Organize, confront, petition - volunteer for small fees or staggered kiting schedules. If you guys were the only ones getting much use out of it, make your case. Form a dues collecting, rules following, self-patrolling club like the RC flyers do for the land spots they're granted (I know...it's prob. sounds too rigid and organized for kiters and surfer dudes! But with the rapid growth of the sport - and fearful public perceptions, we may need to take a lesson from those old-timer guys with the big, loud, methanol-burning model aircraft.).

First let me say, that sucks. If I were you I'd be pissed about the Park closure. It would seem that enough kiters enjoy the spot that perhaps their rights should usurp the rights of others, non?

Unfortunately, we are having similiar issues here in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. The Department of Natural Resources has unofficially banned kiting at a few beaches. Public safety and piping plovers.

In response, we formed an official sports association, got officially recognized as a sport by Sport N.S., and are building a web site. Our main goal is to, with an official voice, achieve compromises with DNR on issues like beach access. If this seems like a lot of work..... well, it is. But, what choice do you have? I want to continue having those epic sessions close to home.

Soldier on.

Exactly what I was going to say. If you can get most of the people in your community to sign a petition for kites being allowed at the park, the authorities would probably reconsider the ban. Plus why should they care if you are kitesurfing?

Quote:

Originally posted by lad Organize, confront, petition - volunteer for small fees or staggered kiting schedules. If you guys were the only ones getting much use out of it, make your case. Form a dues collecting, rules following, self-patrolling club like the RC flyers do for the land spots they're granted (I know...it's prob. sounds too rigid and organized for kiters and surfer dudes! But with the rapid growth of the sport - and fearful public perceptions, we may need to take a lesson from those old-timer guys with the big, loud, methanol-burning model aircraft.).

Hey william_rx7, I know it's a tad far to drive, but if you can ever get to the NY side of the lake, get to Southwick Beach when the wind is out of the west! Buggying there can be great if the wind is 10+mph. So far only myself and one other has ever buggied there(to my knowledge), though they do kiteboard out of there sometimes.

This is one of the main reasons North American ParaKart Racing Association was formed. The larger the group the more clout you have. NAPKRA now has insurance and part of it will insure the land owners to cover city parks, state parks and others that require it. We have had success in Lafayette, Louisiana as a college that required insurance; they have their policy in hand and the local NAPKRA club now can once again enjoy the local field. We hope to be able in the future have the monitory resources to hire legal consultation when needed. Right now NAPKRA is asking for $30 to join the only North American buggy club that stands for BUGGIERS. We have elections coming up in December and if you care about bugging and want to help then put your hat in the ring. It is an open club to all and everything the club has is available for review and if you have a better idea then you can get it changed. Every member in NARPKRA has a voice!
Jon Ellis
NAPKRA president 2009
http://napkra.org/
http://napkra.org/phpbb/

Quote:

Originally posted by jellis This is one of the main reasons North American ParaKart Racing Association was formed. The larger the group the more clout you have. NAPKRA now has insurance and part of it will insure the land owners to cover city parks, state parks and others that require it. We have had success in Lafayette, Louisiana as a college that required insurance; they have their policy in hand and the local NAPKRA club now can once again enjoy the local field. We hope to be able in the future have the monitory resources to hire legal consultation when needed. Right now NAPKRA is asking for $30 to join the only North American buggy club that stands for BUGGIERS. We have elections coming up in December and if you care about bugging and want to help then put your hat in the ring. It is an open club to all and everything the club has is available for review and if you have a better idea then you can get it changed. Every member in NARPKRA has a voice! Jon Ellis NAPKRA president 2009 http://napkra.org/ http://napkra.org/phpbb/

the smackdown

I think he was really replying to this post (see quote), more than the park closure that started the thread, but I could be wrong.

Quote:

Originally posted by Flying G Zeus First let me say, that sucks. If I were you I'd be pissed about the Park closure. It would seem that enough kiters enjoy the spot that perhaps their rights should usurp the rights of others, non? Unfortunately, we are having similiar issues here in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. The Department of Natural Resources has unofficially banned kiting at a few beaches. Public safety and piping plovers. In response, we formed an official sports association, got officially recognized as a sport by Sport N.S., and are building a web site. Our main goal is to, with an official voice, achieve compromises with DNR on issues like beach access. If this seems like a lot of work..... well, it is. But, what choice do you have? I want to continue having those epic sessions close to home. Soldier on.

