Le Gallion soon to be no kiting?

[yzbob]

I heard recently Le Gallion on St Martin might soon be no kiting does anyone have more info on this and when (if at all) it will come into effect?

thanks

bob

[Bstevs]

april fools?

[yzbob]

unfortunately not,

i was there last week (way before april 1st) and someone on the beach told me that it had already got through the 1st lot of talks with the authorities and looked like it was going to take effect soon. i call into st martin every now and then and was looking for some more info.

it was more of a question than a statement so if anyone can provide more info that would be great.

[josesr]

They want to pass a law to ban Kitesurfing at Le Gallion.
Surfers and Windsurfers will have the beach for themselves.

[voodoospirit]

any reason given?
would a beach marshall would calm down the autorities? (better that than a beach closed)

[Toby]

but currently it is still allowed?

[RickI]

It was contemplated to ban kiting at the bay eight years ago when I was last there. As I recall, a windsurfing operation had a permit to be there, kiters did not. What have kiters done, if anything, to try to preserve access at this spot? Going forward, we're going to have to do better in areas where access is threatened. Continuing to ignore complaints, threats where issues exist and "just kiting" will only help us screw ourselves.

[jcbua]

They want to pass a law to ban Kitesurfing at Le Gallion.
Surfers and Windsurfers will have the beach for themselves.

The surf's so far out into the bay most surfers catch a boat out to the waves (or paddle in from the car park out on the point) and I've rarely seen more than three or four windsurfers at the place. I guess my point is the whole ban thing sounds like a huge travesty. The beach isn't too big but, once out on the water, there definitely always seemed like plenty of room for everyone. Hope this ban gets a better looking over before possibly becoming law. It really is one of the better places I've been lucky enough to kite.

[alpower]

They would be walking away from a lot of tourists, myself included, and for an island that relies on tourism that wouldn't be good. They've also got a kite schooled wedged into Orient Beach with barely enough room to blow up a kite, let alone safely launch and land. It would seem if they had a need to ban they would do it there.

[josesr]

Update:
I went last weekend there to kite and there is still no ban and I've understood from another kitesurfer that a petition was sent to the government for this non-sense ban.
So in the meantime, kitesurfing is "legal" until this issue is settled.

This spot is one of the best spots that I've kited and loved it when it blows more than 12knots.