View Single Post
  #25  
Old 10-18-2006, 10:01 PM
ricki's Avatar
ricki ricki is offline
Administrator
Site Admin
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 8,700
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Optionryder420
Protecting our spot is as simple as not ever speaking to any officials. Just make sure accidents don't happen and we'll be fine.
Often, it isn't a single accident or even a series that force us out of a launch. More often than not it is a long series of complaints, observations by authorities of poor rider behavior and concern over possible accidents. These things have closed access many times over in numerous areas. Of course accidents only throw more fuel on the fire burning out our access.

So, in addition to making sure that there are not accidents. You should add some other things to your list, like,

- stopping the cause of repetitious complaints from other users of the park.

- stopping riders from showing issues to the rangers first hand.

- establishing good lines of communication between the authorities and responsible local kiters. If all they hear are complaints and see things that cause them concern, who will speak for us then? I believe there are kiters at Desoto that already maintain healthy lines of communication with the authorities in an effort to preempt problems. You are right in that you don't want to set yourself up for failure or overt regulation out of hand. Merely providing a responsible point of contact for the rangers if they have a beef or just want to compliment something that kiters have done can make a difference. This has been a valuable early warning system MANY times at launches all over like Ft. Lauderdale, Pompano, Key West, Crandon Park, Jupiter, Tybee Island, Oahu, Maui, Hayling, Island, England, West Dennis and many more sites that immediately come to mind.

It isn't all that simple or easy to accomplish. Some ideas are being passed around, I would continue to explore viable options. Doing nothing has been proven already by lost access in other areas, NOT to work.
__________________
FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi
Reply With Quote