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Old 08-17-2004, 09:00 AM
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ricki ricki is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 8,700
Default New Kiteboarder In Miami With Some Good Ideas

Hello Lance,

Welcome to S. Florida. One launch that comes to mind is Matheson Hammock. They have a sign with posted rules and abundant shallows to walk well away from land through. There was a serious accident here about a year ago that involved excessively gusty winds and lack of distance during launch to the parking lot. So, when in doubt, walk out further.

I understand that some guys ride off of Northshore Park at North Miami Beach and south of I-395 on South Beach. Technically, ALL kiteboarding has been banned for years off all of Miami Beach. Still guys do it and enforcement is lax. If we don't give them sufficient reason to come after us, perhaps it will stay that way. So be sure to use substantial distance (200 ft. or more is a good start), from other beach goers when launching, riding/body dragging and landing. EVEN IF you see more experienced riders ignoring these simple precautions, DON'T copy them. These guys could trash your access and mine through irresponsible riding, joining in is no solution however. You point this out in your earlier post I see.

Christoph through miamikiteboarding.com offers some good options for learning under ideal conditions when the wind is on, (calm water open to prevailing winds, well away from shore and restrictions.

The Interactive Map is brand new and the software to drive it has yet to be hooked up, coming soon!

You might make a post under: "Who's riding where this weekend?" in the SE Florida Forum to try to hook up with other riders.

Have fun,

FKA, Inc.
transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

>
>Rick,
>How are ya? I got your web forum address from Christophe Ribot
>after checking out the website for his school. (I'll attach the
>original e-mail I sent him below which led him to give me your
>address.) I am new to the area (Miami Beach) as I was just
>stationed here (US Coast Guard) from Seattle. I am a begginer kiter
>with my own gear and a few lessons under my belt. I've kited in
>some of the premier spots in the world... to bad I wasn't good
>enough to take advantage of the conditions. In any case, I'm
>looking for local areas and/or like minded begginer kiters to kite
>with. I'm hoping you can point me in the right direction. I
>checked out your interactive map page, however couldn't make it
>interact. Possibly old software I have...not sure. Anyway, if you
>wouldn't mind getting back to me, I'd appreciate it. Hope all is
>well. Thanks for providing the website. It's invaluable for a
>newbie like me. -Lance
>
>
>Miami Kiteboarding,
>I am new to town - just moved to South Beach from Seattle, WA. I am
>a bigginer kiteboarder with lessons, but not much experience. I
>took lessons in the Gorge of Hood River, Oregon (Full weekend), then
>a second day lesson in Cape Hatteras N.C. when I was there on
>business. I have also kited in Adelaide and Freemantle Australia
>(again while there on business). I actually got the confidence to
>buy all my own gear while in Adelaide. I was very excited to find
>out that my job was moving me to South Beach and cannot wait to get
>out on my board again.
>
>Living right on the beach, I was excited with the possibility of
>being able to launch in my back yard. However, I am very safety
>conscious and know the risks of launching on crowded beaches and
>kiting in waters full of swimmers. I was on the beach two days ago
>and saw a kite in the distance. I decided to go talk to the kiter,
>hoping he could tell me local spots to kite in the area. I am still
>very new to the sport and although I can get up on my board, it's
>really in only one direction proficiently and I am still learning
>lots each time I go out. I've had great instruction, understand the
>dangers, and now really just need to get out and trial and error it
>and practice my technique. Anyway, I was very dismayed to see that
>the guys who were kiting had had no instruction, didn't seem to know
>what they were doing and on two occassions almost crashed their kite
>on people on the beach and in the water.
>
>I know the risks the sport faces with being banned and was pissed
>for the lack of a better term. The jokers were very happy I came
>along and wanted pointers. I tried to explain that they needed to
>take lessons above all else and briefly went over the numerous
>things they could do wrong to either hurt themselves or someone
>else. I don't think this sunk in, and I didn't feel I was the right
>person to be teaching anyone as I am new myself.
>
>In Seattle we had SKA - Seattle Kiteboarding Association - which
>gave free start up clinics to newbies (how I got started) basically
>explaining the wind window, dangers, and letting people practice
>with provided trainer kites (all free). Often times the people
>giving the free clinics (Every other Wednesday all summer) were
>local instructors, who made contacts and increased their business.
>It was a nice, safe way to teach interested new people the dangers
>of the sportwhile channeling those wanting to learn the sport
>towards instructors wanting to teach. SKA also threw beach parties
>where reps would show their new gear and local kiters could get
>together and meet eachother (beer and bon fires are legal in
>Seattle). I actually met a guy with a boat who just wanted to meet
>others who kited so they could take turns driving the boat/flying
>their kites. Nice guy, but I left Seattle shortly after. Lastly
>SKA liaisoned with the Coast Guard, local police and fire
>department, educating them on the sport and how to tell if someone
>is really in trouble. In Puget Sound every time a kiter hit the
>water some good semaritan would dial 911 and report a kiter in
>distress. They'd send in the Coast Guard or local fire department
>to respond. More times than
>not it was just a kiter resting in the water, or trying to relaunch
>from the water. This began to frustrate local authorities as you
>can imagine.
>
>Anyway, I don't even know if it's legal to kite on South beach (I
>live on the Northeast end - 26th Ave. and Collins) I was hoping you
>could provide me some info on local spots where I can kite. Again,
>I am still a begginer so prefer good steady wind and no crowds. I
>also haven't learned the technique of self launching/landing, so it
>would be nice to have some
>other kiters on the beach that could lend a hand. If you know of
>any other begginers that are in my same boat, feel free to forward
>my name and contact info to them. As I said, I'm new in the area
>and wouldn't mind meeting people that have similair interests.
>
>Thanks for the info. Feel free to ask me if you have any other
>questions about SKA. It was a pretty sweet org. I can also put you
>in touch with the two founders if you'd like. Thanks again, I hope
>to hear from you soon. -Lance
>

