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harlow
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Postby harlow » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:22 pm
As I trolled the internet yesterday I ran across this article about how Kite Beach began. I thought it was interesting. I would love to have witnessed these beginning days.
http://kbmag.com/article.jsp?id=49777" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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RickI
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Postby RickI » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:33 pm
Went out there in 1999, a year or so before they cleaned up Kite Beach. They area was heavily overgrown, with abandoned cars and homeless encampments. Still, kiting wasn't that popular then with a busy day including about seven guys on the water. I can recall flying two line 3 and 4 m two line Wipika kites with Jack Webb with both of us trying to figure out how to stay upwind and doing the walk/drive of shame back to Kanaha. Guys were riding directionals with some early twin tips starting to show up. It was also before access issues started to build. Have video and still shots somewhere from that trip. Have to find them and post them.
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clamike
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Postby clamike » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:53 pm
This article is a good description of early kite beach. It was a shitty place until kiteboarders took the time and effort to change this beach into a enjoyable place to hang out and kite. The only problem I have how the article blows smoke up Martin Kirk's ass. I agree that Martin did help out in these early days. But Martin is shown to be only a positive influence on the Maui scene. Since those times his ruthless pursuit of the almighty dollar has turned the beach into a political nightmare. Dangling his FAA waiver over the heads of anybody that dared to challenge his authority. Most notably was his all too public war with Action Sports which in many instances almost got Kitebeach closed down, and brought about temporary closures. Also forcing all schools to become IKO, while he himself can not pass the IKO instructors course...and he continued to teach.
Since then I highly doubt his interest in the Kiteboarding community there, besides his interest in promoting his school only for financial gain. Fortunately since then his political clout has waned and now true ambassadors of kiting have made Kitebeach and even better place for everybody, including people that make their living off kiting.
For those whom he tried to push out of the scene, like myself, we have not forgotten what a two faced prick he can be. And this is to serve those who don't know the real Martin, besides his public persona of a community and safety minded person. Take away his school and he is not a kiter, only a selfish business man. When is the last time anybody saw Martin kite? I know, I know he has a shoulder injury. Whatever.
This is not a knock on any of his instructors, as many of them are world class instructors and good people. Who unfortunately have to work for him. And I would like to thank the early kiter for developing one of the truly great kiting spots in the world, basically out of a trash dump.
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RickI
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Postby RickI » Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:58 pm
Hey Mike,
Those were troubled times and they went on for years effecting lots of people. I agree with some of what you are saying but not all. I was in regular email contact and sometimes by phone with various parties in that dispute for years. I don't agree with everything Martin did but for one guy he did a lot of good, a great deal to try to preserve access at the Northshore. How many cleanups, good public works, meetings, etc. over the years?
One pissed off windsurfer along with buttheaded antics of some recalcitrant kiteboarders to fuel things brought about the FAA ban. Martin was the guy that went through all the crap to negotiate with the FAA, Maui County, other schools to try to bring things back online. This went on as you'll recall for a long time. Later on requiring IKO training alone was pushing things I'll agree. Then again, several discussions were held between IKO and PASA at the time to try to develop reciprocity more than once with no resolution. I think these occurred back east than in Hawaii. Not for profit trying to talk a for profit organization into something reasonable for both over the long term just didn't workout, despite merits of the idea. Throughout that time he was potentially both corporately and personally liable for claims arising from kiteboarding by anyone during the term of the permit. How would you like to try to sleep with that at night with no liability insurance to protect you from the misdeeds of others, for years? You have the whole gamut of schools as in other areas, good ones, bad ones and indifferent ones, with you holding the bag for whatever problems might arise. Would you try to impose some regulation on things in such circumstances? We may not like everything Martin did but at the same time he did a lot to maintain the sport at times when there were few credible volunteers stepping up to try to do a better job.
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Clarencephil
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Postby Clarencephil » Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:54 pm
clamike wrote:This article is a good description of early kite beach. It was a shitty place until kiteboarders took the time and effort to change this beach into a enjoyable place to hang out and kite. The only problem I have how the article blows smoke up Martin Kirk's ass. I agree that Martin did help out in these early days. But Martin is shown to be only a positive influence on the Maui scene. Since those times his ruthless pursuit of the almighty dollar has turned the beach into a political nightmare. Dangling his FAA waiver over the heads of anybody that dared to challenge his authority. Most notably was his all too public war with Action Sports which in many instances almost got Kitebeach closed down, and brought about temporary closures. Also forcing all schools to become IKO, while he himself can not pass the IKO instructors course...and he continued to teach.
Since then I highly doubt his interest in the Kiteboarding community there, besides his interest in promoting his school only for financial gain. Fortunately since then his political clout has waned and now true ambassadors of kiting have made Kitebeach and even better place for everybody, including people that make their living off kiting.
For those whom he tried to push out of the scene, like myself, we have not forgotten what a two faced prick he can be. And this is to serve those who don't know the real Martin, besides his public persona of a community and safety minded person. Take away his school and he is not a kiter, only a selfish business man. When is the last time anybody saw Martin kite? I know, I know he has a shoulder injury. Whatever.
This is not a knock on any of his instructors, as many of them are world class instructors and good people. Who unfortunately have to work for him. And I would like to thank the early kiter for developing one of the truly great kiting spots in the world, basically out of a trash dump.
What's the story with the FAA ban and waiver ?
PS: I'll always have fond memories of Kitebeach as this is where I took my first kite lessons
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clamike
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Postby clamike » Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:11 pm
I see what you are saying Rick. But from being there at that time I doubt Martin's antics were in the interest in the kiteboarding community. Rather I think it reflected his desire to be the exclusive school on the N. shore. There were other credible kiters, which Martin is not a kiter, that were would have taken the issues with the FAA on. Martin would not let others work on that as he would have lost his sway with the county, and would have less control over competing schools.
I did say that he did do a lot to clean up the beach, but again I doubt this was for anybody except for himself.
The IKO thing was a joke, because he only tried to make everybody IKO so he could close the other schools that used other certifications like PASA and KISS. I know, I was forced to take the IKO course, only to see Martin continue to teach without an IKO instructor's certificate, or any certificate for that matter.
Things are much better now since the FAA waiver is held by a kiter who does not run a business, as opposed to a non kiter with only business intentions.
For Clarencephil: the FAA has a rule that you are not supposed to fly a kite within 5 miles of the end of an runway (for good reason, I guess). Kitebeach falls within this zone, so without a waiver, kiting could be banned.
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