Alleviating Alameda Aggression

Don Bogardus · Post by **Don Bogardus** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:31 pm

If friend wants to teach friends, then pick a low tide day,
appropiate conditions and gear, fly the kite out and away
to the south of main traffic area, pass off kite to new guy,
and monitor new person closely to be sure they do not interact
with other beach and water users!.
If launch area Is handled in a more orderly fashion, it will
be easier to use it safely...Lately, when its good, there are
only a FEW people who setup-GO, or land-move gear OUT
of main launch
with speed!.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:32 pm

what an awesome idea, why wasthis turned down last year?
I think this might work.

There is no question launching as pictured works and that it is a safer launch. It is easier to launch towards the water ñ keep it low and go ñ which is safer for everyone. And as more kites appear on the beach it is the only convenient direction to expand. The shack however with its shade and bench etc. is the social center of the scene and that is difficult to migrate away from...

I presented this idea to a representative of EBRP last year and we walked the site together. We discussed the existing launch and how beach erosion was creating a limited launch and landing zone and compared it to this proposal in terms of safety for kiters and ultimately more important, safety for the general public e.g. pedestrians, bikers, street traffic, beach goers, etc. So they are aware of the benefits. EBRP is a bureaucracy and that is where it faded after consulting with its stakeholders on the topic. So formally it was neither turned down nor accepted - simply acknowledged as an unsupported alternative...

windhorny · Post by **windhorny** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 4:40 pm

We are all creatures of habit. Perhaps LMG and I should make some more benches up there? Will that help? I only see a problem with that area when it is nice out and there are a lot of beach goers there.

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:32 pm

How about a cool sculpture like a big catchers mitt, that would be fun...
To save money we could make it out of barb wire,
L.M.G.

windhorny · Post by **windhorny** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:45 pm

Just dont forget to ask Jane as it IS HER beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dewey · Post by **dewey** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:49 pm

Pablito wrote:Teaching friends for free is a bad idea, period.

We've all seen/re-rigged lines for/refused to launch/etc. kiters whose friends told them about 50% of what they needed to know and were ready to set them loose on the public.

If someone gets hurt in a Boardsports lesson, BSports is on the hook. If someone is teaching a friend and they coldcock an old lady on the beach during an accident, we are all screwed.

If you can't afford to take lessons, you cannot afford to do this sport. It's not fair, but it's true.

Wow Paul that's not to cool. Maybe you should rethink it. I know I'm more than qualified to teach. What's to it really. Wind, safety, kite, trainer, body drag, get up on the board. If I helped a friend I would be working with him beyond the regular 4 hours. What do you get after a lesson??? I know that there is post lesson help, but instructors have new students to work with.
Problem is that when it's windy the last thing I want to do is teach.

Pablito · Post by **Pablito** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 11:00 pm

Well I guess I wouldn't be too worried if I saw YOU teaching someone to kite, Dewey. But do you really think that anyone who knows how to kite can teach kiting? And what if something goes wrong...

But I guess that's the problem. It's all pretty subjective.

I always think about scuba and skydiving (and others, I'm sure), sports where it's just common knowledge that you have to take lessons from a professional before doing it. This topic has been argued to death on kiteforum and elsewhere. If the sport gets banned from enough places, the manufacturers will start some sort of certification for kiters before they can buy gear, like with scuba. Every retailer offers lessons, etc.

dewey · Post by **dewey** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:12 am

Pablito wrote:Well I guess I wouldn't be too worried if I saw YOU teaching someone to kite, Dewey. But do you really think that anyone who knows how to kite can teach kiting? And what if something goes wrong...

But I guess that's the problem. It's all pretty subjective.

I always think about scuba and skydiving (and others, I'm sure), sports where it's just common knowledge that you have to take lessons from a professional before doing it. This topic has been argued to death on kiteforum and elsewhere. If the sport gets banned from enough places, the manufacturers will start some sort of certification for kiters before they can buy gear, like with scuba. Every retailer offers lessons, etc.

Yes not every one can teach, but some can. There are even certified instructors that can't teach, but will take your money. If someone thinks that they are good enough to teach then let them. It's better than a guy trying it out on his own because there is a 2 month wait for lessons, or he can't afford lessons. We help each other out everytime we go to the beach. It's not that much different. It's newbie's teaching newbies that is the problem.

I would still rather be on the water than teaching.

Dewey

knyfe · Post by **knyfe** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:37 am

Guys how and where to teach is not the topic of this thread. Please dont hijack it. Open your own one. THNX, G

dewey · Post by **dewey** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:56 am

knyfe wrote:Guys how and where to teach is not the topic of this thread. Please dont hijack it. Open your own one. THNX, G

Your right. I blame Paul.

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Alleviating Alameda Aggression

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