superlizard said...

^^^^ no it was DEFINITELLY lessons... and not just lessons but a mass lesson. ANd it didn't seem like it was run by a local shop or crew. There was like easily a dozen noobs dressed in white trainee tops... not sure how many trainers they had... but a scary sight... Haven't seen this before at Altona...

First issue here - you are not supposed to kite close to the pier at all, but i suppose authorities don't really care now that the weather has been cold and not many people on the beach. But once we get hot weather and the beach full of people especially around the pier, this could get really ugly...

second, altona is already too congested, so i seriously doubt regular kiters (notice i'm not using word 'locals') will be willing to leave the beach for several kite schools. One lesson at a time and out of the way of other riders is acceptable and been always happening anyway...

Yup. Have to say I'm disappointed to hear this and I for one would be prepared to officially lodge a complaint to the council in Altona about this practice. We only have a handful of areas which are free from instructors. Having mass instructors there is a joke.

Does anyone have a name of the school in question? I would like to approach them directly first.

I've seen Kiterepublic teaching there a few times.

On Sundauy they dropped off a full bus-load of beginners at altona, must have been some social kiting event for beginners. It looked like they were teaching as well. About 20 guys with their kite at 12 in front of the main launch area with a couple of instructors and then another 5 nobs in the flat water area with their kite at 12. Messed up the day for everyone else.

Altona is not a place for beginners and the guys at Kiterepublic should know that. If something goes wrong the kite will end up in the trees, powerline or on the road.

I guess anyone who sees Kiterepublic teaching there agian should take their phone out and take some pics or video and send it to the council.

Keep us posted.

The local kite school does the right thing and goes to a nearby uncrowded beach with plenty of room if something goes wrong, it would be nice to see blow-in schools doing the same. It will get reported next time.

koma said...

I think you'll find that Kite Republic had one of their club ride days where they take a bus load of beginners out and 'supervise' their progress. From my understanding of what they offer, it's not a lesson but it is a supervised session where their team riders (instructors) will keep and eye on, help out and provide advice to newbie riders who have just completed their lessons.

That's all great and probably helpfull to the newbies. But what's the difference between instructors supervising a group of beginners during lessons or supervising them during a club day. What I see is 20 complete beginners in the water with abuot 3-5 instructors, exacty the same as when you drive past st.kilda during lessons. So they may not teach the first few lessons dragging through the sand but as soon as a newbie can hold a kite it's ok to go to altona and call it a club day, just charge them a bit less for it so it's not officially a lesson so they can get away with teaching where they don't have a permit to teach.

koma said...
...

Again, for any beginners/newbies reading this thread:
...
- If there are other kiters in the area then DO NOT put your kite to 12, instead park the kite on the side of the window at ~45º. As long as you keep your kite steady whilst other kiters are close to you then we'll be able to ride past you and get out of your way much faster and without tangles.

Isn't that a bit optimistic to expect newbies to do anything to get out of the way of others? They're newbies. Traveling in a pack. They don't know ****. They'll probably bring their kites to 45º on the wrong side and block the water as well as the beach.

BTW From facebook

KITE REPUBLIC
ESE winds 20-30 knots expected today. Should be an epic day to head over to Altona! Coming couple of days are looking like pretty solid SE's also, expect it to be a little offshore in St Kilda but Altona will be the go. Enjoy!

Gorgo said...
Isn't that a bit optimistic to expect newbies to do anything to get out of the way of others? They're newbies. Traveling in a pack. They don't know ****. They'll probably bring their kites to 45º on the wrong side and block the water as well as the beach.

I don't care which side they put their kites on; 45 is 45, and it'll give the average rider half a chance to get past them without any concern.
We all started somewhere and i remember my early newb days. Even back them i still had an understanding that i was in someone else's local spot and i should be courteous enough to not impact on their session. Unfortunately rider etiquette doesn't really seem to be taught, it's either something you've got or not.

Guys,

On the topic of complaining to the council, this is something for those considering this action to decide for themselves but KBV would like to offer an alternative.

KBV have been speaking to a number of our local representatives this season including City of Port Phillip (Westbeach, St Kilda), Hobsons Bay (Altona) and Parks Victoria in order to keep dialogue open between the kiting community and local councils/bodies. There have been some issues with lessons/permits down at Altona this season and we understand Hobsons Bay Council are reviewing their kiting policy for the area at the moment.

KBV would be happy to collate all complaints on the issues at Altona, and speak to the school involved. If possible, it would be great to avoid making official complaints to the council as it can create 'noise' about kiting activities. If we can sort this in-house amongst ourselves, it might be better as a first port of call. People always have the option to make an official complaint at a later date if we can't resolve this.

