Ok - have been out of reach for a few days - here we go then. Personally I’d like to put this thread to bed (as I acknowledge it can't be good publicity beyond kiting circles). Ioz, you are now aware your actions have been noticed and are most likely to refrain (geez I hope so for
all our benefit) from similar unnecessary and dangerous behaviour.
Still, a reply has been sought so here goes..
Ioz said...
The wave comp vid - that was taken by a non kiter and sent to me, i thought I would post it to show people what sort of conditions we had for the wave comp.
Did I see the swimmer – of course not – he dived into the water, went under water and popped up just in front of me. But in the end I did miss him by 1 or 2m - i wish it had of been more.
When I first went out, there was no one kiting, surfing or swimming. It was the middle of winter and I was actually called the test pilot for all the other crew on the beach so they could see what kites to put up before the friendly wave comp. Some swimmers did come into the water after I entered.
Well that's a fine explanation for
one incident (the first), please I'd Ioz love to hear your explanation for how you managed to go equally close to the swimmer (and pop a little bunny hop right next to him - then clearly signal to the beach/camera with some weird limp-wristed wave)
later in the same vid?
The vid is now disabled so I am not able to post a time reference but it is in the later 3rd. You are
very aware the camera is on you as you repeatedly take your eyes off your direction and turn to face the camera/check you are being filmed throughout the vid.
Now I know it can be annoying when a pesky member of the public chooses to use
public space for their own selfish activities (like - god forbid - swimming where kiters wish to hold a private contest), but where was any of the crew assembled - or you Ioz - to ask the swimmers to move up/on? Did anyone politely ask? Seems not. After your multiple misses - I'd be thinking it would be an idea for you to apologise to the swimmer and then ask them (for their own safety) to move on. Lord knows you were close enough to talk to him a few times... Nah - cuts into kite time too much hey? Some sprays in the face are much quicker.
For the record -
I can understand the surprise at seeing swimmers on the comp day. You wouldn't expect to see them in those conditions (unlike Sunday's glorious unseasonal beach weather).
All the more reason to remember they were there and not go near them again later, I would have thought? Oh wait - but that must be the amnesia again.
Ioz said...
Last Sunday down at the amphitheatre. - There were no flags up, winter and once again very few people in the water. I always try to give other water users as wider berth as possible. We are focused on riding wavers however, but sometimes have to give these up when we can see it going to be to close.
It was light winds and tougher than normal to stay away and once or twice I maybe went closer than normal – but only chugging along and hardly on the plane.
I can’t believe another kiter would be right there, be so upset and not even try to talk to me – that is the disappointing part.
Mate - seriously you must have amnesia or sumpin? I have written all that I need to explain your selfish and careless actions but here is some summary for you:
-There were obvious numbers of swimmers in the swimming section (although - as i have said no flags).
-Flags are
not necessary for kites to be no go. Other water users already in place spell a no go zone. Simple as that. (ha ha - makes me laff when kiters state "Who kn swims in winter??" but then turn around and say "people ask stoopid questions like -"Who would go out in the ocean kiting in winter??")
-If there are swimmers in the water (and there were a couple of dozen
at least in that
small area) there is no other warning necessary to avoid the location/situation.
-The winds were
very light - all the more reason to
expect swimmers at the most obvious spot on the coastline. All the more reason to allow
more safety zone due to luffs/lulls etc.
- Your kite lost shape and very nearly hit the water right before my child and I. Same for other swimmers and they were not comfy for one second. Unacceptable once but with your 3-4 return visits,
going deeper into the swimming zone each time - one has to wonder where your vision/experience/brain was last Sunday??
-You had
4 kms clear to the south and +1km to the north of the small section, where it was obvious on a sunny day the swimmers would concentrate. To go into that zone once - let alone 3-4 times - with
abundant free area either side beggars belief Ioz.
- Speed is not the entire issue here. The lines and a luffed kite powering up to hot launch are more than enough hazard.
- Honestly Ioz - try being IN the water with punters and see their/your perception/reaction to the situation. Animosity, fear and loathing of kiters are what your selfish/careless/dangerous behaviour is brewing. It
will get us banned.
-Swimmers do not have the speed or freedom of movement that kiters do.
-Swimmers are not the hazard KITES are the hazard - therefore the kiter must give way every time if there is any chance of a bingle or even coming within a lines length.
Ioz, you were well beyond any reasonable excuses on Sunday and you know it mate. No other kiter came within coo-ee so are your skillz that lacking or just your judgement every time?
As for focused on the wave.. Ba ha ha ha.. less than knee high slop was what you were milking when you nearly luffed your kite onto my kid and I.
