I spotted this too just as I was setting up. To be fair, I should have said something but I just shook my head. A very busy, very gusty day on the river and it all ran really well. Everyone showing each other respect on the water. Always a good idea to smile, be friendly, and engage the residents that use the beach too.

And maybe not ride motorbikes down the footpath with no gear or helmets on. Next time I'll I see it I'll have a word. Good day of kiting though. Even with it gusting nearly 30knots.

Super gusty indeed.

I wouldn't be surprised if that spot is lost to residents in the near future.

Show offs riding all the way up to the shoreline fly their kites basically over the road. Then others run upwind along the shoreline flying their kites over the road side. At gusty Melville one of these kites is one day going to take out a resident enjoying an afternoon stroll by the riverside.

Surely they can do their transitions where the buoys are, while those needing to walk/run back upwind can either land their kites or fly them over the water instead of the road.

My last experience with asking for a bit of common sense was reply with "Kiss my ass".

I've tried to be polite, said Please etc....So, there you go, lack of culture and respect.

Good spot to learn, having done my lessons and getting my gear I visited after work last week.

Perfect for starters, people seem friendly and keen to give a hand to the likes of myself when asking to launch etc.

Althought there was one kiter who was seriously endangering everyone trying to launch his kite UNHOOKED.... and wondering why he is getting dragged down the beach.... Seriously after my friend saved him and mentioning that he NEEDS to be strapped in he casually replied

"No way if im strapped in im gona get pulled out to sea"

After 10 mins we gave up on him??

Honestly... wow... Then he proceeded to try get his kit in the air with it flying everywhere at full power not hooked in nearly rapping into my lines...

****ing idiot seriously wrecked the mood. Other than that ill be out there a fair bit from now on working on my confidence to move out to sea :)

gruezi said...

Hopefully the "schools" who teach at Melville will help to enforce the rules and teach them to their students.

SOS instructor never told me jack about the yellow markers or any local rules at melville

shallow . I guess for someone learning maybe being able to feel the bottom while they are learning is reassuring ?

well I won't give up an oppurtunity to hit some flat water cause I need to practice back rolls so mite have to come check out your spot in the weekend!! so um.... how exactly do you get there??

I may be ignorant...but I actually learnt in the ocean and started learning kiting down the beach by myself (after 3 lessons) for several months before venturing to the river for a looksy - I had my fair share of hairy experiences too which accelerated my learning curve and of what may happen out there in ocean. I found the river fun but a little boring and a bit congested. For those who are saying they lack confidence to not venture into the ocean yet - stretch your comfort zones a little and give it a go next time. I feel its safer, more space, no power lines, trees or houses to come unstuck against. Just make sure you can swim, and go in a seabreeze - your stuff will always get blown back down the beach, if a few kms, if you need to abandon.
mish

So what do you do when you have a friendly word to someone (aussie) about walking back with their kite over the road - directly in front of the residents house who is against kiters the most and they basically tell you to shove it? "8 years i been comin here" he says - and kiting right the way into the beach. He isnt a waksa member, has obviously teached 6 of his mates to kite(unqualified instructor) - who were all there and shared a lack of interest in the rules also. (HACKS) sorry, clearing my throat. I pay alot of money to live in applecross so i can enjoy Melville whenever conditions are good- kiting, sailing, swimming, SUP'n and letting dog swim too. Take one of those things away and my dream spot isnt such a dream come true anymore. Im not going to post this on the main forum but i would like some advice (non violent) as to what course to take. i have taken some photos and i know his name. Im almost at the point where metro kiting just isnt worth it anymore.

Thanks Aptheticend - i wish it were different.

ApatheticEnd said...


Anybody else have any ideas?

i've given up , esp thurs with that gusty wind there were idiots coming right up to the shore, esp with that mega high tide .

ApatheticEnd said...

That king tide was crazy eh?

i've never seen a tide like that where there was not one single piece of sand dry . even south perth it was well high against the seawall

bingles said...

So what do you do when you have a friendly word to someone (aussie) about walking back with their kite over the road - directly in front of the residents house who is against kiters the most and they basically tell you to shove it? "8 years i been comin here" he says - and kiting right the way into the beach.

Why, if he's been kiting for 8 years, does he need to walk upwind along the shoreline? Tacking upwind is so easy at Melville.

It's a tough situation. My gut feeling is that the spot will come under scrutiny in the near future as a result of an accident(s) or near misses resulting from people flying kites over the road (either through kiting all the way to the beach or walking the shoreline).

Hopefully the pamphlets and signage will help.

If there is one bit of advice to blowthroughs it would be to listen to and use local knowledge...otherwise risk getting eaten......just like at Woodies, there are monster jelly fish that will suck you in through their nose.

I am hiding out on the river these days, not kiting or doing much of anything because I blew out my back.....big cry. Tues. night softball great line triple run did it....this sucks, you do something good for the team and you pay a dreadful price (we lost and there was no one on base).

So what does a injured kite surfer do when stuffed........take pictures. You all think you got great shots of your selves..............I've got some good ones of others..........the river is always good for a laugh............not.

One sad gruezi signing out because no more softball.........but hey kiting is ok, silly pussy sport and where it should be, because ain't about the team. Team sports are just so much better, even if as lame as ball. Real men are on teams, kite in teams and look out for each other. So many kiters are soooooooooo self absorbed that it makes me sick.......................and makes me sad.

One good thing today was the free riding kiter who retrieved a board and dragged in a struggling kiter who had gear failure...........you were my hero today The rest of the lot of competent kitesurfers (many instructors among them) who just ignored the whole scene of a kiter in trouble..............make me sick.

Oh yea......we did have a run away kite at Melville today and the other heros were the wind surfers and kiters at Peli.............you guys were tops too.

saw a guy yesterday, turning right on the beach.

Got to cocky crashed and the kite wrapped around a parked car. It stoped traffic and a few walkers.