Well, since we started kiting in the Mayan riviera area , over 10 years ago , we have dealt with a lot of issues about banning our sport on the beach, and this is due to the ignorance of the authorities in relation to the sport, but is also a big lack of common sense of kiters.
We , locals, have been dealing with government, letters, meetings, associations, etc, to try to keep our sport at least in designated beaches, finally we established places for teaching were the tourist traffic is not high so we don't have problems with them, in the end here n Mexico is not about the safety of the support, but yes it is about the profit government can do.
Being that said we live in a very risky place, because this is a place whe people come on holidays, such as Cabarete and other destinations.
When you come to our beach or any other beach that supervision and regulations are not enforced, everybody does and behaves whatever they want to do.
I Miami, crandon park, for example you don't see friends teaching Friends, or you don't see people doing stupid shit. Of course, law is there and if something happens , that's the end of it....
So , lets go to 2 nd and 3 R&D world countries where there is no surveillance and f*** up over there, in theend we don't live there......
Please guys use your common sense..... And follow rules and beach etiquette even though there are no signs, or rules , we as responsible kiters , we know what to do and how to behave.
Even if you are not a local at a beach you are traveling or kiting and you see some body doing bad for our sport, or for third parties, please take a minute for you to talk to that person,and lets keep kiting worldwide open for everybody.
I read the HOLBOX banning story. ....sad
Here in playa del Carmen,same thing. We have been struggling with meetings, associations, etc. years and years of work. And it only takes 1 windy day, and 1 selfish person to destroy this.
Yesterday the was 3 Argentinians at our beach, that clearly had no idea of what they were doing... Hot launching, etc. .... They dropped the kite into a Lady. I approached them and talked to them, in good peace you know??? They did understand apologized and asked for advice.
But the bottom line is we are not supposed to be a beach cop..... I guarantee you that if they were in Argentina. They wouldn't have done that.
Anyways. My message here, is not trashing anybody. Just please use common sense, beach etiquette courtesy and safety when you are riding, where ever you are riding. And if you are visiting another country. Please take care of the beaches. You leave, but some of them stay.
Food for thought. .
David.
morphkiteboarding.com
Mayan Riviera