This was just put up on Xwaters.com:

"Relax, it’s NOT Banned! Making Sense of the Greek Kiting Regulations

Over the last couple of weeks, there has been somewhat of a panic in the online kiting community about the alleged ban on kiting on Greek public beaches. Rash decisions have been made, such as canceling holidays, and many “expert opinions” about Greek politics, economy, and other unrelated issues seem to have overshadowed the key aspects of the new law: WHAT is being regulated, HOW, and WHY? As someone living on an island where windsurfing and kite surfing tourism is an important source of revenue, I believe it is unfair to be spreading a panic based on unfounded rumors. So, let’s clarify a couple of points.

The WHAT:

The regulation that has been passed is BY NO MEANS a ban on kiting, but an introduction of designated kiting zones. These, according to the new requirements, must comply with a set of safety regulations, and have a designated supervisor, who has to be insured and personally responsible for ensuring the safety of the kiters.

Among other things, the law requires that the kiting beach:"

Continued at:
http://xwaters.com/blogs/topic/relax-it ... egulations

.

RickI, you clearly have zero idea what you are talking about here. Your information is minimum second hand probably more like 5th hand. Like when you make accident reconstruction. You so far away in Florida to have any idea.

Kiting is illegal at my favorite spots. Where I go on vacation. Big strikes happen and getting bigger.

Yes kiting legal at overcrowded spot like Paros but not everywhere. Better less crowded spots not leagal.

Why you must make new thread when many already exist? So make your name bigger and make feel you more important.

He is just laying the foundation to tell us that there is in fact a loophole in the regulation!

Despite the regulations you can still go out surfing if you ride...... Cabrinha, isn't that right?!

You guys apparently have zero idea what I am talking about. It pays to read these things as opposed to forming early impressions based on partial information.

First, I didn't write the article, Edita did. She lives in Greece and researched things at her local launch and beyond.

Second, the reason I started a new thread is because of the misinformation out there. From what I read there is NOT a nationwide kiting ban in Greece contrary to many of the thread titles. Serious restrictions are proposed however. How can I take credit for something I didn't write and why would I want to bother? Instead of attacking me on mistaken grounds, you would do better to mount a credible dialog with authorities to try to reduce the restrictions.

Cool heads and clear understanding in a productive dialog with authorities will work a lot better than going off half cocked on mistaken impressions. At least that is what I have tried to do in the last 11 years of negotiations to restore or maintain access in various areas.

There have been national kiteboarding bans, at least that was how it was described in the past in Switzerland, for most of the Netherlands, today I understand a defacto ban exists within 300 m of much of the coast of France, there were serious worries along parts of the Spanish coast in recent years. There is kiting in all these places today. How could that be? They worked things out one way or the other. I am in Florida, never even been to Greece, would like to someday soon however. Intelligent, informed discussion will see you through this with a greater chance of a positive outcome.

ricki, just read the full article which i say is big piece of donky crap. really, i take it you not know christos. let me tell you, i beed to lefkada many times and christos is biggest malaka (jerk) in greece. ask any local kitesurfer from lefkada. of course he likes law, he has beach cafe and wants to control kitesurfing to make more business. he wants to outlaw lessons by others so to make more money. everybody with club on beach love this law. they get control of beach. they make rules. most all these club owners are complete jerks. go to greece you will see. other spots where there is no club, kite is illegal. some places port police not enforce yet, but since smoking law is example, they will soon. a serious risk i or anyone else wanting to go to greece and not kite at paros or at main beach in lefkada want to risk. do you realize that the best spots on lefkada are essentially illegal. now only at beach where christos is is legal. of course he has positive view of law. but that beach totally suck. not worth the trip. it is fucked up and the all rosy picture being made by business owner to make money is not full story. my favorite beaches are illegal at this point, maybe not enforced yet, but yet is the word. serious risk if i were to go to greece this summer. and also many strikes that close airports and busses. my opinion not a good summer to go to greece. that is not 'misinformation' it is rational decision made on facts.

yeah, and these 'beach supervisors' (aka beach owner) will make big area so they make lessons $$$$ and kitesurfer for fun have to go far outside. clubs love it. kitesurfers get screwed.

and ricki, please leave your 'no fun while kitesurfing' rules out of greece. you are champion of personal attack when ever anyone disagrees with you.

ricki, problem is you make new thread because there is so much misinformation out there and you post totally biased article and make more misinformation. it's like when accident and you always start new thread even if one was started by people that actually saw accident.

I also want to emphasize that commercial interests are actively trying to take control of greek kitesurfing beaches with this new law.

christos in the article and PAROSKITE are loving every bit of it. other business pretend to be kitesurfers and attack me but really they are just greedy people looking to control a public resource.

rick you know story of iko and crandon. you should know better then post such biased article.

OK, so the beach needs to meet these requirements:

And the beach supervisor needs to be responsible for:

but can't


So the beach supervisor has to enforce all of the above over a 600m+ beach in the middle of nowhere, must have rescue facilities (including a speedboat!) and insurance to cover everyone on the water, but can't charge anyone for access or deny access to anyone who isn't at least paying him for something.

Who is this charitable beach supervisor going to be, exactly?

Well, it says you are only allowed to kite in kitezones..,how many kitezones are there?
I guess only where a kote center is... So it won't be many...

And from this clearly those center benefits, not free kiters.

Rumor has it that some forces are interested in this ban, so therefore two parties in the greek kite commumity are fighting.

The only thing we all can do, is signing a petition and NOT travel there...until the two parties get their act together!

I hope soon, since this ban will hurt many parties involved!

Apparently there is no chance of any such forum discussion for the last few days. Any discussion on the Greek kiting regulation - cleverly called "ban" by some - is immediately polluted by a certain someone who wants to convince the whole world to avoid Greece as a holiday destination...
Never mind Rickl, I feel you are right but, for the forum discussion, let's just leave it. All it does is to provide yet another chance to this certain someone to spread his word.
I can confirm that nothing has changed here in Rhodes, we kite freely wherever we like, for as long as we do not place swimmers at immediate risk. And yes we do have port police and yes they do care about their jobs and yes they do have superior officers to refer to. It is just that reason prevails on all levels.
I love kiting and I would also like to have free kiting in deserted beaches and have only as much regulation is absolutely necessary. That is no reason though to spread panic. React yes. Panic no. Replies from this someone: don't care.