Simple solution to this - drive to the Netherlands or Northern France. I drove through Belgium in 40minutes on my way to Calais from Amsterdam once. This is a little different to say, the whole of Australia banning Kitesurfing...
If you can't work with the system, don't try to fight it, just transcend it...
Paddi has a whole different motive for his rules. I think if anyone sets out guidelines for tags or licences or whatever it should be done by the local club for that area. What a massive conflict of intrest is it for a shop owner to have final say who can and cant use the beach in front of there shop. Just a dream as far as i can see as all shop owners would love exclusive rights over there local beach but just isnt going to happen. And Paddi, I work in the Building industry and now there is no such thing as your own town planner.
SurfConnect said...
Yes, and they just announced a tag system that every kiter will need to have before they are allowed to go on the water too. This system has been around in many countries for years now. The same I am trying to implement here. My town planner and lawyer are on it.
So taking that further all instructing must only occur in 15 to 18 Knts or lower and should the school and instructor continue training un - qualified members of the public they will be fined a minimum of $12,000.00 (Instructor $2500.00 school $9500.00)[}:)] and the school put on a restricted training regieme where they must be monitored everytime they go out to train by a certified observer paid for by the school (from the fine money) for 3 months or 30 training sessions (which allows for the off-season). If they breach this then the school owner(s) and associated licenses to operate will be banned from the sport for a period of 12 months 
and subject to further fines. Consider this a 
for a baiting comment.
Now what was that about a consensus regarding a competency based rating system ?? - Realistically we could have the framework available before one (a competency based rating system) is imposed on us in a piecemeal fashion around the country.
AP
I will only reply to topics that is relevant and disregard the remaining rubbish that is posted here.
Dave: I would certainly hope AKSA will work together to implement a similar system nationally. But with each State under different governance, it will be extremely hard to implement a national policy.
My motive is simply based on the promotion of safe kiteboarding. My initial proposal includes free certification to existing kiters, free signage, and we will even cover the cost of maintenance of the launching and landing area.
As the accredited school in the area it is our duty to take preventative actions before a serious accident occur and the council ban the sport.
Unpopular as it may be to existing kiters, I believe this is the only way to ensure our sport continues to survive.
Totally agreed.
Yes, need all the luck we can get. It will be a hard as battle to put it in place. But if we dont try, we will never get it. I am sure the same problem is happening all over Oz.
I have read 3 separate kitesurfing forums, and haven't found a single site that references that actual wording from the government. I have googled and search the web for nearly an hour. Still can't find a link. I have been on a Belgium government website. And still can't find the actual government memo.
If this is true, then can someone enlighten me, where it is published.
By the way Belgium is banning the burka. That is what i have learnt from my detailed search.
Surf connect.
I am unsure of whom you are legislating the sport for. I kite regularly at 5 spots within a 2 hour drive, and if I wanted to could probably kite at least another 30 spots. So when i go to a place and no one else is at the beach. (aren't i lucky)and there are no witches hats on the beach. Do i have to wait for my local kiteboarding instructor to check me out? Or will the police and lifeguards, be performing regular duties of the beach to make sure i am wearing a tag? Not that the police officer or lifeguard would even know what would be deemed safe or dangerous.
Will the police also be using their radar guns, to make sure I am not going out in >6bft winds? What happens in a gust?
Will the unpaid lifeguards on my non patrolled beaches be forced to visit the beach, just to check if I am registered?
Enlighten me please on how thus would all work.
Self regulation is a positive step in ensuring beach access. But i think the practicalities haven't been thought through.
Also why don't the state bodies or AKSA respond, to these sorts of posts. I know they are volunteers. But many of them are constantly on sea breeze, rabbiting on from one thing to the other under various other pseudo names.
KR
Hi KR
Yes, a lot of issues that you mentioned need to be addressed. Every area every beach will have different resources for enforcement - council officers, rangers, life guards, police, or simply the self-regulatory body, be it a local voluntary group/club/kite association, or the local accredited kiteschool.
In England at various locations where I used to head out, some are patrolled by local schools who are responsible, some by paid local groundsmen, some by council officers. Some drives their boat around to check on people's tags, some go up to you while you are rigging up, or when you come in. The tag must be carried on the person at a visible spot whilst the activity is taking place. It shouldnt be hard to spot someone with a bright color tag on their harness.
We also have in our proposal a kite tower patrolled by a duty officer. People can log on & off, we will have a quad bike and rescue boat on standby, to help rescue anyone getting into trouble. Just like the Surf Life Saving service, but specific for the watersports participants at our beach - be it kitesurfing, windsurfing, blokarts/land buggying, standup paddling or kayaking....
Well said Saffer.
