Kamikuza
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WTH? Does NOBODY know the safety rules?
Went to the lake yesterday, to have a little tu-tu with the Scorpion for a change ...
Initially it was me, a couple of windsurfers (why aren't they at their own beach just 50m past the trees down there?!?) and a pair of learners. One
guy, we'll call him Jackass, had all the flash gear - rash gaurd, boardshorts, Oakley sunnies and was spouting off to his buddy (we'll call him
Buddy-of-jackass) about the wind window and the power zone blah blah blah.
I was a bit distressed to see that the reeds that had washed up over the past few weeks had been raked into little piles then set alight to burn off
...! Keep that in mind.
Anyway, the wind picks up and I pack up the Scorpion and pull out the Speed and get in the water ...
Some time later ...
Jackass is finally in the water with kite and board. Has very poor kite skills IMO so when I'm going downwind I just avoid him like the plague.
I'm walking back upwind, the wind is cross-onshore and my kite is low over the beach. Just as I get to where Jackass is, he decided to head back to
shore and starts flying the kite around. I'm downwind of him still so I stop and park a wing tip on the beach.
All he has to do is bring his kite up to 12 so I can walk downwind past him but no, he sends it through the power zone! Now his lines are above mine
and - the genius lets the bar go! So his kite turns back into the power zone and he gets dragged out of the water, over the beach, into my lines and
through one of the fires! As soon as he let go I started yelling "SAFETY! SAFETY RELEASE!" at him but he didn't, of course.
So he's being dragged over and through my lines and they're tangled around him so I pop MY safety and my Speed drops ... but now his bar is wrapped
around mine and the Speed is not flagging properly! Miyachi arrives and get it under control, I recover my bar and keep the Speed on the ground while
things get untangled.
Jackass is wasting time apologizing for what he doesn't know so I ignore him and concentrate on getting my kite out of the weeds and nasty crap it's
sitting in.
Meanwhile, Buddy-of-Jackass has been flying his trainer just to our left. Well, he drops that on top of my port control lines and the kite wraps
around both brake and power!!! I'm trying to keep the kite stable on the ground but it's off-angle to the wind and wants to shift around ... and get
this - Buddy is slowly walking down his lines, with one in each hand, keeping them all nice and tidy! I growl at him to get that damned thing off my
lines and he finally clicked and unwrapped the kite.
Everything worked out fine but there was a whole lot of unnecessary danger there.
Even on the water, the riders seem to have no clue about the rules or code or whatever you want to call it ... I'm downwind so I lower my kite so
someone can pass upwind but they don't raise their kite - they fly it just above my lines :shocked2: and I'm sure they don't know a starboard tack
from port, don't give way to those entering the water and keep doing tricks that they stack up 10 feet from the shore and block the beach with kites
they can't relaunch!!!
I'm done
Yeah... I got a kite. Or two...
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awindofchange
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Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
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Mood: Awesome - totally awesome
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It is unfortunate that you have to deal with so many idiots around you. It can be frustrating for sure, not to mention dangerous to them and to you.
Perhaps this is an opportunity to band everyone together and discuss the proper rules. Maybe forming a small club that helps others as well as
stresses the importance of safety. Maybe something as simple as putting together a paper or bunch of papers that you can hand to the others around
that talk about the safety issues as far as where to place your kite when passing or how to approach the beach or right of way on the water.
Sometimes they are not necessarily being rude but more than likely just ignorant to the proper and safe way of doing things. If passed around with a
good and helpful attitude to everyone, it may convert them over to help with your cause, even stressing the factors of safety to others when you
aren't there.
I would hope that they would be appreciative of it or at least take it for the value that it is......................but the small part of me inside
fears that it could fall on deaf ears. If you can help one or two people out of the masses and if they could in turn help two others, eventually
everyone will be more educated on the proper and safe way to enjoy the sport and it will make it better for everyone.
Anyways, that's my "glass half full" take on this. It is a wonder that you, them or the kites were not damaged or destroyed. Be safe and good
luck!!!
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shaggs2riches
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Posts: 1774
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Location: Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Mood: low winds here I come
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Dude I feel your pain. Definitely worried bout riding with others as I don't want to be "THAT GUY". Plus I don't want to deal with others thinking
they own the place. Maybe its some weird claustrophobia being from the open prairies, but I really really enjoy having all my own space with nobody to
infringe on it. Kudos to you for not beating someone by now
what I fly/ride:
19m Flysurfer Speed 2 SA
12m Flysurfer Speed2
6m Ozone access xt
1.5m Ozone imp trainer
144cm Airush Switch
152cm lib tech skate banana
MBS Pro 90
Jereme Leafe Pro 95
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Kamikuza
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Posts: 6417
Registered: 9-1-2005
Location: Shiga, JAPAN
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I think the glass is empty, Angus  one of the guys rides his kite with helmet and
impact vest, then packs up and jumps on his motorbike in shirt and shorts - and no helmet. The roads here are no better - I know there's rules cos
I've got the book on my shelf, but the "Me first! You don't exist unless I look at you and acknowledge your presence!" attitude is just as prevalent
on the road as it is on the water!
Like the jet-ski users (the Harleys of the water!) who have to get a license and pass a test, people probably know the safety rules or the water code
... but choose to ignore it cos it's inconvenient to them for a few seconds
Yeah... I got a kite. Or two...
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arkay
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Posts: 1793
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Location: Oregon
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not cool.
US503 - Manzanita, Oregon
Fixed Bridal: Flexifoil Sting 1.2, 1.7; Rage Acid 2.5m, 3.5m, 4.7m, 6m | Peter Lynn Vapor 11.2m, 16.1m | NPW 7m
Depower : Peter Lynn Venom 2 13m, 16m, 19m | Peter Lynn Phantom 15m | Flysurfer 2.5 SA 19m
LEI : Flexifoil Atom 7m, 9m, 12m; Mutiny 8m
Land rides : Libre Hardcore; Libre v-max; Peter Lynn XR+W | Rollerblade Coyotes! | Ground Industries AK Pro
Water rides : Slingshot Misfit 134; Ocean Rodeo Mako 150; North WAM! 5\'10
4 Sale/Trade: HQ M1 5m, Flysurfer Pulse 10, PL Venom 2 16m, PL Venom 19m

