Kiteboarding

When there are too many kiters…

IMG_4224Dealing with crowds is not something I do often, but spending time in Europe over summer and in Cape Town over season makes it impossible to avoid.

There are rules which sadly a lot of kiters are not aware of like:

  • Right shoulder forward has right of way (starboard for the sailors)
  • Rider getting in the water generally have right of way
  • Rider on a wave has right of way
  • When passing a rider, if you are upwind, kite high, if you are downwind bring kite low
  • Stay away from learners
  • Stay away from swimmers
  • If you are a learner or beginner find quiet spots
  • Don’t go out in conditions beyond your expertise…

But sometimes there are just too many kites and the rules can’t work.
In the last few weeks, I have been in situations where I just couldn’t get out of the way and ended up getting screamed at by some self entitled spot hogs.

Which brings me to the next point: What happened to curtesy, manners and stoke and accepting that everyone makes mistakes?
Does everyone have to act like crazed Roman drivers high on Caffeine?

I come from a time where when there was any other kiter you were immediately smiling at each other and helping each other out. Those days are gone…
Over the last few years I have witnessed kiters leaving others to drift out or to look for their board because it might take 5 minutes of their kiting time?
I have seen people walk away from landing kites or refusing to help launch…

In the water no one smiles…
I have made mistakes and specifically gone out of my way to apologise to the kiter only to be sworn at every time I came past them. It baffles me, but then most of the world does.

Being a loner in my kiting outings I will go look for empty spots, but sometimes I can’t. And having abuse hurled at me just ain’t my idea of fun in the water.
So yes I hate kiting in crowded areas, mostly because the bullies get their way, and sadly our sport seems to have a few.
Yes i will go out of my way to find empty spots, and
no, I don’t profess to know it all.

So could everyone take a chill pill, a dose of humility and smile a bit more?

Ced