What not to do
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:30 pm
Today, as usual, a yellow cabrinha kite displayed absolute disregard for anyone on the beach, including myself. It was a warm weekend and light winds, the beach is full with people. This guy tries to come in right in the heart of 3-4 families. So i jump up from deflating my kite and run over to help land him. He then tells me he doesnt want to land and flies his kite right over to the otherside, pulling him even further downwind in the heart of kids. So i watch. I am yelling at him " you are the fucking reason this beach is gonna get shut down!" I guess he didnt hear me. but a few people on the beach did and as i explained to one couple who asked me "did he do something wrong?" I answered "yes, everything, you see, we have had this big issue with beginner kiters who are not experienced in landing their own kites swipe paths through the busy beach." I followed to explain to them why i was so angry after being denied twice to land his kite. So i grabbed my camera and thought i would make an example. Apparently Max got a cut fromt his guy landing on him and everyone I talked to at the shack seemed to be able to identify him as "the guy with the yellow/green cabrinha."
So here's where he went wrong for the beginners that are wondering what not to do...
1st off, light wind, populated public beach, not able to wrap lines up in water safely, high tide...all a bad combo. It is just a matter of time before another kid gets their ear taken off.
2nd, when a kiter offers a hand to land you when you need it-TAKE IT! Dont procceed to struggle to get some wind in your kite so you can divert it from the person helping.
3rd If you cant confidentally fly your kite to a safe spot to try and land it yourself, either dont go out at all or find a open area to play with the kite. Finding the most densly populated part of the beach is not the right area to practice self landing and arrogance.
4th People assume that you have control of your kite. They will stand there and watch. If you think you dont know how to make your kite travel away from land, take another lesson or ask somoen who has been kiting for more than a week. Kids that play in the water have right of way. Everyone has more right of way than us.
5th, if you are going to be an asshole, dont come back to the same beach and do the same crap again, you are being watched!
So here's where he went wrong for the beginners that are wondering what not to do...
1st off, light wind, populated public beach, not able to wrap lines up in water safely, high tide...all a bad combo. It is just a matter of time before another kid gets their ear taken off.
2nd, when a kiter offers a hand to land you when you need it-TAKE IT! Dont procceed to struggle to get some wind in your kite so you can divert it from the person helping.
3rd If you cant confidentally fly your kite to a safe spot to try and land it yourself, either dont go out at all or find a open area to play with the kite. Finding the most densly populated part of the beach is not the right area to practice self landing and arrogance.
4th People assume that you have control of your kite. They will stand there and watch. If you think you dont know how to make your kite travel away from land, take another lesson or ask somoen who has been kiting for more than a week. Kids that play in the water have right of way. Everyone has more right of way than us.
5th, if you are going to be an asshole, dont come back to the same beach and do the same crap again, you are being watched!