Quote:
Originally Posted by driftfast180
Ive heard complaints anywhere from message boards to me going out to the bars at night. The issues are always pertaining to the kiteboarders almost hitting surfers. I understand how in windy conditions the surfer may be hard to see at times but it still pisses me off that just a few bad apples could be causing so many problems.
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Sorry to hear that. Some kiters may not accept the obvious hazards to others and even themselves in riding too close. We really don't want to be responsible for scaring the hell or injuring anyone particularly in a stupid, avoidable fashion. Problems have happened already establishing the realities in this situation. Surfers are FAR more numerous than kiters, have more political influence and should have no reason to feel threatened by us, if we're using our heads.
Some general guidelines to try to avoid problems:
- If there are reasonable kiting areas outside of the concentration of surfers, go there and avoid riding through the lineup. If you can ride well away to the downwind side of the surfers, even better.
- If you MUST pass a surfer, do so on the downwind side if possible. IF not, then pass as far to windward as you can EVEN if this means tacking a few times. Passing too close and upwind of surfers is a real bad idea and likely to cause problems someday.
- If you are going to cross the path of a surfer and it looks like he is going to catch a wave or is on one already, don't cut him off. Turn around or give him broad leeway.
- If you are going to launch a jump, make sure there is no one, kiters, surfers or swimmers in the downwind landing area. Surfers can be hard to spot particularly in failing light, still no excuse for not seeing one. With the newer kites it is amazing how far you can drift downwind too in stronger wind, so have a care. If you downloop by accident which can happen, even to the best riders among us, the necessary buffer zone just grew a lot larger.
- If you are doing a downwinder, stay away from surfers (and out of bounds swim zones for that matter). There should be plenty of large enough holes to catch some waves without threatening or pissing anyone else off.
Common sense and courtesy will go a long way in avoiding complaints and problems.
Other ideas on this?