We hope you have had a fantastic summer of kiteboarding and are enjoying the autumn winds.

We want to do a better job each year providing the kiteboarding community with what they want so we are asking for your opinion via this quick <5 min survey.

Whoops - forgot to post the link.

Just go here: alex1720.typeform.com/to/ioaffD?

Good winds and safe kiteboarding!

Kiteboarding Australia

How will this enhance or support me going to the beach and enjoying my life away from work and other things in life? Before I do the survey, how is this gonna benefit me or us? Not having a go.... serious question.

FullHD - its called Karma !!
One day - just one day you might be a little bit pleased that KA or someone affiliated with KA sorted out a problem that you never knew had. Affordable third party insurance springs to mind - as does the reversal of the lifejacket policy for all kiteboarders in NSW.

Can't see what Karma has to do with asking a question. But if these guys are truly supporting the kiteboarder, I'd be keen to hear more about what they do and have done.

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FullHD said..
How will this enhance or support me going to the beach and enjoying my life away from work and other things in life? Before I do the survey, how is this gonna benefit me or us? Not having a go.... serious question.

U kidding right? Remember the whole silly life vest law that was implemented? KA got it reversed. Just one good thing they have done of many.

fullhd jump on their web sight and have a look. cheap third party insurance and are a voice on behalf of kiteboarders regarding access to beaches, water safety rules as we fall into powered water craft and so on. as a member myself a little peace of mind if and when something or someone goes wrong dont hurt.

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FullHD said..
How will this enhance or support me going to the beach and enjoying my life away from work and other things in life? Before I do the survey, how is this gonna benefit me or us? Not having a go.... serious question.

Hey FullHD - fair question for sure, we like people asking why we exist!As a volunteer driven organisation hearing that you don't see any point in us makes us more motivated to ensure we spread the word about what we are doing!

We want to do the membership survey to get a better read on the service we are providing the community of kiteboarders, as our main goal is to promote and grow the sport as a not-for-profit entity.

KA started to fight beach access issues and we continue to do so.

In the past 12 months these are some of the types of things we have been doing in the advocacy space:
- stopped lifejackets being required on all beaches in NSW by advocating with the government
- worked to have kiteboarders recognised as an important land user at Point Henry, Victoria as they negotiate a major change in planning
- worked with WAKSA committee to help run the schools better in WA to stop councils that have been threatening to remove operators
- provided comment to the Minister and Mayor regarding changes to the Gold Coast Spit
- worked with Parks Victoria about a major boating zone review in the Port Phillip Bay to stop it impacting on the areas where people like kiteboarding (this is ongoing)

We also got Victorian Government funding to create an online learning course to teach newer kiteboarders all about the theory behind site assessmen, wind effects, tides. We are piloting it now if you want to check it out and give your feedback at www.openlearning.com/kiteboarding-australia/courses/become-an-independent-kiteboarder/?redirectTo=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.openlearning.com%2Fkiteboarding-australia%2Fcourses%2Fbecome-an-independent-kiteboarder%2FHomePage%2F use the code "SAFEKITING".

As others mentioned all our members also get really affordable third party liability insurance and personal accident cover whenever you are kiteboarding.

Other than that, we do try to offer events and social engagement for people who are interested through our state associations and supporting third party event organisers who need affordable insurance and support getting their event off the ground.

Another big project is working to improve the quality of instructors so people who learn the sport and safe around people like you on the beach and don't get us all banned from our favourite spots!

Our 4 things we say we are doing are for our members: insurance, community (including being a professional advocate for the sport), events and discounts.

Cheers

Alexandra

Nice one. Never mentioned I saw no point in what you guys do but was interested in what you guys really do other than offer insurance. What has been done by an organisation gives it credability. If my original post seemed kind of aggressive or pointed, I apologise for that. Thanks for the reply.

Who are you KA peeps anyway
Where do u hangout. Outer reefs around kalbarri& gnarloo ?
And do u think iko will ever accept a crossover from u? Like PADI doesn't accept crossovers from others? Bsac...cmas..ssi...etc ?
Good luck with that one

Great move with the lifejackets&beaches too by the way....that would have been soooooooo annoying

how many members are in KA ?

Where is the wave titles KA!????

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Zebra80 said..
Where is the wave titles KA!????

Hey Zebra - should be announced very shortly and will be in a fun location near the end of the year!

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timmybuddhadude said..

