Matheson Meeting Announcement & Rules

[Steve-O]

To all that read this.

All I am saying about the silence is this.....

People make announcements/suggestions on here and the next thing I know there are 10000 views and a stream of threads with all kinds of opinions. In the end, more lines get drawn, and no progress is made.

There have been many suggestions on this forum in the past regarding signs, streamers, associations, rules.....the list goes on.

Clearly, by using the forum as a tool to try and regulate has its limitations and personally I haven't seen much progress over the years in any type of organized front. The Tampa Bay mentality has been very much defensive and not offensive.

I think the folks in Miami have finally realized that if they are going to ride for the long haul, that they must get on the offensive and make it happen.

Props to Miami Kiteboarding and ASM for taking the leadership role that is required to maintain access is S. Florida. With that said, it should be a reminder that this is no guarantee. If there is any question about that, I am sure Neil of Tiki Beach can elaborate on that subject.

I look at it this way. If I have to pay a yearly fee to be able to ride, that is a small price to pay. With that fee I am guaranteed access, someone is going to police the place for bad riding practice and insure quality certified instruction....then sign me up. Considering it cost an average of $75 per day to fly down a snowy mountain, "a ticket to ride" is such a small price to pay.

My only real complaint about this entire process is the certification process that will be required to ride spots. I say this because I have a friend that I taught to kiteboard that lives in Ft. Lauderdale. He wanted to ride so I sent him to Crandon Park knowing he needed to get a card. Long story short, he set up his kite, did one tack, and got his level 3 IKO card. He did not have to demonstrate much of anything to get certified. I sincerely hope that is not the norm and only the exception. I lost alot of respect that day to the adminstration at Crandon Park and their list of rules and regs. I hope that ASM can stick to their guns and not just give out cards and charge $$$ for access.

[greg meintjes]

I would happily pay $75 a year to not have to be the guy who goes up to and talks to the kiters who are acting like jerks or riding in an unsafe manner. As for the certification, process I have found out that it generally does not take too much time talking and interacting with someone to determine if that person is a competent rider and able to be self sufficient when kiting or someone who is not. There are thousands of kiters out there that have no cards or certificates but are good competent kiters and I am sure that Kent and the guys will have a way to distinguish who is capable or not.

I wish them all the best with this as with all the problems they have up there this is a good thing for kiting. I just hope and do not think this will ever be necessary in Key West.

Greg

[mbs]

Great work Kent and ASM! I'm fully in support of the plan. I mostly ride at Crandon and what Cristoph and his crew have implemented over there has been working great. The "rules" are nothing new, just common sense things that everybody should be doing anyways. The only difference is that now there will be some means of official enforcement. I have seen many times at Crandon employees of Cristoph roaming the beach to make sure that kiters have their streamers, and calling people out if they do things that are idiotic. Self policing doesn't work b/c during during my precious riding time when time off from work actually corresponds to wind, I want to be on the water riding, not confronting riders acting unsafe. Matheson's launch is way smaller / more congested than Crandon's and there is much more potential for rider and bystanders to get hurt. Some semblance of official enforcement has worked well at Crandon and should stand to improve the situation at Matheson as well. I will be happy to pay a yearly fee to Kent and ASM for this service - not only to preserve the access, but also to help keep people safe. Now all we need is to get all the rocks off the beach and to truck in some sand. Matt.

[troubleshooter]

This is my beach. I lived here all my life. I windsurfed the south side of Matheson and this launch long before many of the kiters were even in existance.

Everyone has a right to say this is my beach. You have a big job ahead of you. I know you will represent us and make us proud. We are down to 3 launches and 2 of them are now under formal regulation.

Any plans to get permanent mats down on the rock beach? I would gladly join a club with dues to make that work.

Second. I cant find matching socks in the morning let alone my IKO level 3 card. Can we just show you our Crandon streamer?

[kent]

I hear you trouble shooter. Being a long time windsurfer myself, I fully understand your concerns. It's a big job, but it has to be done as our access can not sustain any more "parking lot rides". Two of three launches being controlled is better that zero of zero launches being available to ride in my opinion.

Regarding your IKO card. It would be best if you can find it or ask your certifier for another one. We will not simply be able to accept the Crandon streamer given current concerns over actual certification examinations at that venue. I'm sure that it's being done correctly, however our staff's name will be on the card and they respect what it is intended to represent. I need to take my check out as well and will gladly pay the $15 for it. In truth, I think I self rescue about 50% of the time I ride, but I couldn't tell you if I'm doing it properly. I hope I pass!!!

Improvements will be great and we will undertake projects as they are authorized by Park management. I'm sure Mr. West can provide more info on this at the meeting.

PS. In posts above there were some comments with respect to fees, etc. Please read the original post regarding this. There are no mandatory fees for riders that are already level 3 certified. If you choose to opt into the "ticket to ride" program, you may do so at your own discretion.

[ricki]

Looking forward to the meeting and working to secure access at this launch. The incidents and accidents that Kent witnessed and described have to fade into the past and soon. No launch will persist with that sort of thing going on. The folks at ASM have a plan, it will take time to get it going, but a logical approach is far better than what we have at present. It will take assistance from riders in general and patience. Keep in mind, the current practices about closed the door on kiting here. Lots tried self-enforcement and it should have worked but enough folks ignored this reasonable approach resulting in continued problems. It will take some changes to keep it going, have no doubt about that. The good news is that the changes are focused on keeping kiters here and riding.

Lots of folks have expressed willingness to pay an annual access fee, makes sense to me as well. Despite that ASM isn't proposing access fees currently while investing a ton of cash and effort in getting things set up. So, thanks again to ASM for stepping up to the challenge! I think they deserve both our thanks and help to make this work.

[bayflite]

less is more

[mathesom park]

http://miamikiteboard.yolasite.com/blog.php

look the new guide lines.

Camilo

[mathesom park]

SURE:

Safety rules means all does you mention plus physicali demonstrate that you can go upwind and be in control all the time.

IKO CERTIFICATION

u$35 - 30 min to be Certify for hammocks riders $ 15

IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization) is the leading global organization that promotes and develops our sport worldwide.

Present in 40 countries, IKO set an International Quality Label that recognizes proper learning Standards for Kiteboarders, as well professional teaching skills and logistic for Instructors and Schools.

We have been certifying students and riders with the IKO card Level for the last 2 years, which allows you to purchase a kitesurfing liability insurance via IKO website.
( for now insurance is now unavaillble for riders)

http://miamikiteboard.yolasite.com/

[Chris.Quinn]

In order to certify Kiteboarders you must be a Level 2 certified Instructor... You must also hold valid insurance for public liability.

Carlos Sandoval is a fantastic Instructor, he is fully insured by the International Kiteboarding Association and he is a Level 2 Kiteboard Instructor. This means that he can certify students. For a Kiteschool to be advertising as an IKO School and offering IKO standard training and certifications must employ at a Minimum one lead instructor who is level 2 certified.

Adventure Sports Miami and Crandon Park are the only 2 schools that currently offer this.

If you go to http://www.ikointl.com/iko-instructors-water.php you will find a complete list that gives upto date information on Instructor Profiles who are insured and qualified at level 1, 2 or assistant.

If people that are operating as an IKO School and offering certifications then they will be reported to the IKO if they are not using certified Instructor or insurance. This may result in a loss of qualification/recognition.... You guys are the ones that give our sport a bad name and people like me who live this sport will not stand for it!