Willam_rx7

Sorry if NAPKRA can't help you with overcrowding a park. If the park require insurance, if you need the help of a group of like minded pilots, copies of safety rules for the park, some of us man up and put a NAPKRA number of the side of our buggies and stand up for our actions, and safety training for new pilots. The list goes on for possibilities.
Yes you are correct, the club is for buggiers and has membership for Mexico, USA, and Canada.

Best Regards
Jon

William get on the plane for Portland OR, I will pick you up and take you to SUNSET BEACH. Just trying to help, no smack down taken. We are all passionate about our sport and some of that comes out in our posts.

smackdown as in government smackdown.

Well, I'm glad this thread has carried as long as it has, I now feel like I've learned something. William, your situation seems to have no easy solution. I'm curious, just how many residents were complaining- 10? 100? It seems it only takes a few miserable bastards with nothing better to do, to upset the kiter scene. That's not right. If being 'organized' isn't always going to be enough, then what?.

One thing I've noticed on the issue of access is when it's is threatened, a lot of kite groups seems to back off and try to preserve their site access by taking a somewhat diplomatic passive approach.

Personally, I'd like to see a more aggressive approach- promote the sport, increase the number of kiters in your area and fight for your rights! When I say fight, I don't mean burn down the residents homes and put in a parking lot! No, that's not what I mean at all. Really.

It just seems that kiting being a fringe sport with a low profile isn't getting anyone anywhere. Jellis, I think you're on the right track with organizing NAPKRA. Bravo!

Hey, when this sport goes to the olympics we don't want our athlete's training in the Dominican because they are not allowed to do it anywhere in Canada. Right?!

Sounds like there were precursers to this ban that might have been overlooked. If neighbors were complaining and police were coming around someone must have heard something.
It sucks real bad but we have to please everyone around us. From fisherman to beach goers, from park users to neighborhood dwellers. We are the bottom of the food chain. Just have to be aware of all of are surroundings and how we impact it.

Quote:

Originally posted by snobdr Sounds like there were precursers to this ban that might have been overlooked. If neighbors were complaining and police were coming around someone must have heard something. It sucks real bad but we have to please everyone around us. From fisherman to beach goers, from park users to neighborhood dwellers. We are the bottom of the food chain. Just have to be aware of all of are surroundings and how we impact it.

"We are the bottom of the food chain. Just have to be aware of all of are surroundings and how we impact it."

neighborhood park or soccer fields we are going to be at the bottom for a long, long time. I agree we fight for our rights, and play nice with locals because if we don't try and see their side, more places will end up like this.

On june 21st is national go skateboarding. We used to get a few thousand kids together and we would flood the city streets with so many kids that they couldn't kick us out or arrest us. It caught on so quickely that the next year every major city had large gatherings and wild in the streets. Two years later it was nationally recognized as national go skateboarding day.

Maybe you and your local kiters should all get together and organize a specific day, call the tv news crew and let them know that you are being discriminated against. I'm sure there are tons of golf courses baseball diamonds in the area, what about the powerkite community. Take a stand in the right way and maybe they'll open up a beach or something for you guys. Its at least worth a try right?

it's true that it's sad that this park in Keswick has the ban to equipment being set up in the park but the park is just a house lot size. It's not big (maybe 60ft x 115 ft), it's just one lot that was never built on so keep in mind it's along a street with houses to left and right and then this little gap and parking in front for maybe 8 cars. On many weekends it would get at least 30-40 kiters there and with 4-6 people it was crowded for gear. There are many great kiteboarding spots with huge beaches and miles of room but as usual even with lots of room most kiteboarders gather like a moth to a flame in a small area. It's too bad Glenwoods has the sign, it doesn't restrict going on the water or winter access.
Too bad the crew couldn't manage it a little better but then there would always be the question of parking within this residential area unless the city worked together with the kiters to make it more attractive to come up there for tourism dollars etc.