State Government wants to licence kiters

deja vu

Back in the 60's surfboards in Sydney were required to to carry a registration sticker. If you didn't have the sticker on your board it was confiscated by the local surf club.

This had several immediate consequences.

1. The surf club guys, who were given the task of checking for registration instead of saving lives were immediately put off side by the surfers and many fights broke out as the clubbies tried to confiscate boards.
2. As soon as surfers saw the clubbies walking the beach everone hit the water thus avoiding the confiscation.
3. A few people bought the sticker, most didn't. It was a very expensive useless exercise for councils and soon abandoned.

All that was achieved was creating a rift between the surf clubs and the surfers which still exists to this day.

Here are my two pennies worth, not worth a lot, you ve been warned.

I have lived here for 18 months, I love it. I love the fact that I can just go to the beach and kitesurf, no questions asked. Its like that in most countries though, its "industry standard" if you get my drift.

Then comes this ridiculous tax proposal which, whilst we might need regulating (get guys with no lessons off the beaches), we dont need another level of nanny state intrusion: the right to free fun.
What is happening on a broader scale is that we are being conditioned into being micro managed, thats another matter.

I say WE cause Im not quitting Austr. nor kitesurfing.

As opposed to most politicians down under I will actually do more than whinge like a whingy little moody teenager drama queen dressed up in a cheap suit: I will come up with a suggestion, try to solve the problem.

I suggest that taking an introduction security class to kitesurfing (security, respect of others etc.) is mandatory and provided by the AKSA. This will be funded
by the joining fee to the AKSA. Hike it up a bit, I dont care.

In doing the above WE the kitesurf community get the money, not the fxxxkin govt. for starters. Doing this safety class gets one membership to the AKSA, or its local branch > the AKSA will grow > become more powerful (will work in our favor) and new kiters get some education to the hazards of kitesurfing.

Cheers,
Eric

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I read it on this forum last year. ^^^
I read it on Seabreeze.
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See theres your first mistake, I wouldnt take the forums too seriously. a quote from SEABREEZE means not too much at all.

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WAKSA stated that it would support regulation of kitesurfing thru a licencing program.
A certain well known kite-dragging school identity put his hand up to be chief examiner.
Remember ?
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WAKSA is to my knowledge independent of any schools, shops, or any other people like yourself proclaiming to be spokesmen of the free kitesurferers brigade.

You should rather get on the WAKSA website, and find that one of WAKSAs key endevours is to keep Perth beaches open to kitesurfing and nowhere does it mention anything about policing the sport.
Every one knows your favorite act is to throw mud at WAKSA, after all those years windsurfing and now kiting you do nothing for the sport.

My personal opinion is, if time shows that a licencing system is needed to keep beaches open, then so be it. But I dont represent anyone but myself.

OK fellas serious response (despite my posts in the other thread)

(1) they mention windsurfers as well as kiters. So we should be scared also
(but it is only Vic so far so let's not all sh!t ourselves too much?) If it gets up let's show some solidarity.

(2) previously in the speed record arguments a few months ago, windsurfers asserted that kiting was not sailing. This proposal talks about sail powered craft so you could perhaps get out of it by claiming you are not sail powered (no connection of power source and board)

(3) we all grizzle about the cowboys in the sport who perform dangerous moves close to the beach or don't give way. Maybe a test will weed them out (unlikely) or make them learn the rules (very likely!), making sailing/kiting more pleasurable for those of us who give a sh!t and don't cause havoc out there

I dunno what the issue is. I thought half you lot would be well pleased.

Just think:

A WA License for WA Kiters only
A VIC License for VIC Kiters only
A NSW License for NSW Kiters only
A SA License for SA Kiters only
A ACT License for the Insane only
A QLD License for QLD Kiters only
A NT License for NT Kiters only
A TAS License for TAS Kiters only

Did I miss anyone?

Of course it goes without saying that none of these licenses are transferrable between states.

Just think of the opportunity! FINALLY your parochial localism can be enshrined in an official document. No pesky blow-ins or Euro's can ride YOUR beach!

Imagine the possibilities.

What if I told you that I did, and he can't find it either? Would you help us both out?

I must just be a total cabbage when it comes to searching. Please spare me the embarrassment and humiliation of further futile searches and provide me with a link to the exact thread.

Oh you tease

Let's not get bogged down here for hours searching the whole goddamn forum.
The past is the past.
WAKSA can be like the wind and be allowed to change it's direction.
What's important is WAKSA's policy on licences for now and the future.

*I'm guessing more fence-sitting.

Back in the day you had to get your surfboard registered in the manly shire. That went away after a while because they realised it was more trouble than it was worth.

At one point they were trying to ban kitesurfing at the best place at my local spot, if they did i was just going to kite there anyway, who is going to police this? the police wouldn't be screwed and the ranger would only want to sit around for so long waiting for you to come in.... if at all.
I don't think its going to happen, its to much hassel for them and not enough power and numbers to police it.