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Hardrock
Senior Member
  
Posts: 906
Registered: 12-6-2008
Location: Upstate, SC
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Kent has a good idea. Just work with em. But it sounds like it may take a while. It was a funny as hell read tho. 
Why did you say jet ski users? I have one thousand story's about some dumb A jet ski users. From the boat ramp to the Dam, encounter the most
ridicules stupid crap you have ever seen.
I'll tell one that happen a few years ago. It was around 8am. A friend and I was already on the lake having a few cold ones. We had got off the night
shift and went on to the lake. So it wasn't like early morning brew.
Well we had to pick up another friend at the ramp so I decided to hammer down and get on back.
At that hour, one big empty lake, no one around except 2 jet ski's. I was running 68mph right down the center as the 2 came from a cove and headed in
the same direction but out in front.
So this lady started slowly easing over in my path but still a safe distance, I stood up and thought WTF is she about to do. Suddenly she swerves
right across the path I'm on, never looks back.
I slammed the throttle back out of gear, the engine stalls, the power steering locks and the lady's back went under the bow of my boat with the nose
missing her head about an inch.
Guess what, she never knew I was there, never looked back or anything. Who would have went to jail? Me, cause I had a couple cold one's.
I seen them later that day and the guy with her pointed my direction, she turned around and gave me a look that could stop a clock like I had done
something wrong. It happens all the time, they zig zag all across the lake and pay no attention to whats coming.
It even gets better at night.
PL V19m, P15m, V13m
Ace 7M (FOR SALE) 130.00 plus ship. RTF
Ace 5M
Beamer 5m, 3m
Hydra 350
P3 and a few smaller kites
Flexifoil Buggy, E-Trex Legend
LF Proof 151,,,GI Flight93 ATB
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Kamikuza
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Location: Shiga, JAPAN
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Today, a windsurfer cut through downwind of a kiteboarder and got wrapped up in the lines - the kite was spiral o' deathing downwind with the board
tangled up in the mast ...!
The lake is 15km wide ... imagine driving down a road 15km wide and running headfirst into the only other car on the road
Yeah... I got a kite. Or two...
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thanson2001ok
Senior Member
  
