Guys,
A little bit of light reading below.
This is a copy of our current "Safe Kiting Guidelines" which we have now been using for a number of years with minimal changes.
How about having a read and post your comments the forum.
WAKSA intends to further update these guidelines in the coming months, so we will be taking notice of all comments. Hopefully after a bit of discussion it will be quite clear what has to change.
Thanks,
Ian.
W.A. KiteSurfing Association Inc.
WAKSA SAFE KITING GUIDE
Kitesurfing is easy to practice safely with a little forethought and common sense. Ultimately we are responsible for minimizing the risk to ourselves, and others, which will help protect the future of this great sport.
· Kitesurfers are primarily responsible for their own safety and for the safety of others in their vicinity.
· At all times exercise common sense.
· Know your limits - assess the conditions to avoid getting into dangerous situations.
· Select a safe, clear launch site with consistent side or side-on-shore winds. Do not launch from or land on a crowded beach.
· Make a routine check before every launch. Check quick release, kite, bridle, lines and harness. A kite with tangled or twisted lines can take off and be uncontrollable.
· Always use a safety leash on the kite.
· Always prevent kites from inadvertent launching on the beach by weighting with sand.
· Never leave a kite in the self-launch position unless you intend to launch immediately.
· Always give way to the public on the beach.
· Always announce when you are about to launch so people are aware of this fact and are prepared to move in the event of a gust or problem.
· Disable unattended kites by removing lines on one side of kite, placing the kite leading edge down facing the wind and weighting with sand or a board.
· When launching, leave at least 50m of clear beach downwind of you.
· Avoid kitesurfing near any airport or runway.
· Stay clear of overhead power lines and similar structures.
· Always maintain a 'safety buffer zone' when on the water and on the beach.
· Keep at least one line's length (30m) away from windsurfers and other water users.
· Incoming kitesurfer to give way to outgoing kitesurfer.
· When passing another kitesurfer in the opposite direction, the windward kitesurfer is to fly high and the downwind kitesurfer to fly low in order to avoid contact.
· Give way to all water users especially sailing boats involved in racing.
· Don't assume the public automatically associates you with the kite, which is flying to leeward of you.
· Don't jump within 50m upwind of another water user.
· Don't use lines longer than necessary.
· Return the kite to neutral as quickly as you can after a crash - lines in the water are trouble waiting to happen.
· NEVER beach jump.
· Practice using your quick release in a safe environment.
Just regarding the beach jumping thing and also the bad attitude of some bikie kiters - telling people to f**k off if asked to not leave their kite in the self-launch posi while they go get a kebab.
So since we're brain-storming, no one has mentioned the impact certain kite videos have on influencial youth. Lame as it sounds, some crime and general anti-social behaviour have been attributed to the things we see on the tele. Things like Space Monkeys could only work against us, as bored kiters start to use picnic tables or dune vegetation to pop a backside boardslide to fakie?????? And tone down the music, I find it so more fitting to relax to a vid with Jack Johnson than angry punk tunes.
Jees, I'm really leaving myself open for abuse here, but it might strike a chord with someone important.
right I could try to work on a Reggae style "Excuse me" song to blast on kitespots from my van 
Might just suggest something to add to your safety list... and I know it's a rare thing but...
Avoid proximity to hang-gliders! I've experienced close proximity twice now with kiters who seem to think it's fun to mix it up. Good fun for them I'm sure but it can easily become a matter of life or death for us. Even a small kite can produce suprising turbulence down-stream not to mention the thought of actual contact!
We only have a few coastal sites in / near metro we can fly - eg. South Cottesloe / top of Leightons (westerly) and Warnbro (SW/SSW).
Happy flying guys!
PS. I must say most of the kiters I've seen out there are pretty considerate and are happy to give us space once they've realised we're there. Lucky for us hang-glider type folks we don't get the "bikie" type crowd which I read from your kiters posts can be an issue for you. (they don't last very long in hang-gliding)
Good luck growing your sport, keeping sites open, especially in todays litigious society; seems we share a common set of tasks.
Have fun!
kites being left in the self launch posi. mmm brings back memories. approx 5 yrs ago while attempting a self launch i had some weed tangled in my lines. while untangling the kite took off dragging me by my legs for approx 50mtrs. great scars but i learnt real fast. self launching always has the possibility of going wrong so if i was you beerbong get the locals behind you and tell kebab boy to make his kite safe for you and the public.
this kind of attitude is rare so you won,t have any problem on getting support. i,m with you beerbong.
bikie attitude???I hope we don't get kitters that bad?? What do u mean that space monkeys is a bad movie??
u talk some bull **** sometimes
Do u think thoes guys on fire away are bikie kiters?? They can do the moves they are good people
