In the UK, it was all sweet for the first few years (1999-2004) before councils started banning it outright from top beaches. Argh! I know as I kited at the offending beaches and it really does suck.

The sport here has grown tremendously and there are some really great people involved, but we now seem to be under threat.

Takapuna: Of late I've seen kiter in mid air land about .5m from a swimmer, in the shallows. I've seen kites in trees twice. Angry lifeguards, and at work a number of the locals reckon we are irresponsible and are keen for rules/ban.

Orewa: Seems some kiters actually want a ban. Yesterday 2 peeps kited into the swimming zone and got nailed by the lifeguard.

Cheltenham: This ones in jeopardy. I know people that won't kite there anymore because of bad press.

Shoal Bay: that sand bar seems to attract people showing off (you know, you can boost a bit further out, try it, its fun). I've now seem a kite wrapped around a moored boat, a kite let go with no safety, a few hot launches.

I heard yesterday from a nice chap that he advised a beginner and got read the riot act by him about how he pays his taxes/has a right etc etc.

So what do we do folks? Its not just beginners that are the problem, its blatent showing off by people who should know better.

I heard from a non kiter that a few locals at Takapuna have been snapping pics and building up evidence. This is not good.

hey i kite at shole bay abit and the sand bar isnt that much of an issue if you pass the first boat the second boat is futher down wind so you can boost. Modern kites today can be hot launched and you barel get pulled if its set up right as the depower is huge i used to ride c and hot launching them was out the question with the new tech if you have to hot launch it can be done just dont hold the bar in. The sport has gotten safe as houses with all this new gear i saw a guy crash and let go of this bar and the kite just dropped and he was still sanding with cs from 2004 you did that you be eating sand for yards. Shit doesnt happen assholes cause it people shouldn't kite if they cant fly a kite properly :twisted:

The Auckland area has more spots to kite within a close range than anywhere else on earth. 90+ spots within an hours drive....

Just reposting a comment from Extremesurfer in another forum discussion...the message needs to get out and will be lost in the other discussion....its vital that kiters be aware that they are going to get themselves banned if they dont grow up and kite with respect for other beach users!

Quote


I know its slightly off topic, but I was approached by one of the guys at work last week who is on the NZ triathlon team. He knows me in the office as the resident kiter and wanted to have a chat......

He had photos and video footage of kitesurfers running amok on Takapuna beach, there were many near misses and some of the triathletes and locals have got together and are considering a formal complaint. Apparently one of the kiters went up to a bunch of people at the Hauraki Road end and started yelling at them to get out of the way and waving at them. He says a number of kiters flew along the sand near the waters edge with their kites low in the window over the beach. This as expected caused alarm amongst the beach users.

I was there (it was wednesday 20th Jan 2010) and saw a number of the kiters dodge in and around swimmers including children well - at times less than 5 meters away.

None of the peeps I saw close in were beginners. So its not like it was accidental or anything.

It looks like the evidence gathering is going to mean we get the spotlight onto us and perhaps a ban during the summer at Taka.

Rules that should be adhered to:

- Avoid swimmers and other water users by at least 50m. Treat them with respect and they will treat you with respect
- Launch and get out into deeper water asap
- Be very careful waveriding. If there are other water users around, probably an activity for another day
- Don't fly your kite low over the beach
- If you see a misbehaving kiter, say hi and let them know what they did wrong
- Have fun!

extremesurfer wrote:


It isn't just beginners.

On a very light wind day while walking on Takapuna beach I noticed someone kiting amongst the paddle boarders and jumping around the kayakers. I tried to kindly coach the individual after waiting around and helping him land and was physically threatened. The police arrived around the same time after complaints about reckless kiters and I tried my best to advise them that it's only certain individuals. I was later told by one of them that the prior offender claimed to be a tourist with lacking knowledge of english. I don't know if that was a joke about his capability of using only swearwords as he understood me just fine earlier.

The point is some people are just in it for themselves and have no care about ruining it for the rest of us. Other than the application of brute force I don't see how you'd change that. Without proper self policing it is just a matter of time before regional authorities will step in as they thought appropriate in the UK.

On the other hand I don't mind the 2hour drive to an empty spot to get away form it all. Just hope the godwit fairies don't ruin it there either.

yeah here in the naki they are also talking about some form of ban or regulation.

infortunatly as the sport grows (with it comes more and more idiots) bans and regulations will happen.

its sad but true.

as allways it will be the actions of a few that will ruin it for the masses.

in saying that accidents do happen and even the best kiter can find themselfs in a spot of bother so you never know it could be you crashing into the boat next.

Yeah coming from the UK I'm super happy about the freeodm of the sport here, I've not seen much happened on new brighton, we've been moaned at by the lifeguards a few times, but it's been mostly about nothing and keeping people in check...

If I see a kiter being stupid, I'll go and tell em, threat of violence or no, nobody wants to be banned, trust me, I've been there. People will keep flying and only get us into more trouble in the future if there are regulations put into place.

I think CHCH has it good with the estuary, no swimmers there so only other kiters and windsurfers to pester, so there's a good bit of self policing, and most of the people I see on the beach are either experienced flyers who stay away from swimmers or just flying where there are none (being such a big beach this is easy)

Take my advice as someone who has been through this whole thing;

If a kiter is not doing what he should, tell them, and don't be brash, go ad chat, introduce yourself and let them know what to do and not because we don't wanna get banned.
If they don't want to listen/threaten you, call the lifeguards/cops whatever, tell them you are a kiter and concerned this person is a danger. If you get on the good side of the officials in the area you give yourself a much better chance of keeping the spot when you are trying to self police.
your local shop should be involved as much if not more than anybody, if they aren't interested in educating and helping then they shouldn't be selling, they'll make more money in the long run if people are actually allowed to kite in the area.
ALWAYS say hi to new people and tell em any local rules or danger spots like rip tides etc if they don't know the beach, and if they're on land tell em where's best to avoid foot traffic (obviously this depends on the beach, I try to find a quiet spot and will cruise around walkers, but never very fast if they're close)

Basically, if you don't take measures to ensure this thing stays a free sport, you won't have anybody but yourself to blame, if you need to get individuals kicked out/warned then do so yourself instead of getting the whole group labeled with something a small minority are doing.

/rant