Ok we have all heard quite enough about Leashes... so lets start to throw around a few constructive ideas on how to improve the safety (of ourselves and other water users) of our passionately beloved sport..


My 2c would be donated to:

1. Making helmets compulsory (geez watch the cats go nutz from this). I mean geez no-one complains about bikes anymore do they? Most folks think it is good (now).

2. Licensed/accredited users (with ID to be presented for any sales - even 2nd hand) - We accept it for cars/drinking etc etc. I' am not for a second saying this would be easy to set up or police but worth of discussing anyway I reckon. (those cats are gonna be stuffed by the end of this thread).

3. 4 line kites to be banned/burned if not modified to 5th? I saw a brand new 5 line kite being used on busy Scarb Beach (amazingly with a new 4 line bar) - all sold at bargain prices by a respected shop - to a complete moron who made every single mistake (in a very crowded location) you could imagine. Actually this is probably more a point 2 item also..

4. Gear confiscation for deliberatly dangerous and show-pony behaviour. ie, riding through flagged beaches, pulling tricks in shallows with young kids/old codgers in the near vacinity! Remember the old 25-50m radius rule? Most don't seem to..

DISCUSS...



BTW - flame away if you don't like the suggestions, but I am more interested in those that want to progress this sport safely and create more harmony with other (justifiably threatened) water users..

Take up bowls.

Very constructive relly...

Pulled my hammy playing bowls a few weeks back (yes really) in Qld so far too risky for me mate..


Anyone got anything intelligent to add? Er... obviously not you Relly so step aside please..

Ok relly shouldn't you be creating you 546th p!ss-poor joke thread?

Seriously mate you av ad your laff now let some intelligent comment filter through about a serious issue mate...

Joke is wearing thin and weaker mate..

You are the Joke funky for writing a load of old crap like that. If you truly beleive any of the comments you have written, you are the biggest danger to the future of our sport. Wrap yourself up in cotton wool and take up writing crap full time, as you are pretty damn good at it.

Oh thank you Paul that is a well though out argument, you obviously speant a lot of time in it's construction..

Yeh - avago if you like. Mate at least point out what it si you don't like "cr@p like that " is a bit ambiguious ol chap..

My aim is to get something constructive happening. I knew the ideas wouldn't be to all tastes (no do I say they have to be), but I was hoping to at least stir a few people from their winter comas.

Got any good ideas (seriously for a moment) of your own or just happy to flame away from your nice safe puter room?

Now where did I put my Wiggles band-aids?

Lol PR.

I like the idea of point no.2. Licenses would solve many many problems with kitesurfing, especially the whole "oh lets go give it a try with a 20m 2 line kite made in 1996 from Ebay... oh 30 knots looks good ". Although obviously it would have to have some kind of teeth (ie enforcement). Perhaps also temporary permits for people from overseas, just so that when getting the permit it can be explained to them what is deemed acceptable here etc etc.

I don't think helmets are stupid, but I'm not too much of a fan of wearing one myself, I mean I've surfed for a few years, and there is a far greater chance of being knocked out by a board there than in kitesurfing (lol and I have been )... unless you have a leash, then you should definantly wear one. Its kindof like wearing a helmet in a car, I mean it COULD save your life. For me it goes into the catagory of bringing along your own inflatable life-raft and oars... alright maybe not THAT absurd, but you get the point. Maybe it could be justified in a long downwinder, which would also be the only time I would happily wear some kind of impact vest or lifejacket for bouyancy.

I don't even know what a 5th line does... I've never flown a 5 line kite. But my 4 line gives me more than enough control, and I really don't see it as dangerous, I mean... full depower and safety release should things go wrong, that should be enough.

I think point 4 and point 2 go hand-in-hand kinda as rules can be established by way of license, confiscation is a bit far, unless its just a temporary thing to stop some noob on the 20m 2 line from killing himself, which I would personally consider doing if I saw that.

Kindof as a funny sidenote: I reckon I am going to start wearing a cup soon, the number of times I have landed on my ass in the water and had it channeled between my legs and straight into the family jewels from behind . It adds even more pain to the salty enema . Anyone else have this happen to them?

Sigh...

clearly the institution is having a roam and be free day today..


No wonder so many folks don't rate this site anymore..

Does anyone actually give a shizen about safety in our sport or are they all here to felate themeselves with their own humour and relive the gang up in the school yard mentality???

Poor form children...


SAFETY??

ANYONE??

BUELLER???

BUELLER??

Temper temper funkster
Play the ball not the man dear.

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Jimmyz said...

Lol PR.

I like the idea of point no.2. Licenses would solve many many problems with kitesurfing, especially the whole "oh lets go give it a try with a 20m 2 line kite made in 1996 from Ebay... oh 30 knots looks good ". Although obviously it would have to have some kind of teeth (ie enforcement). Perhaps also temporary permits for people from overseas, just so that when getting the permit it can be explained to them what is deemed acceptable here etc etc.