Yes Surf Connect what happens if joe citizen visiting from N.Z. or another country comes down to "your" so called local beach and start's to proceed to kite without a permit or tag. How will you police this. Forget about the rabble of the police being involved in this as they have better things to do with there time so who. And what implications will you be suggesting if someone defies your rules and kites anyway. You can ignore these sorts of questions all you like but the fact is it wont happen with the MAIN party policing this being a shop. The more you go sprucing off about dangerous kiters on your beach, the more chance you have of the council imposing bans on even you(shock horror).
Saffer your not looking at what i said. I dont think it is in the best intrest if any private shop owner has the monopoly over an area of beach. It should be done through local clubs working with the councils to reach an outcome so ALL kiters have a fair and even playing field wether it be for one kiter or a business wanting to do lessons. If and when permits come into play then they should be the ones handing them out.
Dear Padi, I heard this rumor a few months back and swore someone was having a lend of me, please tell us you are not serious..!!!??
Who's going to police it? You? pft.. The only authority who will have any sort of power to police it will not be bothered moving on naughty kiters who don't have a certain license to kite there, what can they do? Chuck them in the slammer for the night? Arrest them and send them to court? Chances..... Maybe you could put up a huge fence from 1st av to 25th av with a electronic card reader on the gate to allow access to only permitted users, or better still hire a huge bouncer to man the gate, and he can beat the crap out of anyone who does not comply...or better still you could carry on with this horse crap and make us all look like whyning little bitches and have the sport banned altogether in the area?
...how are you going to stop any visitors kiting there? Like I said Good luck , you will never do it as it with severely affect your business financially.
The answer to your problem at the pool is right under your nose and I believe the cause of most of the dramas is caused by yourself, Having 3-4 lessons (your school alone)going at once is BS , no wonder why there is no room for anyone else, hence the tension.
I propose the council / governing authority limit each shop/school to one or two instructor licenses ,this will limit congestion on the beach and water , you my friend do not own that beach ,no one does in Australia we have things called public beaches ,I been windsurfing right there since you were crapping in your nappy , it is a prime piece of beach and one of the best learning spots in Brisbane.
.
From the outside as a non involved 3rd party, the ongoing dispute and altercations you have with another school looks primarilally business motivated ,your philosophy seems to be to get as many instructors as possible ,teach as many people as you physically can take their money off them then set them free on the rest of the world ( great for your business ,nightmare for the rest of the local kiters ) Speaking of buisness ,just wondering, that house you have taken over, is that zoned as a boarding house /shop ?? May have to get my town planner to look into that??
Got my fire suit on so
FLAME ON BEIATCHES[}:)]
Surf connect
Your motives are fine. I understand the Importance of kiting safely. Though comparing the tiny country England (in physical size) with the large country of Australia, I think you will find that the kiting population per head of capital would be considerably less, and with existing beach resources stretched with lifeguard etc. I think you will find it difficult to enforce on most beaches.
By all means, the most popular beaches frequented by the normal beach goer would be easier to enforce, though the problem I see it, whilst pushing for a standard tagging and encforcement system, the authorities will say it is too hard to regulate on every beach, so what we will do is designate certain beaches to kitesurfing, similar to doggie beaches. Where you can only take your dogs to a designated dog beach. This would restrict beach access. The very opposite of whatever your trying to do.
I think people need to see the bigger picture and realize kitesurfing in Australia is very small, and the country is very big.
KR
police definately dont have enuf to do these days, they'll be super keen to lay down the beach on a towel checkin tags. and cause joe average has a tag he knows he shouldnt be pumpin up his 12m C in 30 knots and he'll have an anemometer to check. i cant believe what im reading.
the obituary for common sense was awesome.
crossing our fingers that joe average doesnt hurt john public might still be the best option.
if u see something say something.
Saffer this is why i think it should be up to a club and NOT a private business.
From SurfConnect
To jas73
Sent: 1 month ago on 2 January 2011 at 10:35 AM, (QLD time)
Subject: Re: posts
[admin: private email removed]
so what are the real statistics Surfy
give us some numbers injuries, deaths, serious injuries, by newbs, by experienced
i really dont see the mass of incidents that u elude to
you cant go pushing your motives without back up, you say its for safety prove it
have you surveyed your local area, surrounding areas for thier thoughts or is this just your adgenda(there aint masses of green thumbs for you mate)
all your doing is flaming the fire of the do good brigade
do you have to have a licence to own/buy a kite(cabs would be restricted breed of course)
no a tag is not an infringment of my freedom, i have a WAKSA tag, but saying that you cant go on the water without one is a very bad joke, as someone eluded to before how about swimmers, bodyboarders, surfers(i would imagine(no proof)that more people die/get hurt doing these activities)
your argument has no end, my whole point is where do you stop
stop fanning that s$$t smelling fire