Rick,
>How are ya? I got your web forum address from Christophe Ribot
>after checking out the website for his school. (I'll attach the
>original e-mail I sent him below which led him to give me your
>address.) I am new to the area (Miami Beach) as I was just
>stationed here (US Coast Guard) from Seattle. I am a begginer kiter
>with my own gear and a few lessons under my belt. I've kited in
>some of the premier spots in the world... to bad I wasn't good
>enough to take advantage of the conditions. In any case, I'm
>looking for local areas and/or like minded begginer kiters to kite
>with. I'm hoping you can point me in the right direction. I
>checked out your interactive map page, however couldn't make it
>interact. Possibly old software I have...not sure. Anyway, if you
>wouldn't mind getting back to me, I'd appreciate it. Hope all is
>well. Thanks for providing the website. It's invaluable for a
>newbie like me. -Lance
>
__________________
FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi
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  #2  
Old 08-17-2004, 09:00 AM
ricki's Avatar
ricki ricki is offline
Administrator
Site Admin
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 8,700
Default New Kiteboarder In Miami With Some Good Ideas

Hello Lance,

Welcome to S. Florida. One launch that comes to mind is Matheson Hammock. They have a sign with posted rules and abundant shallows to walk well away from land through. There was a serious accident here about a year ago that involved excessively gusty winds and lack of distance during launch to the parking lot. So, when in doubt, walk out further.

I understand that some guys ride off of Northshore Park at North Miami Beach and south of I-395 on South Beach. Technically, ALL kiteboarding has been banned for years off all of Miami Beach. Still guys do it and enforcement is lax. If we don't give them sufficient reason to come after us, perhaps it will stay that way. So be sure to use substantial distance (200 ft. or more is a good start), from other beach goers when launching, riding/body dragging and landing. EVEN IF you see more experienced riders ignoring these simple precautions, DON'T copy them. These guys could trash your access and mine through irresponsible riding, joining in is no solution however. You point this out in your earlier post I see.

Christoph through miamikiteboarding.com offers some good options for learning under ideal conditions when the wind is on, (calm water open to prevailing winds, well away from shore and restrictions.

The Interactive Map is brand new and the software to drive it has yet to be hooked up, coming soon!

You might make a post under: "Who's riding where this weekend?" in the SE Florida Forum to try to hook up with other riders.

