Promoting the sport?

[sparkyman]

Yep, I know how you feel. The Big Ad for Kiteboarding is the kite. The sport will grow especially in a very visible area like ours. I'm thinking $20 bucks for one cheek grab, both discounted to $35. A free grab after 10. The Bone is my Super Duper Model. Wonder if he knows I'm his Pimp Daddy yet? Shaka Somebody

[robertovillate]

Yes, it is certainly a dilemma.

Along with running my own business in the past I used to teach sailing and performance boat handling. The main reason was to put better sailors out on the water and on the race course. After a couple years of kitesurfing I decided to teach this as well...again for the same reasons I teach sailing - I was more interested in people getting good instruction and making the sport safe and fun for everyone, protect access privileges, etc.

I think that there is currently a fair amount of growth, however I think it will peak, and level off like windsurfing did. But I still feel that the better people are trained the better it will be for others.

As for the income from teaching, "lining our pockets" is a stretch: it's not that lucrative unless you operate like REAL and hire 15 coaches, pay the instructors next to nothing, and charge a lot of money with strict refund restrictions. But even then we are not talking high-finance. For example - out of the last 5 days here in Hatteras there was perhaps one day when REAL could mobilize and get some good teaching in. Believe me - I am certainly not doing this for the money. When you consider the gear, travel costs, housing costs, the good riding sacrificed, and the time and effort it takes to do 100+ lessons/winter...I'd be much better off financially going back into my previous business I assure you.

Do I want more riders on the water? Not necessarily, but I will never tell someone that they don't have he "right" to share the beach. I usually try to avoid crowds, whether teaching or riding, and I know that there are still plenty of places to go when other places are crowded. I hope this issue does not become similar to the surfer style territorialism, which I think will be unhealthy for the sport.

Ironically 5 or 6 kites can make certain places feel crowded sometimes. It is the conduct of the kiters, whether 5 or 30 of them, that really determines the "feel" of the place. I personally feel that there is plenty of room, even on a big day at East Beach, if people would only respect a few basic rules and principles. When I teach I try to instill this into my students, even encouraging them to avoid the crowded places and seek out other spots to ride, at least until they have enough skill to manage the crowds, know how to avoid issues, and how to react when an issue arise.

As the kite population grows we might have to become more creative...boat rides and boat launching? More down wind rides? Rider limits at each spot? - but would that be self-imposed or regulated by others? (not many people - including myself - want others regulating us)

It's probably not reasonable to make this sport exclusionary, but some management might be necessary.And you're right...on really good thing is that the gear gets better, and more safe, when manufacturers can justify the R&D costs. I hope the sport stays healthy and that people will continue to get good instruction and practice safe kiting so we can avoid inevitable(?) regulation and restrictions. We will all need to adapt to growth. I'm sure it has been done successfully in other spots around the world, so why not in Tampa Bay? It will just take a little more effort and a little more patience.

[bryanleighty]

i see both sides of the argument ..

and i have been at EB or skyway with 30+ riders, all of at least intermediate skill and all respecting the right of way and keeping the beach organized and its been an AMAZING day with tons of people having a great time.

i have also been to EB or skyway with 10 kiters and 5 of them new and 4 of the 5 ruining a lot of the day for everyone else.

i try to get some friends into the sport but i demand they get lessons and i send them to the people that have the skills to teach.

i "promote" saftey of the sport more than the sport. if that makes sense.

that said, i would like to see some kick ass commercials w/ kiting.. not sure why its not used more in advertising or movies or whatnot. its a great sport to watch..

[CrazyJay]

There is plenty of room for every qualified rider. We are unbelieveably fortunate in tampabay to have so many riding areas. Riders searching for glory or fame usually do not last long.

It is impossible and unjust to keep new riders from joining the community. The life changing experience every TRUE kitesurfer has is a revelation to be shared by all those who will appreciate it.

It IS the responsibility of the established riders to police the new riders on the rules of the sport until they get their bearings. This will ensure that we always have free access to our beaches. I have seen newbies corrected many times on their actions and most times they are grateful for the advice.

Kiteboarding is a gift and priviledge to ALL of us. Cherish and respect it.

[toby wilson]

Nicely put Jayson. I 100% agree with your post.

[bryanleighty]

so true Jayson.

everyone still remember the very first time you were up and planing??

i sure as hell do.

EB.

been trying to waterstart for what seemed like years.. probably days.. but.. whatever .. i was a slow learner.

i must have done something right and suddenly i am blazing across the water faster than i could have ever expected and thinking "HOLY SHHH**T THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING THING IN THIS WORLD"...

boom.

i wipe out and i am out by the sandbar and i stand and scream (i am not making this up) "BETTER THAN SEX!!!!"

of course that statement is debatable .. but.. i think my point is made.

Ohhh yeah... first plane holy crap! It felt almost illegal.

But I never intended it to sound like I hope to prevent people from having the RIGHT to kiteboard! I'm nice as hell to every new kite boarder we get and I'll help them however I can.

What I am talking about is that the first thing out of my mouth when a non-kiteboarder asks me about the sport it is NOT where to buy gear and get lessons (unless asked directly).

In 3 more years you'll know what I'm talking about...

Last I heard we had 60 new riders in the last 3 months (or something like that).