Yeah not good, there is plenty of water, why the hell there!?! Could be performing for the crowd, wonder if his put a sock in his jocks too

why he was kiting there? probably because
1. it was flat
2. the wind is cleaner
3. no one else would get close to him
4. he really knows what he is doing, and not showing but but just cruising
5. bringing a surf board allows u to get going with less wind and by kiting strapless in flat you can perfect the turns and gibes faster than in the surf

Not that I want to defend the guy, but I guess it wouldn't hurt if they post some signs about where kiting is allowed and where not.
Not everyone knows how to interpret the buoys, 5 knot zones and what not.
E.g. in Altona kiting is theoretically forbidden, but practically it is tolerated.

The big issue is the yacht club have complained to the council before (rightly so) and will continue to do so.

Majority of offenders I've seen doing this are also aware of the rules and choose to conveniently play dumb every time someone complains to them.

kitesurfjim said...

Seriously i think there are more pressing matters on St Kilda Beach than this.

The self launching right next to the sea wall and road.
The kids practicing their Handle passes on the beach upwind of others.

The general Lack of communication with all on the beach.

I have kited all over the World Literally, and never have i come across a beach that is so unfriendly and no one offers to launch or land you.
Also never have i been to a beach and seen so many people getting dragged and thrown around.

This is the stuff that will get the sport banned from St Kilda.

I'd be more worried about this stuff than one guy on a surf board in the wrong area.

Thats my 5c worth

I've never had a problem getting launched or landed. Maybe you should try asking politely?

Taurus said...

Kitesurfjim, I can't figure out why people don't launch/land independently. With the current kite designs on the market its extremely easy to do both. The only time I would justify it, is on a crowded beach where it isn't safe to do so and even then I would feel very embarrassed.

I don't know whether its laziness on the part of instructors in not teaching the technique or the lack of confidence amongst kiters but I keep seeing the same people standing on the beach for 5 minutes waiting for someone to come along and land their kite.

If your not independent enough to launch and land your kite on a beach like st kilda then you should walk down to one of the schools and get lessons.

I'm competent in kiting and I much prefer to get a launch and land.

1. Prevents any wear and tear to the leading edge
2. You get a another chance to confirm you've rigged your lines up correctly
3. Self land isn't as easy on the switchblades as the front lines split almost half way up to the kite so getting to them to self land can be a bit tricky. Anything over 20 knots and I will try and get a land or activate the IDS
4. Getting people to launch and land keeps things friendly on the beach. It only takes 30 secs.

I like to think that getting a launch or land is not lazy, but instead, the smart thing to do when heading out/in.

peace.

Sky Hook said...

Party-pooper, you know what.... All you are doing by posting this picture online is giving the Yacht Squadron evidence to use to get kiting banned here. My suggestion is.... if you are so passion about this topic why not wait until the offender comes in and have a quiet and civil chat to them? I would imagine this technique would work for all situations where someone is doing the incorrect thing... it's all about education and communication.

Why is everyone blaming the messenger instead of the person in the picture.

All I've seen in this post is:

1. Defend the person in the picture because of no signs
2. Attack the person who posted the picture

If the yacht club wants material, its easy enough for them to get out on any given day and take photos.

If the yacht club do refer to this post and the picture, all we have given them so far is proof that the majority of kiters don't consider this a problem and would rather sweep it under the carpet and pretend its not happening than deal with the offenders.

The majority of kiters don't have the time to sit on the beach while a kiter sits out on the water for 3 hours abusing the rules so sometimes posting a picture of the offender is easy than confronting them (or dealing with the resultant attitude you sometimes receive from the offenders). I have a 3 month old at home, so I generally get about 2 hours kiting leave and hanging around on the beach waiting for some guy out on the water is hardly practical.

On the issue of signs:

1. There is a sign on the main beach
2. Standard boating laws apply - all kiters should know the relevant boating laws which include distance from swimmers and fixed objects in the water.

If we continue to take this attitude of "I don't know boating laws" then the result will be that the council will require a skippers license for kiters to ensure that kiters do. This apathetic attitude is unlikely to gain any favours with the council. If you kite at a particular location, its your duty to understand local laws, not other kiters duty to tell you.

Taurus said...

Kitesurfjim, I can't figure out why people don't launch/land independently. With the current kite designs on the market its extremely easy to do both. The only time I would justify it, is on a crowded beach where it isn't safe to do so and even then I would feel very embarrassed.

I don't know whether its laziness on the part of instructors in not teaching the technique or the lack of confidence amongst kiters but I keep seeing the same people standing on the beach for 5 minutes waiting for someone to come along and land their kite.

