ACCESS LOST AT VIRGINIA KEY, What's next?

[ricki]

Kent tells me there are now signs banning kiting posted at this favorite, LONG term launch. Apparently when kiters were kicked out of Crandon for a short time during the tennis tournament, they all came over and managed to piss off enough people to get us slung out permanently.

Such rampant stupidity should be against the law. Avoiding problems like this is EASY and only fools would stir things up needlessly. There aren't that many readily accessible launches in Miami and now there is one less. I am hearing about similar problems at other launches with poor high risk behavior to continued access.

Is there any interest out there try to organize and head this off before indifference and poor practices screw us all but good?

[Skyway Scott]

That's a shame Rick. I'd be pissed out of my mind if that happened to my local spot.

Unfortunately, a very small minority of kiters still have the foolish belief that their individual right to do what they want will never have a consequence upon the group. This minority apparently can't grasp the concept of cause and effect or that privileges can be taken away when abused.

It seems no matter how much others communicate with this small minority and give rational examples, such as sites being banned, they continue doing things (which can so easily be avoided) that risk access for themselves and others.

This minority of riders "exercising their personal freedom" and not being team players is selfish. Luckily it truly is a very small minority, unfortunately it only takes a few.

I am very sorry to hear this news as I simultaneously wonder how much longer it will be until a similar story about losing access is told by someone from here in St. Pete.
Maybe this most unfortunate circumstance will convince some in our minority that actions do indeed have consequences.

"It's a public place".
Rick, do bathers and the rest of the public still have access?
Lastly Rick, from your point of view and from your many experiences with "rights" being limited or taken away from kiters at public places, what does the word 'Public' mean to you?

Thanks for making us aware of this situation.
I am really sorry to hear it, but hopeful that we can learn from it.

[ricki]

It is too bad. I haven't been there by since the signs went up. I rode by about a 1/4 mile offshore yesterday on the way to Crandon from Ft. Lauderdale. Apparently there are still windsurfers and bathers.

Unfortunately, despite being members of the public we are obligated to observe a reasonable standard of care just like anyone else. If we single ourselves out by apparent hazardous or objectionable behaviors, the "public" authorities may exclude us from access. Usually, there are sufficient vague and broad provisions in ordinances to make such actions fairly easy to do if we compel them to do it.

This is readily avoidable, if we try. If not, bans are always an option. It's our choice. Given the lack of response it seems like folks are willing to let things drift where they will.

[Skyway Scott]

I am also surprised by the lack of response.
What are the odds (I know it's an educated guess) of PASA, IKO or someone coming in and "saving the day"?

[mocean]

mabe you guys have to do a locals only spot..the next best launch site locals only .
And get as gnarley as the Hawaiian surfers beating up on the howlies, for dropping in on a locals only wave.


aj

[ricki]

Thanks to a heads up from Silvia Caviglia through Laura Meyers to me I have received contact information for one of the authorities who may be able to restore kiting access at Virginia Key Beach. There is a chance something might be worked out whereby safe kiting can resume again at the beach.

Complaints were being received about kiters riding in too close to bathers and inside the swim buoys and slamming kites down on people on the beach. Updates will be given once more is known.

[BigR]

You might wanna get in touch with Adam Locke as well, he now lives in ft Pierce. He was our guy that got VK access restored to us the first and numerous times they shut it down on us. He knows all the big dudes in charge of this from the city of Miami. Laura has his contact info, otherwise I can dig it outta my old phones directory once I get home and charge it up

If we do by a miracle regain access, how are we gonna keep reckless kiters from getting us banned again?

[ricki]

If we do by a miracle regain access, how are we gonna keep reckless kiters from getting us banned again?

... and that is the biggest problem of all. Setting up guidelines, access corridors and all the rest is fairly straight forward. How do you make it stick without drafting the lifeguards as enforcers? It is never easy but one step at a time.

[kent]

With out going on a witch hunt (too much), i'd sure like to know who the a-hole was that gave the life gaurd a hard time at V-Key. I'm sure that this wasn't the total reason for the closure, but I'm sure that it didn't help.

I don't ride Crandon much these days, but it is really disappointing to see the same riders doing the same tricky transititions that were lame 5 years ago just 4 feet from the beach. Get some game and then ride in close. From what I've been seeing out there, most of the riders should be trying to hide offshore, not showing off inshore.

