I hear ya Tomvo... However, how does a rant on these forums about what you experienced is sending the right message to the right people? For one, most likely that beginner is not a forum member, and two he is probably one of many it seems that are sold equipment by shops that should at least insist the beginner get professional lessons. I know as a consumer you have the right to purchase a product and use it with owner onus applies. I guess there is no rule stipulating to retailers that 'dangerous goods' (kiting is dangerous in the wrong hands) should come with some form of mandantory licensing. And in a way yes, i admit it, but I think kite surfing should have its levels of qualifications and certifications - similar to diving. But who is going to police it at the beach?! Who is going to stop you and ask for a card proving you have reached a competent level of training and experience? No one. It's impossible to police.
So really the onus comes down to the individual and yes to us as a community of ksurfers. We should shoulder some of the blame for accidents especially if we are in the immediate vicinity.
If you see a beginner struggling, drop your bar / kite / etc and offer to assist. Don't knod your head in the usual 'i hate noob' fashion. Offer to help and at least prevent a possile disaster to him and others. I've done this many times and many beginners are reluctant to making mistakes in the presence of those more experienced. But the majority appreciate the offer and learn to kite another day. I've asked guys if they need help and some - not all, try to think they know and don't need the help. Yet they don't launch properly, they launch to fast or try to self launch with disasterous results. In the end it's up to the individual. We cannot force anyone to do anything.
Look, it frustrates me no end when i see people (whether they are experienced or not) taking stupid risks, rushing setting up and suddenly abort and expect others to save their kite or board downwind. It's tempting to shout and call them d$wats, but I hope we are above that and take a deep breath with a smile and an offer of help.
It would certainly go a long way for them and for our sport in general.

Well, don't know if you are talking about the incident I saw in the afternoon, but the wind was no longer northely then....

Then, just to be the devil's advocate, basic priority rules say that the kitter leaving the beach has priority... so what were you doing so close, being that experienced, you should have turned before...

but don't get it wrong, I'm far from defending that other guy... just a bit upset of these guys always blaming so called beginners this way. We all started at some point and all made mistakes. Having a few signs, especially on a kite beach like Brighton's, that would remind a bit of the basic rules like priority and so on might not be a bad idea. Then, it's our responsability to keep it friendly, don't want to end up like surfer claiming their waves... so be helpful to beginners, tell them when they should maybe not get out, but for their sake, stop blaming them all the time...

Kazan said...

I hear ya Tomvo... However, how does a rant on these forums about what you experienced is sending the right message to the right people? For one, most likely that beginner is not a forum member, and two he is probably one of many it seems that are sold equipment by shops that should at least insist the beginner get professional lessons. I know as a consumer you have the right to purchase a product and use it with owner onus applies. I guess there is no rule stipulating to retailers that 'dangerous goods' (kiting is dangerous in the wrong hands) should come with some form of mandantory licensing. And in a way yes, i admit it, but I think kite surfing should have its levels of qualifications and certifications - similar to diving. But who is going to police it at the beach?! Who is going to stop you and ask for a card proving you have reached a competent level of training and experience? No one. It's impossible to police.
So really the onus comes down to the individual and yes to us as a community of ksurfers. We should shoulder some of the blame for accidents especially if we are in the immediate vicinity.
If you see a beginner struggling, drop your bar / kite / etc and offer to assist. Don't knod your head in the usual 'i hate noob' fashion. Offer to help and at least prevent a possile disaster to him and others. I've done this many times and many beginners are reluctant to making mistakes in the presence of those more experienced. But the majority appreciate the offer and learn to kite another day. I've asked guys if they need help and some - not all, try to think they know and don't need the help. Yet they don't launch properly, they launch to fast or try to self launch with disasterous results. In the end it's up to the individual. We cannot force anyone to do anything.
Look, it frustrates me no end when i see people (whether they are experienced or not) taking stupid risks, rushing setting up and suddenly abort and expect others to save their kite or board downwind. It's tempting to shout and call them d$wats, but I hope we are above that and take a deep breath with a smile and an offer of help.
It would certainly go a long way for them and for our sport in general.

Kazan, well said.
Its great to hear there are people out there willing to help beginners. I am still a newbee, and i ALWAYS ask for advice and help, but sorry to say these days there are people out there that aren't willing to give advice and a hand.
example, i was at rosebud not long ago, had help from a guy launching, but once it came to landing, no one was willing, didnt matter home much i tapped my head or waved or yelled out for help, the group of guys on the beach stood there watching, eventually a oldish guy sitting in his car ran down and assisted. i walked over to the group and said thanks for watching, one of them laughed and said "mate if you cant land you're kite on you're own, then you shouldn't be kiting"
Although there are places i wouldn't go as a beginner, i always ask the local kiters advice on the spot before i set up, and it helps alot, especially when we don't know the hidden dangers at all the different spots.

thanks for all the advice and all the help Guys/Girls, much appreciated.

Hi Pickle. That was digusting attitude from those knobs at Rosebud, to say the least. You would not get that at Altona way... I have yet to meet snobs out here and even though I am yet to kite at Rosebud, when I eventually do, I will certainly be keeping an eye out for beginners like yourself.!

Nobody, and I mean nobody can tell a beginner not to kite at Brighton or anywhere else, for that matter. Now in saying that, more experienced kiters should keep an eye and approach and help beginners if deemed necessary, including discouraging them from kiting at a particular time if the conditions are not right.

One problem with kiting is that is very hard to approach somebody out there if yours and his/hers kites are both up. Naturally you have to keep your distance from a fellow kiter to avoid tangling so you end up having to yell from a distance just to make yourself understood, and this can create problems and misunderstandings.

I have to say there are some individuals (not many...), experienced but no world champion material either (although they think otherwise), that think they own a particular spot, including Brighton. Show no regard for others, self land the kite almost on Beach road itself and think beginners, and even intermediates, are just a nuisance.

This kind of territorial behaviour has no place in kiting.

Hey Guys, thanks for the comments. I am a newbee, and i can honestly say that there are a few spots that beginners should NOT kite at until they are comfortable going up wind. Guys the best thing is to chat to the locals, some locals are cool, they give awesome advice, ie. i had a guy last sat at rosebud give me a few tips where is the best spot to practice, and what dangers to look out for. i cant remember the guys name but i have seen him around a few times.

Although i have met a few newbee's that think they know everything and have ended up upsetting a few other kiters, including myself. its people like that that get hurt.

Thanks to everyone for the advice and please keep them coming , also if anyone is wanting a lift to kite please hit me up, i'm always keen to go out and i don't mind giving a lift or two.

Cheers

Northerly today at brighton.. bit gusty definitely fun but would not recommend it for beginners.

Just jizzed in my pants looking at next weekends forecast for melbourne.

theWILFRED said...


Northerly today at brighton.. bit gusty definitely fun but would not recommend it for beginners.

Too crowded it seems.