Registered WA kiter meaning:
1) establishing minimum standards with respect to what is taught via kite instruction;
2) an individual having achieved some standard of kiting competency on the water;
3) individual having to show/demonstrate that standard of competency;
4) possible formal licence;
5) required to have a registration number on a kite - for when someone fk's up....
The number of responses both online & to me via phone/PM/email since my post about y'day at North Cott - those responses have been screamingly consistent about the need for kiters to take responsibility for ourselves.
Flame suit on; ideas; Yes/No; feedback;.
Fire away.
...and give away more of my money,time and rights to somebody who thinks they, more than anybody else has the authority to say what i do and what i dont do...? yor kidding right.
sorry had to be said.. silly question really.
Are you kidding
Does the licence money go to the government as well? And if I crash my kite will I lose my licence?
Last thing I want over this side.
I have also posted this in "we are our own worst enemy"
"I agree, something must be done, unfortunately I am not in a position of power...
My humble request to those in power, directing the future of our amazing sport/recreation/hobby/pass time;
Please don't penalize those of us that take responsibility for our own actions by making sure we know the rules,
making sure we assess the conditions and location and equipment,
making sure we keep ourselves and OTHERS safe,
And essentially keeping our commonsense and logic intact whilst ripping it up and having the time of our lives...
(all the stuff you are taught in your lesson..NO.1 being safety)
Instead;
Find a way of penalizing those of us that are the opposite to the above, whom plead ignorance despite being human and from planet earth like the rest of us that make the effort."
Registration and or Imposing fees and hurdles to jump over for all kiters is doing exactly that. Penalizing those of us that already act responsibly
If your a newbe, you have to wear L plates
for a year. your gear goes to charity if you stuff up.
But seriously...
I think it could be done with some local volunteers at each beach and WAKSA as the organiser, lots of crew know each other all ready, if you have been kiting for a while you get free access with a WAKSA membership.etc
I think it would be cool if we had kiteboarding clubs at popular locations eg. Safetybay, Melville, pinaroo,Geraldton. Like what they have with surfing, (board riders clubs). Then let the clubs control and enforce local rules and guidelines. Let the club teach lessons on local safety and knowledge that perhaps isn't getting past on by kite shops after you complete your lessons. Then through out summer could have in house competitions and maybe verse other clubs from different locations and get a bit of history and pride of your kiting location where ever it may be.
Go hit the beach and kite, stop over thinking it and have fun... 
If you want rules and regulations go join your local council. Better yet, go down to your local coast guard/ bowls club/ or SLSC and get into they're politics. 
This time of the year is the most insane. People from all over the world are here visiting family. All beach and water users are at their exponentially increased maximum numbers.
Last year there were many similar dramas after Xmas (think last year's drama was knobhead kiters' self launching in light wind among 1000 sunbathers).
There is one restriction that would ease 90% of the present local problems with the minimal amount of grief to the local kitesurfing community.
A kitesurfing hiatus in the metro area from December 26th to Jan 4th.
I guess I understand what you mean.
It is true what Elroy says. It might be a way to be sure we can keep our beaches. There are a few issues though:
- Can the learners get lessons and then after that teach themselves? or do they have to always have an instructor with them until they are fully competent?
- Or do we then get separate beaches where learners can learn and where there are people on the beach keeping an eye on it and guiding people if need be?
- Do we all then have to do exams?
It would become a bit like diving, with exams for every stage:
- Open water
- Advanced
- Rescue
- Master
- Instructor.
- How are you gonna enforce the rules? Is everyone all of a sudden not allowed to go kiting unless they get a license?
This would surely lessen the amount of kiters starting the sport which with our overcrowded beaches is maybe not necessarily a bad thing.
The cost of kitesurfing would become even more expensive then it already is which would also make the step to kitesurfing a lot higher.
Starting Kiting clubs like PAULIE2011 said is probably a more 'user friendly' way.
I live on a corner,,,,,see about 30 cars a day put their foot down and slide sideways around the corner,,,they have licenses,pay rego and insurance but it still dosent stop them from being d!cks.
I think once you start licencing/registration it may give who ever enforces them to make even more rules. Like, cant kite unless wearing a helmet,impact vest,lifejacket, ect.
Good in theory, bad in reality. It will turn into a money grabber from an authority that is set up to police it.
If you dont have an authority set up to police it then whats the point?
In sth florida your not allowed to kite without the correct tag and membership.
It reaks of exclusivity and is the opposite of what kiting is all about.
Common sense and good attitudes towards other kiters and more so the members of the public is the only way forward.