If your not independent enough to launch and land your kite on a beach like st kilda then you should walk down to one of the schools and get lessons.

Dude i am an Instructor and have been teaching all over the world for the last 6 years and more.
Never have i or any of the schools i worked with teach to self launch or land.

I was on the beach this week teaching and this guy was flying his 12 m Park trying to put his board on, his only problem was his hands were on the ends of the bar and his kite kept zipping from 12 to 2 back to 10, obviously now being pulled around like the preverbal rag doll.
He then proceeded to walk well run trip fall and drag, to the sea wall and attempted to self land his kite almost hot relaunching again in the process.
i ran from the other end of the beach past at least 30 other kiters to help him.
So no one else saw this as an issue or a potential hazard???

when i spoke to the guy the school he was taught by 6 months ago, taught him how to do it. and failed to explain the consequences of failure being so close to a wall and a major road.

If you teach or show people how to do this stuff they will try it.
Yesterday on a very crowded beach some guy self launched his kite whilst standing 5 m upwind of a group having a picnic.

You said you would feel embarrassed by asking for a launch on a crowded beach, Mate i don't care how good you are stop being so vain.
I have even had the pleasure of Aaron Hadlow Tapping me on the shoulder asking for a Launch. Now unless you are as good or better than him wind it in swallow that lump of pride and let someone help you.

Where common sense should prevail, it doesn't, no matter where you are in the world.

My Point is that who is more guilty? someone for doing the hapless act or people standing by not helping and explaining the wrongs of what they are doing???

Remember guys this is your beach it's up to you.
Personally for me if kiting is banned here it's no great shakes for me cos i'll be gone in 12 months anyway.
but if you want to keep kiting here then you will have to police it before someone gets hurt or killed. Kiter or innocent bystander.

Oh and sorry getting back to the subject, to the guy in the Pic, You were out this sunday riding in the kiddie pool as i'm told it's called, in the right area.
This link might be of help to you.
http://www.abc-of-kitesurfing.com/info/kitesurfing-rules.asp
or maybe thats why you kite out the back so you don't have to give way to people.
and no 1ft of shore break does not count as a wave mate.

Yeah it's monday morning the rant is over lets hope for some good sea-breezes and get rid of those red arrows.

kitesurfjim said...
Dude i am an Instructor and have been teaching all over the world for the last 6 years and more.
Never have i or any of the schools i worked with teach to self launch or land.

I was on the beach this week teaching and this guy was flying his 12 m Park trying to put his board on, his only problem was his hands were on the ends of the bar and his kite kept zipping from 12 to 2 back to 10, obviously now being pulled around like the preverbal rag doll.
He then proceeded to walk well run trip fall and drag, to the sea wall and attempted to self land his kite almost hot relaunching again in the process.
i ran from the other end of the beach past at least 30 other kiters to help him.
So no one else saw this as an issue or a potential hazard???

when i spoke to the guy the school he was taught by 6 months ago, taught him how to do it. and failed to explain the consequences of failure being so close to a wall and a major road.

If you teach or show people how to do this stuff they will try it.
Yesterday on a very crowded beach some guy self launched his kite whilst standing 5 m upwind of a group having a picnic.

You said you would feel embarrassed by asking for a launch on a crowded beach, Mate i don't care how good you are stop being so vain.
I have even had the pleasure of Aaron Hadlow Tapping me on the shoulder asking for a Launch. Now unless you are as good or better than him wind it in swallow that lump of pride and let someone help you.

Where common sense should prevail, it doesn't, no matter where you are in the world.

My Point is that who is more guilty? someone for doing the hapless act or people standing by not helping and explaining the wrongs of what they are doing???

Remember guys this is your beach it's up to you.
Personally for me if kiting is banned here it's no great shakes for me cos i'll be gone in 12 months anyway.
but if you want to keep kiting here then you will have to police it before someone gets hurt or killed. Kiter or innocent bystander.

Oh and sorry getting back to the subject, to the guy in the Pic, You were out this sunday riding in the kiddie pool as i'm told it's called, in the right area.
This link might be of help to you.
http://www.abc-of-kitesurfing.com/info/kitesurfing-rules.asp
or maybe thats why you kite out the back so you don't have to give way to people.
and no 1ft of shore break does not count as a wave mate.

Yeah it's monday morning the rant is over lets hope for some good sea-breezes and get rid of those red arrows.

