Hey Ya'll, after reading the thread, and reflecting on my experiences over the last 2 years, I believe imprinting students from the first day is paramount. We all learn the technical aspects of rigging and riding on our first lesson, but students should also be taught to find out what the local spot practices are before opening the bag. It needs to become an integral part of kiteboarding. If standard practice were to meet and quickly discuss where to ride and local dangers, there would never be a need to engage in "after the fact education". I think teaching riders from day one, that a briefing is as much a part of the sport as pumping up the kite, we can go a long way in preservation efforts worldwide. I also agree that the actions with the greatest consequences need to be listed first if local signs are used as part of the solution.

No good for newbies
 

I wouldn't suggest sunset beach for newby riders.
Imo east beach is better suited for newbies.
There have been alot of problems with sea lice lateley biting many of the riders in private places. I've also heard some reports of sea lice in nasal cavities and ears. They tend to like the algae that blooms in the summer. If you are not an experienced rider, you will be spending alot of time under water...

Great session there yesterday. Filled in great around 5pm. More
experienced kiters where able to get out earlier. By the evening about
8 kiters where on the water.

The Father & Son team where there and I saw and heard a great attitude
versus my first impression. The father was directing the kid out into
the water and making sure the kite was at the edge of the water and not
on the top of the beach. Kudos!

Two guys where asking about what we were doing and interested in
lesson. I overheard Sarah, selling two guys on the importance of the 3hr
class at WSW.

Also someone came in and wanted to land too close on top of beach.
A kiter, loudly, firmly but polite yelled out to "take it out further to the water".
The guy got the point. I think self "regulation" is the only way to go. A sign
doesn't have a brain and can't make anyone behave a certain way.

I hear ya about sea lice, and I'm getting better and better each session.
However driving to East Beach is just not an options for some.
I'm only 12 miles from Sunset and 56 from EB. Can't justify going that far.

Attached pic- Can you spot the 2 kites that seem a little "high"?

The sea lice is horrible this year. I wonder why it's so bad this year?

Maybe because so many people are stirring up the bottom... which is their home.

Here is a can of worms.....

You ready.......

Maybe its time to look at Howard Park, and putting together a proposal to ride the park.

We have every right to be there when it opens IMO.

Thoughts???

I know I would like to ride the place.

Whitey???? You up for a meeting with the park ranger?

When was the last time anyone rode this much is JUNE? :)

That place sucks as bad as SB. Sea lice everywhere, too many windsurfers... I don't think it's a good kiting location. :D

In regards to Howard park, the parks in pinellas have been disamated with budget cuts, there's hardly a staff of 3 in every park now. Once the new budget year goes in in October, the parks may only have one person working their during the day. I'd like to set something up to ride there but in years past Howard was for the windsurfers and sunset for kiters. Howard Park isn't going to open till December now. But if it alleviates the congestion at sunset I'm all for it.
As for sunset beach, just a reminder, riders should be out the launch area, I seen alot of kites hogging the beach area and not riding. Either land the kite or launch upwind of the beach and away from the swim area and go.

Brian, I wish everyone could see how whale harbor operates. That is an example where not having proper etiquette is not tolerated and it seems that things run pretty smoothly there especially for having such a small launch area.

Your kidding right? There were more accidents at Whale Harbor this year than anywhere in the keys. Kites in the trees all the time, a girl lofted to the top of a tree after no body told her the kite was too big. An out of control kite from one of the instructors death looping and hitting a model in the resort next door. Riders hitting sliders that are parked on the beach so know one will hit them. Kiteloops 10 ft. off the beach. The best close call I remember was a pro kiter (no names) going under the WH bridge with the kite still in neutral, he unhooked and let go of the kite. He went under the bridge and his kite went over the bridge and under the powerlines. Do I need to go on.

If anyone models their beach off of WH, don't expect it to remain open for long. I love riding at Whale Harbor but it still has alot of problems. The locals there try to police the beach but the people in charge of the beach don't say anything to anyone even when asked to say something.