[Steve-O]

I think dealing with experienced riders that make poor choices will always be a tough one to deal with. A solution to that kind of problem may never arise. Self regulation may be the only answer for this one.

However, having new people that enter the sport prove their skills through a certification process can only help on ongoing problem that we all witness more and more with each day passing. I am very happy to hear that these two that Toby originally spoke of chose to get their feet wet on a light day. A point that should be stressed to all entering the sport. Because of the light winds, nothing bad happened. Roy, there lack of apology was probably due to embarrasment.

I think everyone would agree that East Beach and Skyway North get the most activity or riders. Should rider certification be a requirement to ride these spots? Rider cert. will not guarantee smart riding by experienced riders, but will guarantee that someone entering has a certain skill level. As I told Tom Scott in an another post, I didn't ride these areas until after 6 months of working on my skills elsewhere in much less crowded and forgiving places. A philosophy I hope to share with all students I come in contact with. Did I miss alot of windy days by choosing this route....you bet....but it was the choice I made that many newbies are not making.

Using the Sebring parallel, would anyone send their 15 year old to the race track to learn how to drive? Usually, we start in an empty parking lot and work towards uncrowded neighborhoods, eventually driving on small town roads, and ultimately being skilled enough to drive on the highway. Our parents governed us well....well at least mine did. LOL! Even with that, accidents do happen. We can't govern our roads of the reckless drivers, we have to rely on public officials and laws. Luckily a liscense insures us that drivers have had to go through some type of checks and balances. But it is no guarantee of our safety. A fact we know everytime we get into a car.

I am sure this concept of rider cert. has been covered before with no real outcome. Maybe I will get shot down for these ideas...but again what can it hurt to discuss these important issues to our sport? New faces bring new discussion. Seasoned riders could easily be grandfathered in, but new folks entering is a whole other issue. This is where my focus is.

Certification would require certified instructors insuring certain skills before they leave their program. I am not even certified yet....but I am looking to the future of our sport as a rider not an instructor. This post would be no different if I was a banker or a painter.

I look forward to this discussion...I think it is needed.