So we've got regular beach users - mummies, daddies and kidies all over the beach.. (nothing unusual there, although i'm a little surprised that they find those beach works fences appealing to camp next to)
Then we have all the kiters there, including everyone from the east...
Of course, the kooks with "out of control" looping kites right next to the pathway are also there...
Then we have the lesson giving dudes...
12 O'Clock Specialists...
The council also has their teritory of the beach permanently marked - well done council, it looks really nice and appealing - both the new rainwater/sewerage wall and the equipment.
And let's not forget all those courtesy-free kiters such as tailgaters, jump-in-your-path d1..heads, mean-look-on-their-face show-offs... (and the list goes on)...
Everyone is here... one big happy family... yey....

Superlizard and others, I've said it before and I'll say it again:

Consistent, diplomatic yet assertive self-regulation at Altona is our best strategy. If those of us who know better see a kook putting themself or others at risk, we need to say something straight away.

By kook, I don't just mean noobs, but kiters of any level who do stuff that may risk scaring or injuring Joe Public.

Those who insist on self-launching and self-landing, when plenty of kiters are around to assist, are prime offenders (vegas in the tree the other week). It creates unnecessary risk and it's anti-social. Launching and landing each others' kites is a great way to meet other riders and make sure that your first contact is friendly. You never know, maybe the guy who launched your kite will be the guy who saves your ass if things go wrong ...

Having said all this, I was stoked with the etiquette displayed for the awesome easterlies last week. A few guys not looking before transitioning but that was about the worst of it. And I'm bummed to have missed yesterday and today cos I have to work sometime.

Yes, Julia still calls Altona home but I've never seen her at the beach, only at the takeaway getting a burger and chips.

Wasn't there some red-head with a big bum doing powered mobes near the beach the other day. Go Jools!

Altona was rocking tonight, everyone seemed to play well together imo....

lets hope for groundhog day tomorrow!

yeh, wasn't too bad tonight... it's ok during the week i suppose... much lesser crowds...

problem is when you get easterlies on a sunny warm weekend, and the whole kitesurfing community comes to the same beach, and then tons of beach goers are there too... just too many people in one spot to be able to regulate it effectively.

Howdy Dojo, yeah, that strategy is ok in most cases, but sometimes you come across some arrogant dudes with a bit of an attitude...(most likely on crowded days) like they deliberately brake the etiquette and instead of waving a sorry signal or something they just keep going and give you that mean look... (a complete nob type of expression)...

anyways... we need more wind... what's going on...

Getting in and out can be a bit annoying sometimes, because everyone rides in the corridor where you head out..
Some people have the talent to chase you all the way into a sandbank or into another kiter, even if you purposely ride at 5 km/h with the kite at 12 because you want to/ have to turn.

Other than that things have been fine so far, so no need to be grumpy
If easterlies weren't that fickle, as soon as its blowing straight east with no southerly in it, Altona gets considerably less wind than Fawkener Beacon.

Inverloch was massive on Sunday. I think it's just a case of being flexible enough to chase the wind around the bay and coast at the moment.