I don't think helmets are stupid, but I'm not too much of a fan of wearing one myself, I mean I've surfed for a few years, and there is a far greater chance of being knocked out by a board there than in kitesurfing (lol and I have been )... unless you have a leash, then you should definantly wear one. Its kindof like wearing a helmet in a car, I mean it COULD save your life. For me it goes into the catagory of bringing along your own inflatable life-raft and oars... alright maybe not THAT absurd, but you get the point. Maybe it could be justified in a long downwinder, which would also be the only time I would happily wear some kind of impact vest or lifejacket for bouyancy.

I don't even know what a 5th line does... I've never flown a 5 line kite. But my 4 line gives me more than enough control, and I really don't see it as dangerous, I mean... full depower and safety release should things go wrong, that should be enough.

I think point 4 and point 2 go hand-in-hand kinda as rules can be established by way of license, confiscation is a bit far, unless its just a temporary thing to stop some noob on the 20m 2 line from killing himself, which I would personally consider doing if I saw that.

Kindof as a funny sidenote: I reckon I am going to start wearing a cup soon, the number of times I have landed on my ass in the water and had it channeled between my legs and straight into the family jewels from behind . It adds even more pain to the salty enema . Anyone else have this happen to them?

OMG!!! An intelligent contribution (regardless of wether it agrees with me or not)!!! You have set an alrming precedent here Jimmy.

Ta for taking the time to contribute..

The point i am making funkwit is kiting will never be 100% safe ever
Thats what makes it exciting the fact that it can be unpredictable

If it was predictable and fully safe then why bother might as well play bowls or ping pong

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poor relative said...

The point i am making funkwit is kiting will never be 100% safe ever
Thats what makes it exciting the fact that it can be unpredictable

If it was predictable and fully safe then why bother might as well play bowls or ping pong

At last an actual point - well done it only took you 1/2 a doz posts or so to get there... not bad by your standards.

So do nothing is your call? Whew - that was worth the wait fat boy.



I don't recall suggesting the need or likelyhood of making kiting 100% safer, but there is a reason we don't ride 2-line setups etc anymore..

Progression is the key.

We all agree that numbers have shot up in the last few seasons and don't look likely to drop off. Like it or not some of this stuff will be either accepted (and created) by ourselves or jammed up out freckles by council choppers who understand diddly about the sport...

Aren't you neglecting your many other threads BTW?

Unless you doing anything on bitumen, I dont think a helmet is really neccessary. Probably a good idea tho if your about to start doing crazy sh!t or doing speed runs in the shallows.

Lifejackets are manditory in some states, so the water police are supposed to enforce that one. I personally only wear a lifejacket when Its too cold or in the surf.

As for the rest of your points, they cant really be enforced in any way or form.
Besides, the local crew usually has their own set of rules that they 'enforce'.

I think the best policy here is just to be friendly, watch out for each other and help launch and land other people's kites and they will do the same for you one day.
Keep an eye out for learners or newbies at your spot. Give them advice where needed and alway give someone a hand if they are in a spot of bother.

What you are proposing Funky is exactly what kitesurfing is NOT about. A heap of crap rules and regulations that demise the FREEDOM of the sport.

I don't see anything constructive in your post either funker. All you have written in points 1,3 and 4 is that you want to POLICE the sport, and you also want to force everyone to wear a helmet so that YOU don't feel like an idiot wearing one because you are scared of injuring yourself. I don't understand your point about how you think 5 lines kites are safer than 4 line kites at all. Gear confiscation w.t.f.? Fair enough for the clubbies to have the authority to give someone a ticket for riding in a flagged area, but would you confiscate everyones cars for driving offences too?

I do hate repeating myself, but what you have written IS total crap.

The best way for kiting to be made safer, is for people to be freindly to other kiters on the beach, and tell them in a nice way if they are doing something that is dangerous. Making rules and legislation takes the fun out of everything.

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getfunky said...

Very constructive relly...

Pulled my hammy playing bowls a few weeks back (yes really) in Qld so far too risky for me mate..


Anyone got anything intelligent to add? Er... obviously not you Relly so step aside please..

maybe you should also start a thread on the very real dangers of lawn bowls aswell.
we need more rules and regulations like we need more holes in our heads....

commonsense, respect and responsibility is all that's called for, if i wanna ride my old two line kite then its my perogative, and i don't need no nanna state wa nker to give me permission.
show pony tossers screaming for more media coverage one minute, then barking on about too many clueless norms the next.

all the he-men lately carrying on with 'take a spoonful of cement, and harden the eff up'

maybe it should just be changed to, 'pull your head out your ass, and wake the eff up'

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No wonder so many folks don't rate this site anymore..

Close the door on your way out

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commonsense, respect and responsibility is all that's called for

This

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Paul1 said...