All kidding aside, get control of your riding spot! Don't be ashamed to ask someone to take it offshore. If you are "local" rider and someone smarter than you gives you some kind advise, remember that he or she might have just helped to save your "local" spot.

I must say that it is also the instructors riding out there that give Matheson and Crandon a bad rap. Not all of them, be everyone knows which ones are the offenders. Having been riding in Miami longer than any of you (minus Raul...sorry Big R), I would appreciate everyone's efforts in keeping the places open.

See you on the water... who says May sucks?

Kent

[Spencer]

Can someone explain what happened at Virginia? That's a real drag.

I have to agree with Kent. I remember all the stupid antics that led to the changes at Crandon, and some of the same people are doing the same thing.

[Lonny]

Unfortunately, what happenend is the same thing that always threatens our our access at public beaches. Put simply, fear of what we do by non-kiters, and ignorance among some of the kiters that ride there ocasionally is what shut VK down.

There are only about six of us that ride there on a regular basis. All of us were previous windsurfers and either still windsurf on occassion or remain very friendly with the windsurfers. Overall, as most of you already know, windsufers do not like us and many feel threatened by our presence. Since Laura, Tim, and I spent the last 15 - 20 years riding there we have respect for their space and what they do, and in turn, they have a certain "comfort" with us.

During the Key Biscayne tennis tournament Crandon was closed to kiting thus many of the riders that ride there and never ride at VK came to VK to ride. Most of them were cool, but there are always a few jack asses that spoil it for the rest of us. Mainly some people were riding inside the swim bouys, as Kent said, doing lame ass tricks inside. Additionally, people were rigging their kites with the lines on the main beach vs. going upwind to the North beach where there are no windsurfers and plenty of space. Why some of the kiters that kited there could not walk 50 yards upwind to launch is retarded, especially since most have to walk a lot farther at Crandon? Additionally, I heard that one of the kiters got into an altercation with one of the windsurfers. Not sure of the details or truth of that.

Also, we have to remember that VK was and still is the ocean side windsurfing beach in Miami, and has been since the 80s. Therefore, if you are going to ride there not only should you be respectful of their launch space but go out of your way to be cool with them. Obviously it does not help if we do not have them on our side if access is restricted. I am sure when the word came down many of them where happy about the kiting restriction, or indifferent to it, but certainly there was not an outcry from them.

I believe there can be a reconcilliation, and I am not sure if legally they can close access by simply posting a sign. Then again, we are talking about the City of Miami. :-) However, as with Crandon and Matheson there will no longer be riding at VK with some type of restrictions.

Rick, I think that if we are going to make VK viable again we need to post kiting rules, and the core group of riders like myself, will have have to enforce the rules as we do at Matheson. Generally self enforcement works well if there are a core group of people willing to "guide" other kiters. Most times its just a matter of letting someone know, and very rarely do I have a problem at Matheson with a new rider. We also have no back up from lifeguards at Matheson, and for the most part we have a good relationship with the park.

As far as Adam goes, I am very good friends with him and I will talk with him to see if he would be willing to get involved. He might be able to provide us some insight on how it would be best to proceed. He was instrumental in re-opening VK to windsurfing after Andrew.

Too bad VK is closed - we could all be riding there today since Crandon is now closed. Oh well. I better get to Matheson now before I can't find space to ride. LOL.
Today will be the 10th day of riding out of 13 - NICE! Thanks Todd! Best wind ever in May!

[BigR]

Ha! tell Todd to go on vacation more often!


Actually enforcing will be difficult but we must at least look like we are trying to put the effort in before
the officials will take us seriously.
Another thing, we have to be proactive and foresee future problems. i.e. I can gaurantee you if we get access back then the same jackasses will be back next year when they close crandon for the tennis tournament. also, if he's being a jackass at VK, I lay odds he's a turd at crandon as well.
Can we ban specific people from certain spots for bad behavior?

A set of rules posted on the beach , including one that says the lifeguard can order you out of the park for not following said rules would go a long way. Obviously it was the lifeguard felt not in control of the situation and this was his way of getting back at the perps. Give him the power to say who gets to kite or not by not following rules will help smoothen out any tensions.

After all, Laura can't always be kitecop . can she? LOL!

Yeah, I would be riding VK today as well if not for the fiasco..........

Raul