Posts: 829
Registered: 19-3-2010
Location: Appleton, WI
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Mood: SAD! Moving and kites are in a box.
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Great stories, fortunately with happy endings. That's not always the case, eh?
What they do not teach in school is how to develop a sense of awareness that keeps us all in tune, and safe, and allows us to be courteous. It reminds
me how important it is to teach this skill to my kids 7, 10 and 14. One place to start is at the field where we fly foils. Had the Sting, DP Trainer,
8.5m Blade and a 12m LEI all flying at one time last weekend with 2 adults and 6 kids. So far, so good. No stupid moves, no big messes and nobody
hurt... because of awareness.
We didn't have any fires to look out for though like Kami.
Todd... NAPKA US59 \"Have you taught a kid to fly lately?\"
Ozone 4m, 10m AccessXC
PL 19m, 16m Venom | 10m, 13m Venom II | 17m Vortex | 2.6m Viper | 2.3m Vapor | 6m, 9m, 15m Phantom | 22m Guerilla
Flysurfer 8m, 12m DLX Unity |8m Outlaw| 19m Speed 2.5 SA | 2.5m, 6m Viron
Action Vortex 6.6m Foil (FOR SALE) | Mac Bego 600
Flexifoil 1.2m, 2.4m Sting | 6.6m Blade III
The Original Flexifoil and Hawaiian Team Kite
Snow: Volant Alpine Skis | SnowBlades | PL Ice Buggy | PL KiteSled Land: Coyote Skates | Ivanpah Buggy
Water: Peter Lynn KiteCat
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BeamerBob
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Posts: 8308
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Location: Down on the bayou
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I've always been impressed with both the Sofka guys on the SE coast as well as our crew at the sod farm here in NorCal. Everyone is more concerned
about the other guy than themselves as well as being aware of the other guy and what he needs. I've been really lucky to have such conscientious
fliers to share the field or beach with. Even at NABX with all the buggies and land sailors running in almost every direction, everyone does the
right thing so we all get along.
Coastal Wind Sports Team Rider
Landsegler Disc wheels
PTW Hero Buggy - XXtreme ApeXX Buggy US 88 - Libre Hardcore
IvanpahBuggyExpo.com
Youtube link
Bob Muse
HQ Montana X 8m, Montana IX 12m, HQ Ignition LEI 5m,
PL Phantom 12m, 15m, Big Blu 24m+, Synergy 10m, Venom 10m, 13m , Phantom II 12m Vapors 3.8, 5.4, Crosskite Sonic 7m, PKD Combat 10.3m
Uturn Butane 2.5m PKD Buster 3m Genetrix Hydra 7m Ozone Yakuza GT 14m
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indigo_wolf
Super Administrator
       
Posts: 5102
Registered: 25-12-2008
Location: Washington, DC area
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Mood: Weaned by leopards, raised by wolves...
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Kudos on keeping your cool even though it was quite obvious you were seething.
Good thoughts from Kent, even though it's obviously a harder road to walk.
I must admit part way through reading your post, my thoughts did wander to.... "A flare gun can also be a premptive safety device."
I fear some remedial social skills development and possibly therapy are needed on my part.  :embarrased:
ATB,
Sam
"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12 - Jesus, does anyone?" - The Body by Stephen King
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Bladerunner
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Location: Vancouver
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People won't take lessons and we have to learn how to deal with them ?
It is all that important stuff about sailing / safety and self rescue that the people who bypass lessons are missing.
Kites: 2.5m Profoil , Quadrifoil XL kitesurfer, NPW 5 Danger.
Flexifoil: 1.7m Sting, 4.9m Blade 3, 9m Blade 2.
Flysurfer : 19m Speed 2 SA, 7m Pulse
Peter Lynn :18m Phantom, 15m Synergy, 10m Synergy, 1200 Farc, 460 Sarc, 130 Tarc, 5m Peel, 4.2m , 6.4, 8.5 C-Quads, 3.5 LS2 single skin.
Rides: Flexi / P.L. Frankin'Buggy , Shaped + straight skiis, sand skis, Coyote blades. Core 95 ATB. RKB R2 ATB .
Ken (K2)
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Txshooter38
Member
 