I agree 100% with you on this. Why people insist on self launching on busy beaches is a mystery to me. Sure the skill should be taught, but it should never be taught as an alternative to an assisted launch, its an alternative if no assisted launch is possible. i've seen experienced riders mess up a self launch because their bridle got hooked around the wingtip or hooked on something as they were launching. Its unnecessary and over rated unless its done in the right conditions. Self launching should be reserved for empty beaches with no obstacles. It adds unnecessary risk to those around you and innocent bystanders.

what other traffic does that 5 knott zone get? with a beach that gets so much rotation of new kiters etc the only way to monitor the water there is prevention.. looking at that pic would you be able to setup flagged ropes from pier lights to timber columns in water... **** like that? just a query.. sure its all been looked at already... as for the beach thing.... **** seriously... the muppets out their are the ones that dont communicate with any1'..

sleek1 said...

Good onya guys for posting a pic that could get you banned. I couldnt give a hoot if stkilda was banned, but the consequences might mean that i may see you posers on another beach sometime.PLEASE dont get kiting banned at Stkilda.

Sleek - the yacht club does need our pics - they have a 24-hour web cam that this particular incident was also visible on!

And believe me they are watching. The reason for the post (and it is NOT aggressive) was to educate - note how the post ends - "if anyone knows this guy please let him know"......

Saffer said...

kitesurfjim said...
Dude i am an Instructor and have been teaching all over the world for the last 6 years and more.
Never have i or any of the schools i worked with teach to self launch or land.

I was on the beach this week teaching and this guy was flying his 12 m Park trying to put his board on, his only problem was his hands were on the ends of the bar and his kite kept zipping from 12 to 2 back to 10, obviously now being pulled around like the preverbal rag doll.
He then proceeded to walk well run trip fall and drag, to the sea wall and attempted to self land his kite almost hot relaunching again in the process.
i ran from the other end of the beach past at least 30 other kiters to help him.
So no one else saw this as an issue or a potential hazard???

when i spoke to the guy the school he was taught by 6 months ago, taught him how to do it. and failed to explain the consequences of failure being so close to a wall and a major road.

If you teach or show people how to do this stuff they will try it.
Yesterday on a very crowded beach some guy self launched his kite whilst standing 5 m upwind of a group having a picnic.

You said you would feel embarrassed by asking for a launch on a crowded beach, Mate i don't care how good you are stop being so vain.
I have even had the pleasure of Aaron Hadlow Tapping me on the shoulder asking for a Launch. Now unless you are as good or better than him wind it in swallow that lump of pride and let someone help you.

Where common sense should prevail, it doesn't, no matter where you are in the world.

My Point is that who is more guilty? someone for doing the hapless act or people standing by not helping and explaining the wrongs of what they are doing???

Remember guys this is your beach it's up to you.
Personally for me if kiting is banned here it's no great shakes for me cos i'll be gone in 12 months anyway.
but if you want to keep kiting here then you will have to police it before someone gets hurt or killed. Kiter or innocent bystander.

Oh and sorry getting back to the subject, to the guy in the Pic, You were out this sunday riding in the kiddie pool as i'm told it's called, in the right area.
This link might be of help to you.
http://www.abc-of-kitesurfing.com/info/kitesurfing-rules.asp
or maybe thats why you kite out the back so you don't have to give way to people.
and no 1ft of shore break does not count as a wave mate.

Yeah it's monday morning the rant is over lets hope for some good sea-breezes and get rid of those red arrows.

I agree 100% with you on this. Why people insist on self launching on busy beaches is a mystery to me. Sure the skill should be taught, but it should never be taught as an alternative to an assisted launch, its an alternative if no assisted launch is possible. i've seen experienced riders mess up a self launch because their bridle got hooked around the wingtip or hooked on something as they were launching. Its unnecessary and over rated unless its done in the right conditions. Self launching should be reserved for empty beaches with no obstacles. It adds unnecessary risk to those around you and innocent bystanders.

And I agree with you both 100%. Self launching is for the most part unnecessary at St kilda. There is always someone there to help you. And it also encourages newer people to give it a try, which i've seen a couple of times and it always leaves you cringing. It is definitely a skill all kiteboarders should learn, but one that you should use wisely

It is not Ben Wilson.

Peterc150 said...

It is not Ben Wilson.

i think it is Ben Wilson. i saw him in a youtube and he was flying that exact kite. the internet doesnt lie.


hey (everyone).... if i buy a SUP, and a wee lil light wind kite, and do some SUK'ing... am i allowed to cruise in this area??
(presuming i dont break the 5knot speed barrier, and i stay the minimum required distance from the pier...!!??)

hmmm... could be more fun than kitefighting further down the beach.

juggler said...

Saffer said...
Why people insist on self launching on busy beaches is a mystery to me.

Because half the nuff nuffs out there don't know how to hold or pick up a kite or just let go of it when they think your ready

Juggler, adding value as always. Is that why you don't let me launch your kite?