If you see someone doing or about to do something stupid, SAY SOMETHING!
in political theory, it's called the social contract. google it.
or as zelman cowen put it, your right to swing your fist ends just short of the other bloke's nose.
i'm entitled to kite/climb/jump/ski/fly as close to the edge as i care to. F/O, it's my life. but the fishos/swimmers/dog-walkers/poleys/other kiters are entitled to do what they want without my risk-taking compromising their freedom.
where i kite over east, it's a big day with 5 kites, and we get along just fine. darwin, same thing. perth - crazy.
if kiters don't take the initiative, it'll get done to us.
local enforcement needs teeth to work.
otherwise, find an empty beach and do your thing.
NO No an NO !
I thought Qld was the Nanny state, its a disease this nannyism an its widespread.....this is a prime example !
Just stay out of the flags.....its not that hard !
Maybe introduce a compulsory lesson in safety an beach rules for newbs an all overseas touros.
"5) required to have a registration number on a kite - for when someone fk's up...."
Yeah sure. Another $100 for printing the rego number on the kite
and all the hassle to transfer registration to a new owner if you sell on the
kite after a year. (which I assume would not be for free either)
Kites are not boats and some people choose to replace every year.
So that's a significant cost factor.
The quoted suggestion is completly unsensible and one have to wonder if the person making such a suggestion even kites or will be one of the beneficiaries of the cost.
Regulate yourselves or be regulated.
Take control or be controlled.
If it comes with some decent personal injury accident insurance (not the pathetic third party rubbish dressed up that is currently on 'offer')- i am in.
Mind you - this has all been talked about a number of times before.
Sorry guys but as I predicted, the majority of replies are all coming from an idealistic dream world... 'No regulation, free beaches for all etc etc'... News Flash - 'ALL' includes the non kiting public too and they have rights and a voice (with more numbers than ours) too....
Comments from the eastern states on a WA posed question and issue ranged as follows..
"...and give away more of my money,time and rights to somebody who thinks they, more than anybody else has the authority to say what i do and what i dont do...? yor kidding right.
sorry had to be said.. silly question really."
"Go hit the beach and kite, stop over thinking it and have fun..."
"If you want rules and regulations go join your local council. Better yet, go down to your local coast guard/ bowls club/ or SLSC and get into they're politics."
" NO No an NO !
I thought Qld was the Nanny state, its a disease this nannyism an its widespread.....this is a prime example !
Just stay out of the flags.....its not that hard !"
Nice one guys, I guess it'll not affect you - access or no access 
Does it really need to be said that we are NOT living in an ideal world?? Open your eyes! FFS....
It is obvious that the current 'live and let live' attitude is not going to work in the longer term. Just look around you every time you go out. It will only take one big accident involving an innocent bystander...
At least Juddy and WAKSA are looking to preserve what has been fought hard for over the years. Credit to them for looking at solutions.
Like it or not, the numbers of couldn't give a fu##! idiots are on the rise. What is currently being done is NOT working or we would not be having this discussion! If I see something stupid happening, I talk to whoever is involved on the beach, I don't ignore it, wait till I come home and start crying and sniping on a forum. Certain other kiters talk to others on the beach also, but we are in obviously in the minority because the message is NOT getting through.. Ever heard the expression 'farting against thunder'?
Is there an easy solution? NO. Is credit due to the people who are trying to find that workable solution??.... Without a doubt.
As junglist just said: “Regulate yourselves or be regulated. Take control or be controlled”.
Again, what would you prefer? - To kite, or reminisce about the 'old days'?
A lot of negative comments from people in VIC, NSW, QLD.
It's a good idea Juddy but all the admin involved would take it's toll.
Kiter clubs could play a larger role but this would not stop people doing the wrong thing where the clubs don't operate (eg. North Cott).
Personally I don't mind the idea of the clubbies having more power, ie to confiscate kites/boards etc. When I was a grom trying to sneak in a surf at Cott main outside of the surfing season, the ranger would confiscate our boards.
Registration for kiters, got be be a windup.
OK i'll bite, Im sure there are very few kiters that are going out there deliberately breaking rules and kiting between the flags just to piss people off. I recon most of them would be blow ins from Europe, where they don't have the same SLS as we do in OZ. They find out about local rules and regs from the internet. WAKSA can help this situation by updating there web site so that when you click on locations you get something more useful than a msg saying its coming soon.
Education is the answer not registration. Make it easier for overseas visitors to get the correct information.
Think I ll be cancelling my membership with WAKSA if they start supporting registration.
I don't go for registration. I don't go for it at all. It's not the way forward imo.
If the clubbies are upset at people kiting through the flags they need to work out a way of dealing with it and discouraging people. If its illegal to come within the flags give the power to the people who police the area.
Put a bloke on a board out the back shouting at people. Get the rubber ducky out. Issue fines.
People are inherently stupid registration isn't going to change that.
