I debated about reposting this here as it caused more than a little heated debate in another forum. However, it is a problem in South Africa and Florida and I suspect that it may be a problem in many other parts of the of the world. We need to work together to maintain our access to this great sport, even if it means changing the way we ride, a bit. That said, here goes...
I had wondered if this phenomena occurs in other parts of the world and I see
that it has visited South Africa and Florida in the USA at least. We all
need to work these things out because if we don't someone else will, likely
in law enforcement and/or the judiciary. Incidents and accidents will always
happen in this sport. If we have enough avoidable ones, we can start to kiss
our access goodbye and go golfing or something. Personally, I am saving golf
for my 60's or perhaps later.
I am constantly impressed by the willingness of experienced, good riders to
totally ignore regulations, kitesurfing guidelines, advice and simple good
sense by coming too close to shore, bystanders, other kiters and each other
to pop jumps and tricks. Here we have had several yanked off the water near
shore by lofting and subsequently slammed into parked cars. Have these
experiences moved the better riders further offshore as a group, sadly, no.
The rush and self-gratification of showing off your moves to people at large
is apparently just too overpowering. That and apparently over-confidence and
denial that things will REALLY go wrong, dominate. This is ignoring all that
has already gone wrong of course to good riders, strange. Many of these
folks are intelligent, reasonable people under normal circumstances, stranger
still.
I feel that the two greatest threats are well intended but untrained newbies
who have avoided instruction and/or careful study before going through the
learning curve, hundreds of times with a full sized traction kite. The second
serious threat to access is by the riders who are most able to assure that it
stays open, the capable experienced riders. They threaten the sport by
setting the stage for incidents and accidents through irresponsible riding.
Not using leashes upwind of others, coming too close to others, jumping close
and upwind of others, riding the edge too close to others.
As far as I am concerned, go offshore, well offshore and pop 90 ft. jumps, do 1500 degree rotations, do those most insane, gratifying extreme moves ever known, just do
them without putting others and access to this sport at risk.
You are very capable of doing it, more than most. Do it for yourselves, you
probably don't want to be forced to go golfing either. Don't wait for enough
incidents, bystander incidents and beach closings to form a big enough 4 x4 to
get our attention on this. Fly responsibly, while we still can.
Rick Iossi
> This is clearly a territorial issue mostly present in those parties who
> feels that they have progressed and are better than someone else / and or
> needs to show off.
>
> At the end of the day you have to use common sense. Don't go showing off
> your skills in a bay where there is mostly beginners, and if you are a
> beginner don't go kiting in a crowded area with lots of pros.
>
> But even if you have been kiting for months, kiting in a area where there
> is
> lots of riders is a different story altogether, and the only way to learnis
> to go out there and do it.
>
> If a accident happens after someone who is more advanced than me speeds
> towards me and sees I cannot move out of the way and there is a collision
> it
> is the guy who is more advanced's fault.
>
> If you are a pro and go kiting in a beginners bay without respecting other
> people/ kiters, it's like speeding through a road where there is children /
> elderly people.
>
> EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO BE IN THE SEA. BEGINNERS AND PRO's ALIKE! NO ONE
> OWNS THE SEA! So even if people have to be slightly more aware of beginners
> when they are in the water, so be it. Rather than trying to terrify
> beginners, why don't the so called advanced riders rather help the
> beginners
> out?
>
> That's the last from me on this topic.
>
> Support your local kitesurf association !