Your insularity is alarming Ioz, the ' disapointing part' is not that I didn't word you up, but rather that
you created the dodgy situation for my kid, myself and
all the other users in the vicinity. Repeating the poor form by returning, and going deeper into the swimming area each time, is the truly 'disappointing part'. That is the egg - not the chicken. Until you get that you will not get 'it' at all.
Ioz said...
The other year at Floreat
Someone has stated that I was coming in and out and constantly spraying a surfer. That is totally BS – I am a lifelong surfer and would never do such a thing.
Certain people have lied and exaggerated a lot of these details blowing it out of all proportion for the act of sensationalism.
Happy to take a poly test any day my friend. Last year it was I rigging on the beach at Floreat when I noticed you go
exceedingly close to the grom (up wind and jibbing so as to spray him - and very likely clobber him if you lost your rail etc).
So astounded was I, that I paused rigging, and watched as you made another 2-3 runs out back, and in again, to exactly the same spot - spraying the kid right in the face at least twice.
The kid was
definitely intimidated and left the water (he's be prob 12-14 I guess).
Bizarrely - having achieved your aim, you then set off downwind!?! WTF - was the point in that??? At the time someone else had started a similar thread to this and I voiced my concern on it about the antics I had witnessed from the '12m Blue n White kima rider'. I stated that the rider had clearly returned to the same hazardous posi and sprayed the grom until he left the water.
I have not embellished at all Ioz.
You appear to be in
complete denial about the selfish/carless habits you have developed in 9 yrs of kiting. Either that or you have been caught out attempting to intimidate other water users, but fkd up by doing it to a fellow kiter who recognises the level of hazard in the situation and
completely selfish/unnecessary reality of it. Might work for 12 yr groms and swimmers bud but i know selfish/careless/aggressive kiting when I see it Ioz. And (as I now realise) I have personally witnessed you twice and viewed a video you yourself posted confirming the same.
To think the teuros cop a flogging and blame for this sort of behaviour each season is laughable when a local (exhibiting localism of the worst kind), with your experience Ioz, leads by your examples.
Ioz said...
Personally, my closest call from 10 years of kiting has been unsuspectingly caught on camera.
Smile and wave for the camera Ioz - your candidly caught behaviour speaks more truth than your false assertions that you are not careless, selfish and/or dangerous to other water users.
Pity I didn't have a cam handy on Sunday at scarbs or at Floreat with the grom mate.
Ioz - I cannot believe for a second that your actions - on separate occasions - are not incredibly careless, selfish or deliberate. All of the above I'd suggest.
Anyone can make a mistake. Everybody does and
any decent kiter knows that light winds can be some of the trickiest/hard to control and most drama filled sessions.
I reckon if you don't learn and change your habits with experience you are repeating the same acts
with a purpose.
In my book:
1 near miss is either unlucky or careless
2 near misses are foolish and ignoring the situation(s)
3 near misses are selfish and/or deliberate.Little O has said far more eloquently what i wish to.
She is a sterling example of a kiter who realises we
don't own the public space and we need to be the ones who show regard, caution and flexibility when sharing the beaches.Thank you for voicing your opinions in the face of trolls who understand bugger all about anything other than their own selfish desires.
swimming with your kid in winter..why werent u paddlin boards???.... looser.
Ba ha ha ha - I am as loose as a goose Digger..
and please
read the thread if you wish to know we were on boards (OMG - boogers tho - there goes all my boasting credits). LOL. You must be a teenager - or stuck in that insular frame of mind. For some it never ends in adulthood, unfortunately it seems they take up kiting in numbers.
Just to get groundhog for a moment I will repeat that I would have had trouble tracking down Ioz at the beach as hew was in and out constantly. I was working against currents with a 7yr in my care. I didn't want my kid to witness a potentially fugly situation (I had to assume the response would have been selfish and along the "Go fk yaself" line) Finally i had only an hour to spare - bolting to the beach for some healthy activity with my kid - and after half the time spent avoiding selfish kiter behaviour, I had run out and definately had to split in haste.
Appologies if i cramped your acces to kiting area Ioz.
This saga all boils down to this:
I and others - posing no threat to anyone else - were attempting to enjoy the beach in a suitable area, when along comes a selfish/insular kiter with no thoughts for anybody else's space/activities/well-being and puts those enjoying their activities into retreat mode to avoid possible carnage.
We were not swimming in a traditional kite spot. Ioz was intruding into an area everyone knows is just not smart to kite in on swimming days.
If you can't see that, try extracting your head from your freckle - the view is worth it.
) so maybe it is time to let this thread fade into the internerd graveyard.
)