Posts: 391
Registered: 2-2-2010
Location: South Texas
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Mood: Coast or Bust!
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Some sad stories....I could write volumes on stupid drivers and motorcycle riders. Maybe kite vendors should require a 5th grade achievement test
prior to purchase to make sure the buyer knows there left from right and the head from their (fill in blank).
I'm with shaggs on the whole "like the place to myself" thing.....not everyone has that luxury though. Right now I am the only person in town that
flies so it is always blue skies to me....
Curtis
Currently flying:
Beamer IV 2m, 3m, 4m
Ozone Flow 5M
PL Vibe 1.3
Synergy 12m
Flysurfer 19m DLX
HQ Apex III 7.5
PL Twister 7.7m--Just plain sick...
Driving:
Peter Lynn Buggy
GI Landboard
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Kamikuza
Posting Freak
   
Posts: 6417
Registered: 9-1-2005
Location: Shiga, JAPAN
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Today ...
I got a real close look at a Zephyr when I dropped nearly right on my head when I was setting up my Synergy. The Master of Disaster cut too close to
someone downwind of him and ran his lines right through theirs. He's done it to me too.
He is one of the cadre who like to come right into shore and pull tricks ... usually wiping out and dumping their kite at the edge of the water. My
guess is cos they can't relaunch worth a damn
Then, despite me not asking for it, someone tried to help me land my Synergy by grabbing the downwind wing tip in spite of me screaming at him. It was
bowtie-ing and all that but I had it under control - I was about to pop the safety to land it but he was rushed downwind of the kite and grabbed on
 retards!
I might have to give up on foils not because I'm a danger to myself but cos everyone else is a danger to me ...!!!
Oh yeah and ... after what only felt like 30 minutes of riding today, everybody got the #@%$#! off the water when a thunderstorm came through ...
except Grandpa who figured he'd be ok - took some harsh words by a bunch of others to get him off the water. :o:puzzled:
Yeah... I got a kite. Or two...
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erratic winds
Posting Freak
   
Posts: 2081
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Mood: ATGATT! Armor up!
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Kami: I still can't quite picture these guys in my head. Are they expats or are they natives? Tourists that now reside there? It's so sad that we
all often run into people who really want to help but just can't because of a knowledge difference.
Tide? What's a tide? Man, it's 1000 miles to any ocean.
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Kamikuza
Posting Freak
   
Posts: 6417
Registered: 9-1-2005
Location: Shiga, JAPAN
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Locals, everyone but I. Ages range from the Asian champ (high school student) to grandpa and a few middle-aged women and then a bunch of guys in
between. Mostly old enough to know better IMHO but who am I to talk - launched my Synergy with the deflate zipper open :D
Yeah... I got a kite. Or two...
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Kamikuza
Posting Freak
   
Posts: 6417
Registered: 9-1-2005
Location: Shiga, JAPAN
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Epic session today!
And now for the dumbasses ... in the time I was at 'our' spot - from about 3:30pm till dark ...
4 different jetskis went RIGHT THROUGH the no jet-ski/powerboat zone, one weaving in and out of kitesurfers.
Lil' Grom charged around like a bull in a china shop - I, on a starboard tack AND leaving the beach, had to dunk my bum so I would wrap him in my
kite.
Ms. Pink Pants turned into me THREE TIMES without looking behind her first - lucky for her, I was watching her and got out of her way.
A powerboat went straight through kitesurfing line up.
And to crown it all, a paraglider buzzed the beach just above the trees - about 20m up ...!
 
Yeah... I got a kite. Or two...
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tridude
Posting Freak
   
Posts: 4097
Registered: 20-10-2006
Location: South Carolina
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Mood: Semper in excretum sum sed alta variat................alwayz in the crap but the depth varys.........
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Kami,
we need to send you a box of Darwin Awards..................................."nan desu ka/baka desu ne"
17m Ozone Zephyr (2012)
15m Flysurfer Silver Arrow 2
12m Ozone Catalyst (2013)
10m Ozone Catalyst (2012)
MTH Colonel Reb customs 160x45 carbon, 141x43 wood
Wainman Joke & Demitri Pro
11'6 Naish Nalu
6' Davo Fish
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BigMikesKites
Senior Member
  
Posts: 960
Registered: 24-12-2008
Location: Dallas (Area), TX
Member Is Offline
Mood: Go away RAIN
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People are idiots,
The other day I was flying my Reactor 5.5m low and in the zone and out of nowhere a kid under 4 comes running right underneath the kite, so I take it
to 12 and look around. Standing way to the side just watching with a smile on his face is dad hanging onto a stroller.
Really Dad, did you let your kid out of the stoller so he could go play with the kite? They really need people to get a license to be a parent,
because this procreate thing on your own isn't always working here.
I think your jackass friend had a dad like this.
Mike
Owner Big Mike's Kites
http://www.BigMikesKites.com
Kites: Most of them
Buggy: VTT BLACK WIDOW...The best
Peter Lynn XR+ w VTT Rail Kit
Landboard: Not a chance
Water: still trying
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Kamikuza
Posting Freak
   
