nude beach - Loss of Smathers Beach?!

[conchxpress]

Greg, do you have a website or email for the appropriate party that we need to contact to express our dissatisfaction with our end of Smathers Beach being considered as a site for a nude beach? We have a nice peaceful area to ride and the local crowd is very courteous to beachgoers. In fact, I think that we draw a spectator crowd that is very supportive and we tend to have very good interaction with them, with everyone explaining the nature and details of the sport to tourists and bystanders. With the presence of the nudies (I'd call them naturalists like they like to be called, but since the beginning of time it has been the nature of people to wear clothes, not the other way around), the atmosphere will assuredly change for the worse. Should we expect a volleyball net in the launch area so we can watch sagging breasts and wrinkled bodies? As I mentioned before, I think that this particular group tends to be very vocal when it comes to their "rights", and I don't think it would be very long before they began complaining that "these kite things" are a danger to sun worshippers. As far as the number 247,000 goes, that would mean there would have to be an influx of 676 new nudies per day. I find that hard to believe. So maybe they get that number from sponsored conventions or something. Could you imagine 3000 or so nude, sun damaged bodies congregating on Smathers? Then there is the element of "gawkers" who would loiter around the beach.
I've seen a lot of posts on different kite forums with problems of access, safety, etc, but never one so bizarre as this. Would it be possible to get a petition going to eliminate Smathers from the running? BTW, what are the other choices?

Frank
If this does come to fruition, I'm claiming the sunblock concession. Just selling - not applying.

[greg meintjes]

Hey Frank, their site is fkfb.org you have to join like I did to comment, good luck, and you are very right, they can be a very vocal group

[conchxpress]

I think the major reason that "they're" looking is because the Atlantic Shores Resort is no more. The only people that used to go there were women who didn't want straight men gawking at them and gay men. Can you imagine this group on Smathers? I don't think appealing to the nudists is the way to go. Go to the people who decide. The city commission and the mayor. I emailed the mayor with my views.

[greg meintjes]

You may be right re. going to the people that make the decisions, however if I am not mistaken, two of the proponents for the nude beach are on the city comission or are naturists. This and the fact that some of the guys do not have a problem with a nude beach by us as long as it does not interfere with our riding area. ( This seems unlikely as like you stated, it will not be long before someone complains about "those pesky kiters".

To be safe I spoke to Mike de Roche, Jeremy and some of the other guys about coming with me to a meeting with the Mayor and the City commission, let me know when you will be here and I will try plan it so you can join us( bring some happy gas to help them with their decision).

Greg

[ricki]

Hey Guys,

Been out of town, didn't notice this issue had come back and perhaps even to a vote soon. Not good at all. I could mount an international email campaign and petition as early as tomorrow trying to preserve our access. I could get some windsurfing sites onboard as well much as in the way recently with the threat in Hawaii. What do you think?

p.s. - I didn't think this would come this far prior to now. I moved your post and added to the subject line Greg. This may have become a serious threat.

[greg meintjes]

Thanks Rick, I have been in contact with the mayor and kiteboarding was already on the next city comission meeting, I will also be talking to the city managers office today so lets hope all goes well, if not we will definately like you to get an online petition going for us.

Greg

[ricki]

Good luck, hope your discussion goes well. What is the date and time of the commission meeting in which the nude beach and kiting access are to be discussed?

Thanks!

[flkiter]

This is Paul Menta, i have been talking about this with the mayor for 2 months and i have time on the next meeting agenda. I can prove [from the kite house] that we have been named one of the top 10 kite spots in the world, we have just recived in national geographic adventures 10th aniverserys top 50, the only kiting as well as the only thing in florida to make the 10 year list. I have a video presentation and also have asked Rick to speak about the reasons. As stated by the mayor , if this is kept professional and to the point it will be hard to do. If we look unorganized, well they all ready have it up for vote and it will go away fast. So, i beg you to please becarefull on how this is aproached. I have 15 min for the next meeting, i think with rick this can be stopped, it is very close to passing.

We have to prove that this is a plus to the cominutiy and why, which i can document for 10 years with stats, facts, mags and t.v. and world records

The thug version of storming a meeting will everyone speaking different will only make us look like amateurs, lets do this right, we have rick on our side to speak, i have seen this before here.....dont make me say i told you so, this is serious