Have fun,

FKA, Inc.
transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

>
>Rick,
>How are ya? I got your web forum address from Christophe Ribot
>after checking out the website for his school. (I'll attach the
>original e-mail I sent him below which led him to give me your
>address.) I am new to the area (Miami Beach) as I was just
>stationed here (US Coast Guard) from Seattle. I am a begginer kiter
>with my own gear and a few lessons under my belt. I've kited in
>some of the premier spots in the world... to bad I wasn't good
>enough to take advantage of the conditions. In any case, I'm
>looking for local areas and/or like minded begginer kiters to kite
>with. I'm hoping you can point me in the right direction. I
>checked out your interactive map page, however couldn't make it
>interact. Possibly old software I have...not sure. Anyway, if you
>wouldn't mind getting back to me, I'd appreciate it. Hope all is
>well. Thanks for providing the website. It's invaluable for a
>newbie like me. -Lance
>
>
>Miami Kiteboarding,
>I am new to town - just moved to South Beach from Seattle, WA. I am
>a bigginer kiteboarder with lessons, but not much experience. I
>took lessons in the Gorge of Hood River, Oregon (Full weekend), then
>a second day lesson in Cape Hatteras N.C. when I was there on
>business. I have also kited in Adelaide and Freemantle Australia
>(again while there on business). I actually got the confidence to
>buy all my own gear while in Adelaide. I was very excited to find
>out that my job was moving me to South Beach and cannot wait to get
>out on my board again.
>
>Living right on the beach, I was excited with the possibility of
>being able to launch in my back yard. However, I am very safety
>conscious and know the risks of launching on crowded beaches and
>kiting in waters full of swimmers. I was on the beach two days ago
>and saw a kite in the distance. I decided to go talk to the kiter,
>hoping he could tell me local spots to kite in the area. I am still
>very new to the sport and although I can get up on my board, it's
>really in only one direction proficiently and I am still learning
>lots each time I go out. I've had great instruction, understand the
>dangers, and now really just need to get out and trial and error it
>and practice my technique. Anyway, I was very dismayed to see that
>the guys who were kiting had had no instruction, didn't seem to know
>what they were doing and on two occassions almost crashed their kite
>on people on the beach and in the water.
>
>I know the risks the sport faces with being banned and was pissed
>for the lack of a better term. The jokers were very happy I came
>along and wanted pointers. I tried to explain that they needed to
>take lessons above all else and briefly went over the numerous
>things they could do wrong to either hurt themselves or someone
>else. I don't think this sunk in, and I didn't feel I was the right
>person to be teaching anyone as I am new myself.
>
>In Seattle we had SKA - Seattle Kiteboarding Association - which
>gave free start up clinics to newbies (how I got started) basically
>explaining the wind window, dangers, and letting people practice
>with provided trainer kites (all free). Often times the people
>giving the free clinics (Every other Wednesday all summer) were
>local instructors, who made contacts and increased their business.
>It was a nice, safe way to teach interested new people the dangers
>of the sportwhile channeling those wanting to learn the sport
>towards instructors wanting to teach. SKA also threw beach parties
>where reps would show their new gear and local kiters could get
>together and meet eachother (beer and bon fires are legal in
>Seattle). I actually met a guy with a boat who just wanted to meet
>others who kited so they could take turns driving the boat/flying
>their kites. Nice guy, but I left Seattle shortly after. Lastly
>SKA liaisoned with the Coast Guard, local police and fire
>department, educating them on the sport and how to tell if someone
>is really in trouble. In Puget Sound every time a kiter hit the
>water some good semaritan would dial 911 and report a kiter in
>distress. They'd send in the Coast Guard or local fire department
>to respond. More times than
>not it was just a kiter resting in the water, or trying to relaunch
>from the water. This began to frustrate local authorities as you
>can imagine.
>
>Anyway, I don't even know if it's legal to kite on South beach (I
>live on the Northeast end - 26th Ave. and Collins) I was hoping you
>could provide me some info on local spots where I can kite. Again,
>I am still a begginer so prefer good steady wind and no crowds. I
>also haven't learned the technique of self launching/landing, so it
>would be nice to have some
>other kiters on the beach that could lend a hand. If you know of
>any other begginers that are in my same boat, feel free to forward
>my name and contact info to them. As I said, I'm new in the area
>and wouldn't mind meeting people that have similair interests.
>
>Thanks for the info. Feel free to ask me if you have any other
>questions about SKA. It was a pretty sweet org. I can also put you
>in touch with the two founders if you'd like. Thanks again, I hope
>to hear from you soon. -Lance
>

Rick,
>How are ya? I got your web forum address from Christophe Ribot
>after checking out the website for his school. (I'll attach the
>original e-mail I sent him below which led him to give me your
>address.) I am new to the area (Miami Beach) as I was just
>stationed here (US Coast Guard) from Seattle. I am a begginer kiter
>with my own gear and a few lessons under my belt. I've kited in
>some of the premier spots in the world... to bad I wasn't good
>enough to take advantage of the conditions. In any case, I'm
>looking for local areas and/or like minded begginer kiters to kite
>with. I'm hoping you can point me in the right direction. I
>checked out your interactive map page, however couldn't make it
>interact. Possibly old software I have...not sure. Anyway, if you
>wouldn't mind getting back to me, I'd appreciate it. Hope all is
>well. Thanks for providing the website. It's invaluable for a
>newbie like me. -Lance
>
__________________
FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi
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