Posts: 6417
Registered: 9-1-2005
Location: Shiga, JAPAN
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Aho darake 
Ms. Pink Pants regularly #@%$#!s me off - she's another ride right into shore, throw a trick, fall, can't launch kite, kite floats on the shore for 15
minutes while she dicks with meaning my walk of shame is interrupted
Yeah... I got a kite. Or two...
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tridude
Posting Freak
   
Posts: 4097
Registered: 20-10-2006
Location: South Carolina
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Mood: Semper in excretum sum sed alta variat................alwayz in the crap but the depth varys.........
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once you're staying upwind your problems will cease well until they learn to go upwind...................................
17m Ozone Zephyr (2012)
15m Flysurfer Silver Arrow 2
12m Ozone Catalyst (2013)
10m Ozone Catalyst (2012)
MTH Colonel Reb customs 160x45 carbon, 141x43 wood
Wainman Joke & Demitri Pro
11'6 Naish Nalu
6' Davo Fish
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Hardrock
Senior Member
  
Posts: 906
Registered: 12-6-2008
Location: Upstate, SC
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I almost became a idiot last night, was soooo close.
The kids were fishing from the bank, I was kicked back on the boat under the bright moon. From nowhere the wind blew in about 10mph steady and kept
coming like coastal wind.
Had the 19m and the hydra in the boat. Was late after midnight, perfect moon, perfect wind. Still see boat pass by every now and then.
I wanted to get out on the water so bad, finally took the Hydra out and after much effort getting the lines from the brush on the small land point,
got a launch. Flew there for a while and almost took to the water for some dragging.
Not long after I decided not to get in, a bass boat came screaming by in the moon light. Glad I wasn't out there but it was so tempting I could
barley stand it.
PL V19m, P15m, V13m
Ace 7M (FOR SALE) 130.00 plus ship. RTF
Ace 5M
Beamer 5m, 3m
Hydra 350
P3 and a few smaller kites
Flexifoil Buggy, E-Trex Legend
LF Proof 151,,,GI Flight93 ATB
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Katya Red Sea
Junior Member

Posts: 5
Registered: 8-7-2010
Location: Hurghada, Magawish
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i hope those who had no chance/desire to take proper kiteboarding lessons, will spend 5 minutes reading the general RIGHT WAY OF RULES* - logical and
easy to apply at any spot:
Respecting a few priority rules helps prevent accidents on the beach and on the water. Make sure you and your fellow riders understand them.
The outgoing rider has right of way over the incoming rider: the wind is sometimes gusty on land. The rider who is on the beach is the one more at
risk, so he has the priority.
When two riders converge: the rider going starboard (kite right-hand side) has right of way and the rider going port tack (kite left-hand side) must
give right of way and pass downwind with his kite as low as possible. There is no particular reason for this rule, but it is already applied in all
other sports and nautical activities.
The rider going faster than another in the same direction must give way to the slowest rider: the one going faster is the one who has a global vision
of the situation since he arrives from behind.
The rider passing upwind (windward) from another kiteboarder must fly his kite overhead: the kiteboarder downwind (leeward) must pilot his kite as low
as possible.
The rider surfing a wave has the right of way over the one who is jumping or going in the opposite direction: when surfing a wave, the kite is less
easy to pilot so there is less room for maneuvers. Nevertheless, the rule for the outgoing rider is applicable when the waves are close to the shore
(shore break). In this case, the rider who is surfing will have to give way to the rider who is going out.
Right of way must be given to other ocean users: kiteboarding is the latest nautical sport. Kiteboard downwind to them.
A rider must have a clear safety zone of 50m downwind because he moves downwind when he jumps: a rider must have a clear safety zone of 30m upwind to
jump because the lines could touch the kite of the lines of another rider kiteboarding close by.
International rules apply between kiteboarders and other water users, unless defined differently by local county or government.
*from http://www.colonawatersports.com/hurghada/hurghada.html
Katya
Colona Watersports
info@colonawatersports.com
+20 10 344 1810
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