General Kiting etiquette and give way rules.

It's come to my attention over the summer that people have less and less of a clue as to what give way rules are and the general etiquette is getting pretty sub par.

Teaching at Pinaroo point I've seen that people going down wind don't put their kites low, instead they bring them up high which makes the upwind rider have to completely stop or turn around.
I've also noticed that all the people who just cruise around have the dire need to come as close as possible to students before turning around, this not only puts the student at more risk (due to limited kite control and still adapting to kite behaviours) but it also scares the student and makes them lose confidence and disrupts the lesson flow.

Right of way rules are thoroughly covered during lessons and every rider should have no excuse for not knowing how it all works but just to make it clear:

Starboard tack (heelside riding right foot forward) has right of way so port tack (heelside left foot forward) bears down wind to get out of way with kite lower and startboard keeps kite higher to pass over one another.

If you're on port tack but significantly up wind of the person on starboard then common sense would dictate to keep your kite higher edge harder up wind and let them pass down wind of you.

There is no need to ride super close to each other, the ocean is massive give each other some room.

People body dragging for their board has less manoeuvrability therefore should be given a wide birth and some space, it's not that hard to turn around or go around them.

People need to remember that when they were learning the sport was very intimidating as is, now that the spots are getting very crowded it becomes even more intimidating. Coming in super close to them, making them drop their kites or throw them across the window just to show off how cool you are that you can mow lawns is not on. I as an instructor don't care as 10 to 1 I'm miles ahead of you, the student doesn't as they are too busy concentrating on learning and the person walking their dog doesn't as someone better than you is probably boosting deeper in.

It's a simple courtesy and a simple request, give the students a 30 - 50m birth so that they feel more comfortable, we were all there at one point and also pay attention to the give way rules so that spots can flow better.

Pinnas is the new woodman point. Except the beginners are south african and not euros.

Charl, here are some resources you can point people too on etiquette and rules for kiting:

Etiquette: Etiquette - kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/safety/etiquette

Right of way rules: kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/safety/right-of-way-rules

The Full Monty (Safety and rules) kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/safety

he following Right of Way guidelines should be adhered to when Kitesurfing: (courtesy of WAKSA)

There is no absolute right of way - All parties should take any action necessary to avoid a collision.

When two riders are on opposite tacks and there is a need to alter course to avoid collision, the port tack rider (left shoulder forward) shall alter course and/or kite position in order to keep clear of the starboard tack rider (right shoulder forward) who should maintain the same course and speed.

When two or more riders are on the same tack with kite lines overlapped, the upwind rider(s) shall keep their kite high and the downwind rider(s) keep their kite low.

When two riders are on the same tack and are not overlapped, the rider behind shall ensure the rider ahead is aware of the rider approaching from behind.

Never deliberately manoeuvre into a right of way position so that it interferes with another water user. If you are behind another kite heading into the beach, turn early to allow the lead rider plenty of room to turn. Always check for other water users before water-starting, jibing, relaunching a kite or recovering a board.

A rider shall not jump if there is any danger of possible collision with another rider.

When wave riding, the first rider on the face of a wave has right of way. This may override the starboard tack rule. Give way to surfers even if they drop in on your wave.

Give way to surfers and other water users when in the surf, at all times.

Do not tack out through a surf break that is occupied by surfers.

All riders should be aware of and abide by all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

I'd be curious to know amongst a pool of experienced kiters, what percentage of them actually didn't have a clue about right of way rules when they first started to ride? I have to admit I was one of them myself, with only a single lesson under my belt. Of course, a few people got angry at me and I didn't understand why, until someone was nice enough to explain the rules to me. The reality is a fair amount people who take lessons probably don't get to the stage where they can be explained, understand and put in practice the right of way rules. The scarier reality is also a fair amount of people don't even take lessons or are taught by their “friends”…

Yelling at people, threatening them or ethnically profiling them only makes us part of the problem, not the solution.

The solution is not simple, but I think every kite beach should have a large RULES sign at its entrance (Probably could be done in partnership with the council, WASKA and local kite schools?). That and also experienced kiters should approach beginners more often and explain to them (nicely) about the right of way rules and local spots rules.

If every experienced kiter approached only a single “problematic kiter” every time they go out, there would inevitably be some improvements.

You're right gmd, people should ask it would make things far easier. I don't know how are things happening around your local spot, but at my local spot, from working there every single windy day of the season, only a single person came to ask us about the local rules and etiquette. I couldn't believe it when it happened, almost unreal.

Too many won't ask, probably for a number of reasons (don't care, too shy or even worse because they've been yelled at before without any explanations).

Good post Charl. not just a rant but some good info for those not in the know. Im not suprised that kiter ettiquite has gotten worse, with the amount of crew in the water. Driven around Perth lately????

To Cabron, agree entirely, theres so much water to freestyle on and only one wave that your on. Dont drop in......

I Like this, because of alot of people especially from the busier kiting locations, were all rules and common courtesy's go out the window, come to a nice quiet location where the locals respect each other and share the water. and basically continue with their dangerous and disrespectful kiting behaviour, ie. running u up sand bars, boosting and doing tricked hooked or unhooked directly upwind or infront of you everytime they approach. ("People do you really think i care what tricks u can do, or how high u can boost!, if i did id be on the beach with a camera!, but thanks for ruining my session anyways by making me have to avoid you at every crossing, hope yours was good")
and they launch and land right on top of the general public which are also entitled to use the beach area, had a few cases were the public have been hit by kites or near misses, its ok for them they dont kite there almost everyday, they dont give a crap if we get banned, like they all did at half their local spots.

Bit off topic this one but ill throw it in, they come down to our local and say "dont any of you ride and decent kites" (this was actually said, the person didnt like the response he got and promptly left)

and at the end of the day, they wonder why either no one wants to talk to them or some of the ones that theyve really upset tell them politely to f off dont come back if your gonna behave like that, which they have every right to protect their local spot.

Rage finished just a little food for thought.