3 years ago compared to now...
 

Check out the number of kites at East Beach in this video from 3 years ago ... this was a big day and it's amazing how many kites there are (I counted 8):

http://videos.floridakitesurfer.com/BigAirSmall.mov

Quiz:

How many kites will be at East Beach in 3 years:

A) 50 kites
B) 150 kites
C) Zero kites
D) Who cares chicks dig me.

im gonna go with B and D lol ;)

I would say A and D.
150 kites at EB = No fun + Danger.

At the current rate, we will actually have 200 riders in 3 years. My theory is that someone is selling kite boarding lessons for $25 on ebay, or kite boarding for dummies was just released for sale at Walmart. :D

It doesn't really matter. It is just ludicrous to think that there would not be an increasingly large amount of new riders every year. Just think about it. If there is one rider and he shares his hobby with 2 friends every year and they do the same, the exponential increase would be huge. That is all that is happening. People adapt to change all the time in more than just kiteboarding. That is all we need to do, learn to adapt to the changes in the sport whether it be crowds, new styles, new equipment, etc.

Too much whining and complaining is done on this subject, I have been guilty of it myself in the past but...embrace the new riders as a positive thing and see the cup as half full...:)

[QUOTE=invisible;19843]At the current rate, we will actually have 200 riders in 3 years.

We might need an ATC at EB.

Old school sesh today at the Skyway.

Rolled up at 9:00 something, nobody there aside from some mangrove activity. Rigged the 15 Ion, grabbed the Glide, started cruising in pretty solid 12-15, still no one there 'cept the Bone.

Rode some more, still no one there. Worked on some new stuff (like peeing toeside), still nobody there. One lady pulled in and watched me ride for a while, then left.

After over an hour to myself in decent wind, it let up a bit and I put the kite down. Only then did other kiterz show up. Reminded me of weekdayz back in May 2005.

Despite all the new riderz, there are still some lonely sessionz to be had out there.

this year we're around A. If three years down the road B really happens at desoto i have a feeling that C would be the following year with D falling close behind.

We'll take turns, go out on boats, start exploring new places, etc. it'll work itself out. my bet is that a lot of these people won't want to keep dumping money into the sport and people will come and go.

don't worry about the number of new riders unless they continue to be about 85% guys which puts the few of us girls in really good shape. Sausage fest for the rest of you. ;)

i miss going out to EB and knowing EVERYONE on the water and off, just by looking at there kite.

yet, we should have expected this.

oh well.. learn to live with it.