Who are you KA peeps anyway
Where do u hangout. Outer reefs around kalbarri& gnarloo ?
And do u think iko will ever accept a crossover from u? Like PADI doesn't accept crossovers from others? Bsac...cmas..ssi...etc ?
Good luck with that one

Great move with the lifejackets&beaches too by the way....that would have been soooooooo annoying

Hey Timmy

You can read a bit about the people on the KA Board here - kiteboardingaus.com.au/about/board/. They are from all around Australia so potentially you know someone from one of your beaches. We obviously also work with a bunch of people from state associations, just volunteers and kite schools all around the country.

Re IKO - yes I do think this is a strong prospect. We are currently in preliminary negotiations with local reps of IKO about this. I also think lots of countries are moving away from IKO and we are working with them about cross country recognition directly.

Thanks re lifejackets - a good win.

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fruuugz said..
how many members are in KA ?

Hey Fruugz

Our members and friends are a bit over 3000.

Cheers

Alex

Hi I've tried access the kiteboarding Australia website but just get error from all links I try. Site down or my problem?

all filled in alex. thanks for all the hard work. im not really big on self appointed bodies but as long as yall dont become corrupt and overbearing I think there is a genuine future for you

I think the KA people do a great job and it's all about keeping the sport as free and as accessible to anyone and everyone, as much as possible. So please support them, as they really do help in keeping politics at bay and access to the beaches for everyone.

BUT

Not trying to be a stick in the mud, but safety is something we should all think about and do think about everytime we go out there, right? We check the lines, the bars, the connectors, and all the equipment before we give that golden thumbs up and off we go, right?

Well, then why (and I don't do this either...) do we not take our safety in deep water more seriously? Maybe lifevests are important and a PERP, a flare or inflatable sausage, and comms to emergency services? I bet the coast-guards and life-savers, would agree with me here. After all, kite surfing is another form of sailing, ain't it? And it has to abide by those rules. (start up the flame thrower Sibbo)

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NorthernKitesAUS said..
Maybe lifevests are important

Firstly what do you call a life vest? I raced in open ocean Hobie 16's for many years and wore what was called a life jacket thus meeting the rules of racing. But in reality it wasn't much more than an impact vest or buoyancy aid, it was about 10 years old so probably counter productive in the end. Certainly would not of saved me if knocked out and generally a hinderance if I was trying to quickly right a capsized vessel!

most go out beyond break not much further than a surfer so don't think so in that instance, if heading out in (edit) Cross offshore wind and cruising out a distance seems common sense to take a little more precaution, do we need to legislate I would hope not.

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Richoa said..

NorthernKitesAUS said..
Maybe lifevests are important

Firstly what do you call a life vest?

Something that keeps you afloat (or higher up) to avoid this! I am assuming he's underwater and struggling to breath

I don't believe a life jacket would of made much difference there, would have to be a very big one.

What was important there was he recognized what the problem was and solved it

With membership
do you get a little tag for your harness
if so I'm signing up

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cauncy said..
With membership
do you get a little tag for your harness
if so I'm signing up

It's pink this year @cauncy.... what more could you want!

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Richoa said..
Hi I've tried access the kiteboarding Australia website but just get error from all links I try. Site down or my problem?

Hey Richoa - just some hosting issues. All back online now.

KA are doing an excellent job, I have been a member for over 12 years.
we are still struggling with the life jacket issue in SA, after KSA have been on the State Government about it for a few years now, finally we have a bit of a stone wall with them; the KA crew are keen to look at it now and as we have the NSW precedent I look forward to seeing what we can all do.

In general it's so important that we all work together to protect our sport from bans and more rules, we may not all agree on everything all the time, but we will agree on more than non-kiters who might want to stop us from enjoying the sport we love.

'united we kite'

:)

Daz

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dazza5172 said..
KA are doing an excellent job, I have been a member for over 12 years.
we are still struggling with the life jacket issue in SA, after KSA have been on the State Government about it for a few years now, finally we have a bit of a stone wall with them; the KA crew are keen to look at it now and as we have the NSW precedent I look forward to seeing what we can all do.

In general it's so important that we all work together to protect our sport from bans and more rules, we may not all agree on everything all the time, but we will agree on more than non-kiters who might want to stop us from enjoying the sport we love.

'united we kite'

:)

Daz

What are kiteboarding australia doing about the push to make everyone wear lifejackets in WA?

How does being a KA member make you a "safe kiterboarder" ? Do you test and assess every kiter ? How do people and authorities know what the KA tag mens ? What people and what authorities ?

From the KA WEBSITE

Registered individual members receive a KA card and a harness 'Tag' in recognition of their membership of KA. The harness tag identifies to people and authorities that the member is both a safe kiteboarder.................