Sunset Beach FYI

[Huntersirg]

This is all good info but in reality not many people are on these forums. The best way would be to get some signs at these spots (sunset, honeymoon) so there's none of this oh I didn't know. I ride both these spots from time to time and would be willing to donate towards some signs or help build some if it will help us keep our access.

[ricki]

Good suggestion. Guidelines aren't rocket science, they're easy to put together. Best advice, just do it. Getting permission to put signs up from authorities can be a major undertaking at times however. One solution is to put them up and take them down when the wind's on. Pain but it may beat having no signs. The FKA will put in $50. for signage once you've got the info to put on them. Good luck, sorry to hear about the complaint.

Originally Posted by Huntersirg

This is all good info but in reality not many people are on these forums. The best way would be to get some signs at these spots (sunset, honeymoon) so there's none of this oh I didn't know. I ride both these spots from time to time and would be willing to donate towards some signs or help build some if it will help us keep our access.

[Steve-O]

That kid has been spoken to by just about everyone up there. It finally took a cop to get him to listen. IMO kid had poor training with no specific info of how to ride local spots. With that said it is up to local riders of their cherished spot to

1. Show the best example of how they want their spot to be ridden.
2. Be ready to confront and educate about any issues they see from new or experienced riders.
3. Don't be afraid to be a dick if needed. Get your point across!!!

I'm all for signage, but actual "lead by example" and "confronting issues head on" are going to have the most impact.

Doug Widmann can give a great clinic on working and dealing with riders that effect access. When this guy spots an issue, he is in the face and makes his point absolutely clear.

Starting a new org.

KAKK
Kiters Against Kooky Kiting

[Steve-O]

3. Don't be afraid to be a dick if needed. Get your point across!!!

Just wanted to clarify as I did say "if needed". Yes be polite and respectful, but if you feel your point isn't being taken seriously, then you might need to step it up.

What sucks is if you are the one to try and explain the rules to someone, and riders are off in the distance breaking these all over the place, then who looks like the dick??? Maybe that is the reason why folks are afraid to self police, and why self policing isn't as effective as it could be. Just something to think about.

I know I preach stuff to my students all the time, and in the same breath someone is off doing something completely crazy. I taught in the public schools, and rules don't really work if there is no punishment for those that break them.

Sure cops come out and pounce on one guy. But is that going to change the behavior of others??? Part of me believes nothing will change and eventually we WILL lose access, part of me hopes that we can change.

This I do know.....I can only control what I can do and others that work with me. Hopefully our actions will effect the sport in a positive way and we can only hope others will follow.

Be on the lookout for www.kitesafe.net a website solely dedicated to safer kiting and protecting access.

[uchuche]

Wow I feel safer already. Some people need to accept the fact that self policing has never worked and probably will never work, and come up with another solution.

You simply cannot be everywhere at once, and when our best kiters rip through the swim zones themselves, there is no example to follow.

As it stands now, the whole group is responsible for one person's actions.

If that's how you want it, then expect to get banned (again) in the near future when one person does something serious and gets someone hurt.

No amount of BBQs and beach cleanups is going to have an effect on that.

The fact that these "look what happened we need to self police" posts are so frequent supports my opinion that self policing is not working. In this case law enforcement made the guy finally listen... wow imagine that!!

[Alex]

People like this kid probably don't even know that riding in swim zones is frowned upon, its assumed that everyone knows but the first time i rode any of the beaches 5 years ago i had no clue i was supposed to stay out of them. The only thing you can do is approach and ask but be stern like Doug. That dude is a stand up guy for sure, and he'll be stern yet respectful. You can't go up to anyone on the beach and act like a dick, its as simple as that. People no matter the age or skill level deserve respect. IF you see someone coming down to rig that you don't recognize, just go approach them and ask about the conditions and make small talk etc. if they dont seem like they know what's up then mention the whole swim zone issue. Its easier than everybody is making it out to be. we dont need huge meetings and harness tags and stuff like that.

highly doubt this kid that is new to kiting rode through the swim zone because of his ego

[Unimog Bob]

Good points.

Regardless of this guy, newbie or not, he is not in isolation. I see many people ride well within 100 feet of shore (less than a line's length) on a regular basis. Many come in to carve their turn within 20 feet of people. I do view this as ego (but am open to hear other reasons anyone would do this).

To me it seems like just staying out another 80 feet is so easy. It literally doesn't register in my mind why/how some can knowingly come so close to bathers. It's like an equation in my head that doesn't add up.
(Coming close to bathers : Negative to them= Possibly huge.. Positive to you= ego stroke). That's not a very well balanced equation and has always bothered me.

The only reason I even care (as do many others) is that riding too close to shore appears to be the number 1 threat to our access along the beaches, and obviously, I don't want a little kid hurt. It's a real threat, not just me being a granny. Several of us know this. The problem is that for many, this concept is totally foreign.
It's easy to get caught up in what you are doing and having fun, but as a group, I think we need to wake up a little better to our surroundings.

This type of behavior is obviously widespread. Otherwise we wouldn't hear about so many issues.

Alex, I see jeopardizing others along the beach and our access as pure ego. Maybe this newbie wasn't behaving that way, but that's what I believe to be the source of most of the problems.

[Whitey]

You are dead on Alex. He did not know. His mom had been bringing him up to ride at sunset while she would sit on the beach. They watched other kiters riding in that area on every occasion that they had been there. Common practice.

Hell I didn't know I was considered a vessel (once under way, powered by the kite) until a County sheriff showed me in the code book.

The day the cops came there were many passes made thru the swim zone. Alex (the new rider's name also) just happen to be the one that flipped the switch on the man on the beach that made the call.

I have know Alex and his family since he was 8 years old, it was no problem to let him know what was going on and how to fix it. He is good to go now.

Badges? We don't need no stinking badges.

[Unimog Bob]

Craig, that's brings up an important point. Monkey see, monkey do.
That's why (imo) instructors and vets should set a better example. When they don't, it's obvious how new riders will act.
Did he take lessons? Was staying a certain distance out not covered?

Anyway, this kind of stuff has been discussed for oh so long. You guys have fun with it.

[uchuche]

Originally Posted by Whitey

Hell I didn't know I was considered a vessel (once under way, powered by the kite) until a County sherrif showed me in the code book.

Nobody has mentioned this but I consider this info from Whitey the most important piece of information in this thread.

WE ARE VESSELS therefore we are prohibited from swim zones, period.

We have been arguing this point for years... now here the county sheriff just set us straight yet again. The coast guard and beach police did the same thing about 9 months ago when they threatened to fine us at T.I. if we rode through the swim zone after we launched. In fact they told us we could not ride through the swim zone period, even to get out past it. If we wanted to ride we had to launch outside the swim zone (further down the beach). Seems someone earlier (around TI, PAG or Sunset) had royally pissed someone off and the police were notified. We had just arrived so it was not us.

If you are still riding through swim zones you are seriously jeopardizing our access.

-tom