Close the door on your way out

...and this

Regulation tends to farkup most sports in the finish.......i am all for some local rules but please! do not regulate the sport.
An earlier thread along the lines of "if you try to stop some noob with his ebay kite from hurting himself and others and he still persists" what should you do. Here is the place for a standard sharp implement in the leading edge rule, or a good reason to always have your line knife on your person rule ...in the interests of safety of course!!!.
...........or play bowls or ping pong.

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getfunky said...

Ok we have all heard quite enough about Leashes... so lets start to throw around a few constructive ideas on how to improve the safety (of ourselves and other water users) of our passionately beloved sport..


My 2c would be donated to:

1. Making helmets compulsory (geez watch the cats go nutz from this). I mean geez no-one complains about bikes anymore do they? Most folks think it is good (now).

2. Licensed/accredited users (with ID to be presented for any sales - even 2nd hand) - We accept it for cars/drinking etc etc. I' am not for a second saying this would be easy to set up or police but worth of discussing anyway I reckon. (those cats are gonna be stuffed by the end of this thread).

3. 4 line kites to be banned/burned if not modified to 5th? I saw a brand new 5 line kite being used on busy Scarb Beach (amazingly with a new 4 line bar) - all sold at bargain prices by a respected shop - to a complete moron who made every single mistake (in a very crowded location) you could imagine. Actually this is probably more a point 2 item also..

4. Gear confiscation for deliberatly dangerous and show-pony behaviour. ie, riding through flagged beaches, pulling tricks in shallows with young kids/old codgers in the near vacinity! Remember the old 25-50m radius rule? Most don't seem to..

DISCUSS...



BTW - flame away if you don't like the suggestions, but I am more interested in those that want to progress this sport safely and create more harmony with other (justifiably threatened) water users..

1. why dont we wrap ourselves up in bubble wrap as well. I sure as hell wont be wearing a helmet.

2. This has merit, but how are you to get your license? forced IKO training, no thanks. I've been kiting for 3 years, i paid for my lessons when i started, im not about to go and spend more money on a accreditation course.

3. all kites 5th line, get stuffed, i hate the 5th line. But we dont want to turn this into a 5th vs 4 line kite thread now do we.

4. Would have to be implemented by the police. I dont think they have the time.

I dont want to be negative, but with the exception of point 2 (which will be incredibly hard to implement), i strongly disagree with your ideas.

I propose we disband our wetsuits kite pants hats sun screen and concrete and don these

over regulating kills most things and looks like some people want to do that to kiting

the only way you can be totally safe is to sit at home and do nothing (even that could be dangerous if a car drives through your front door)

the amount of people that say to me "arent you scared of sharks?" and i usually reply " its always in the back of my mind but id rather be out on the water than sitting at home doing sweet FA"

i agree with relly take up ping pong or bowls

PS your nearly at 5000 posts keep going

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poor relative said...

I propose we disband our wetsuits kite pants hats sun screen and concrete and don these

Far too dangerous! That leaves your head, hands and feet exposed to all sorts of trouble. If you can make bubble wrap helmets, gloves and boots I will place my order today

heres some idea stopic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25080&SearchTerms=am+i+ready

I like the idea of a Licence/permit so long as its free. I got given an IKO card from my instructor after my lessons which i now use as proof of ability when demoing gear.

Helmets are not needed, just stop the use of board leashes. I think shops should do their part and stop selling the bloody things. Life jackets are a good idea but they do interfear far too much specially in wave riding.

only 5line kites,,,,,, Nar thats a load of crap.

I think the best way to make kiting safer is to lower the price of lessons. my local store has lessons $300 each,,, now im not knocking this, they use a boat and supply all the gear etc so its a very decent lesson but at $300 thats almost a decent 2nd hand kite.

Even offer a cheap basic beach lesson for thoes who are really tight just to ensure that they are SAFER would be good.

Hey Funkstar

Thanks for giving the people something to do - who ordinarily wouldnt bother replying unless they had nothing to do

Ive stated once before - its 'Human Stupid Nature' - that already has wheels turning to ban kiting from selected beaches (like boating & jetskiing)
and 'will' ultimately be licensed anyway.

Good on ya for trying to help people right or wrong ?

Cheersz

Im not sure if Licenses would help, but maybe for 3rd party insurance reasons.

Its also pretty hard to educate the complications of kiting.
That stuff is really only learnt by trial and error, or, unless the kiter has had somekind of formal lesson.

5 lines kites verses 4 lines well. That's a hard one.
The safety advantages in strong wind are obvious, a kite released to 5th has less strain on a safety leash and the kite can be hot launched in a flash.
But..how can I put it in other ways.
5 lines is alittle like surfboards in the waves verses twin tips, only the rider can explain why they use them and whats the advantages. If you can't ride a directional you think they suck.

my oppinion is that the way of the future for 5th line kites is down the road of the f-one bandit. All the advantages of fifth line without the hassle of having 5 lines.

What does the F-one bandit fly like with 3 lines.
Does it fly like a 7m Waroo with a broken pullie in 35 knots.
This is not a good thing to be hooked into.