Thanks to Saffer for taking the time today to fill us in. If anybody has any additional first hand knowledge of the situation and wants to raise anything with KBV, you can reach out to us at info@kbv.org.au. You don't need to be a KBV member - just raise your issue and we are happy coordinate matters on behalf of all.

All the best,
KBV
[Derek]
For queries, please send an email to info@kbv.org.au
For KBV information, please visit www.kbv.org.au

KSS is definately not teaching on Altona beach and never will as its not safe for students.

Also part of what we are teaching is to respect the wind in terms of size of kite and other riders (lowering kites so they can go past ect.)

The other reason is Altona is my local spot and everytime one of the St Kilda schools teach there it's bloody annoying!!

I dont think its a great idea to contact the council as they may not only fine the schools they may also restrict the area for the rest of us. They are in the process of reviewing the Altona kite zone at the moment.

Im talking to a few local guys about tryiing to put some sort of group together to help reduce the problems that some people have with the power lines and tree's.

From the photo of the kite in the power lines - it looks like this could have ended up as a fatality. Is the dude actually reaching up to try and get the kite out of the lines? Looks like a candidate for a fatal electric shock to me!

30 knots for a 12m Cabrinha is way too much, even for big heavy dudes.

Someone didn't check the wind forecast, or was overconfident, or ill informed.

Its best to stop someone attempting to kite well overpowered BEFORE this happens.

"rather a group of like minded kiters"

That are paying for the supervision?

kiterepublic said...

Hi guys,

just to clear this up, have just spoken with Derek from KBV in regards to the club trip to Altona last Sunday, first we had heard of anyone with any complaints.

We're more than happy to chat to anyone with questions via either info@kiterepublic.com.au or the shop phone, 03 9537 0644.

There were no lessons going on in Altona last Sunday, rather a group of like minded kiters that have completed their lessons and have their own equipment that would have been in Altona either way because of the Easterly winds that were coming through.

There was a KR KITE CLUB Ride Day there which is aimed at enjoying a great day on the water with passionate kiters, meeting new people, and safely enjoying their kiting.

As mentioned, please feel free to contact us on 9537 0644 or via info@kiterepublic.com.au for any further information.

Hope you're enjoying summer and getting some great sessions in, shaping up to be a great season,

Chris - Kite Republic

So there was no instructing from you guys out on the water? Just some of your 'team' enjoying a dip in altona's crystal blue waters?!

I know i'd definitely want some instruction if i was paying $75 for a 'ride' day...

slatimer said...

The chaps name is Simon and he's not a beginner, I did point out to him that everyone else was on 7,8,9m kites but he assured me he would be fine (what else could I do?) anyway when he was launced the chicken loop feel off and it went up real quick, he let the bar go so it would flag on the safety but the safety broke and off she went...turns out it was a new kite to him and the first time he had flown it, and he had connected the safety to the wrong place (read the owners manual please)
He managed to pull the kite low enough to disconnect the lines from the kite then went up the tree to retreive them, pretty agile and ballsy for a 50+ bloke. kite had a very small rip and the power stayed on thankfully.

Experienced kiter launching a 12m which he has never ridden in 30 plus knots? Wow, he needs to go back to kite school again.

On the issue of "What else can I do?", I think the general consensus in these types of circumstances is that we need to get a group of 5 or 6 kiters to approach the kiter together and "kindly suggest" they don't launch. If no sanity prevails, then simply deflating the leading edge should be the next cause of action, obviously with 5 or 6 kiters as your backstop. One on one, people tend to get aggressive, one on five or six, they tend to realise maybe they're making a mistake.

I heard on the news recently that a kid from Darwin got caught and was found guilty of stealing a boat and joyriding in it. His punishment was??? The court extradited him to VIC.
I suggest we do the same with this candidate. Send him up there. Launching a 12 in 30 knots what a tool. Shame there wasn't a lightning storm as well.
Fact of the matter is this incident will happen time after time. And it comes with the she'll be right mentality. Experienced kiter my ass if he was experienced why is he kiting on a new to him three year old cab????
We had similar issues back in the UK with blow ins from London.
Easiest way was no one launches them and if they try a self launch then we promptly deflate the kite and tell them to commit suicide somewhere else.

It felt like St Kilda at Altona on Sunday. The entire half of the beach near the pier was completely inaccessible. Once you got out near the back, away from the crowds it was OK but getting out was a bit of a hassle.