[ricki]

Many thanks to the seventeen folks that came out to the Lauderdale By-The-Sea (LBTS) commission meeting last night in support of kiting. We could sure use more people with your commitment and drive! I heard about it late that afternoon (thanks to Lia of Best!) and came in at around 8 pm as it was far down the agenda. We were first told the subject would be tabled for discussion until the next meeting after sitting there for several hours. Fortunately, it was brought up for discussion anyway at around 11 pm.

Concerns were expressed by the commissioners about several things including:

1. Kiteboarders launching, landing and riding too close to bystanders.
2. Unlicensed kiteboarding instruction (at Daman's?) without permits and in an unsafe manner.

The days of riding along the shore in and out of bathers, running kites over peoples heads should have stopped years ago. It definitely needs to stop now.

If the beach is too crowded to safely set up and ride, IT IS TOO CROWDED, go someplace else.

Students and new kiters usually lack proper kite control. They need to be well away from bystanders along with their instructors.

Instruction is a business, businesses need occupational permits, insurance, lesson plans are good too, etc.. Bottom line, without these things, there should be NO kiteboarding instruction in LBTS.

There was still more discussed but those are some of the high points. We have a month before the next Commission Meeting to come up with some viable solutions to the problem. We are planning a meeting of concerned kiteboarders to discuss issues and how to preserve access on the evening of Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Location to be announced here soon.

Input?