WA
1 posts
My name is Alex, I am the owner of Soul Kite. Many people of the local kitesurfing community asked me to reply to this post, so I can meet with you to discuss politely in person.
On Saturday 15th of October, the wind was South West, and didn't gust more than 25-27knots on Melville beach during the lessons.
This day, all my instructors checked the wind strength and direction and we took the decision of teaching, as it was safe. The other factors to take into consideration were all good, as there was only few other kite surfers and almost no one on the beach (because of the temperature).
Everyone had a great day, students and instructors. Beginner’s lessons were held with short line bar (which we invested in this season to reduce space on the spot, increase safety and give more room to the other users of the spot).
Soul Kite has very specific operation procedures we put in place with cooperation with Kiteboarding Australia and the others schools in the Perth area. My team and I have been respecting all the safety and operation procedures we agreed with KA.
For few of you on the forum, your objective has been trying to discredit Soul Kite and the other schools for the last 5years, and bring attention on Melville beach road as much as possible. If you take care as much as me about safety, why didn’t you come have a chat with me? I am always on the spot, kiting, teaching or helping people, and I would be happy to have your opinion to improve these aspects on the school.
With these kind of words, sometimes rude and often inaccurate, not only against SoulKite, but as well against great kite surfers around Perth, you are not bringing any solutions or improvement. Or may be you want the spot to be closed, like Woodman Point a few years ago?
I am a real professional, spend the last 15years of my life kitesurfing, and the last 6years teaching pretty much every day. After the complaint on Saturday, I met a member of Kiteboarding Australia to show him how we operate and all the documents relative to the Soul Kite company (Permit, employee declaration, emergency procedure, insurance, risk management plan,..).
This person was really happy on the way we operate and bring safety and fun on the spot.
Just for your information, the only “accident” we had in 5years, last February, was a near miss accident and the student had no injury. She left the hospital with nothing broken, not even a bruise! She fell on her back in shallow water (with helmet and life jacket); then the instructor respected the procedure and acted responsively and treated her immediately. Yes, we had a chopper coming on the spot on a busy day, and instantly Chinese whispers started circulating about a spinal injury. I was there all morning with the student, and she was laughing trying to explain to the emergency response team that she was ok. The investigation team on this day pointed out the professionalism of Soul Kite to reply to an emergency situation, and the respect of the safe teaching procedures.
I'm really confident on the way SoulKite operates and will always have the support of the local community. Kite surfing is an extreme sport, and our main objective is to bring the risk as close as possible to 0, while having great lessons and fun. In 5years, we brought a higher level of teaching and safety on the beaches where we teach, giving the best kitesurfing lessons and helping local kiters with advice as well.
In the meantime, if you want to meet when you come on Melville beach road to explain your point of view, I am really happy to do so.
Windy regards,
Alex, Kerry and the Soul Kite team
WA
2940 posts
SK, always professional , always the victim .
NSW
114 posts
Well there you have it, short line bars.
This is why you should learn to ask the school and instructor and client before going on a witch hunt.
If you are unaware that shorter lines reduce power and risk thats not the schools fault that is your fault. Maybe get some theory lessons from some of these euro kiters you hate so much who have taught in many many conditions all around the world and who can kite better than you.
WA
266 posts
AlexSK, do your permits allow you to teach at multiple beaches throughout Perth/WA or are you restricted to Melville and Point Walter?
WA
541 posts
if you need some hard physical data that directly translates into power old jenkins check out the kite buggyers. where they have measured the difference in a rather interesting way.
they record the kite going from sand to zenith directly down wind using various line lengths and then record the distance traveled. there is quite a big difference from 25m to 15m just off top my head its something like 40m compared to 20m distance. an important factor in the power built from longer lines is time the kite spends in the "power zone"
i know what your saying 10m of canopy will allways have 10m of canopy power no matter how you trim it twist it bend it blend it send it BUT in the use of a kitesurfing lesson shorter lines makes an incredible difference.
given that the wind appears to have been far more like high 20's knots and not mid 40's during the entire lesson i really think this was blown a little unfairly out of proportion.
just here on this side of the island i watched a first timer lesson happening in 27knots full length lines right infront of trees. i felt like going over and asking the student if they were aware that being taught to hot-launch directly upwind of a solid brick wall is not the best approach to theyre first lesson but i was a bit to busy with my own life. and interestingly enough it seemed to have worked out okay. despite it being completely against everything i ever teach. you win some you loose some.
