Hobie Beach Sunday Kookout

[ricki]

Glad to hear about the rest of Miami and guys working to keep the few launches that still remain open. That is an improvement over past years and thanks for that.

I try not even to mention Hobie as a possible spot anymore, things have grown that bad. Riding near shore in SW winds, usually gusty and squally, is what has messed up too many riders over the years. We're supposed to stay outside the swim area buoys anyway, what is the problem?

Is there a solution to poor (read dumb) riding behavior or do we wait until the next major accident for authorities to pull the plug for us?

[cabdriver]

My main concern is that if there is an injury there, that the shockwaves will be felt throughout the entire Miami kiting community. One accident at Hobie could mean simultaneous multiple beach closures for kiting. So far, Virginia Key is quite happy with their decision to close the beach to kiting; I don't see why other parks wouldn't follow suit if we give them good reason.

The non-kiters at Hobie Beach just can't understand how dangerous of a scenario that they are in while either hanging out on the beach or bathing. As riders, we can't just think about ourselves, we need to be responsible (even more so) to bystanders. I don't recognize a lot of the riders on SW winds at Hobie, so I can only assume they are from out of town. I want people to come ride in Miami - the more the merrier, but this is no longer the wild west and we can't afford any screw ups.

I'm not sure what to do to clean that launch up. There are clearly marked buoys for the swim area - you think that would be enough...

[ricki]

What about voluntary rules and getting guys to promote them?

Say like:

1. Assisted launch & land near the swim area buoys.

2. Kite outside swim buoys, no exceptions.

3. Self-enforce along with friends to preserve common access. (GET INVOLVED).


Your concerns about bystander exposure are spot on and shouldn't be ignored by any of us. Can still remember a guy flying into a car 15 ft. away from me years ago in SW winds there. How dumb do we want to be, in repeating avoidable, painful history?

[cabdriver]

THIS JUST IN:

I am told that both Camilo and Francisco were teaching at Hobie on Sunday. Is this true? Can somebody write in and clarify? I don't believe it. I thought everyone was in agreement that there would be NO TEACHING AT HOBIE for multiple reasons:

1/ Totally unsafe!!!
2/ There is no commercial activity allowed on the beach without a concession.

I will be more than upset if the only riding spot for SW winds is closed due to greed, or worse, an incident with a student. I am certain that all area riders will be ticked off.

Rick - I don't know what to do to get people to understand the situation at Hobie. The fact that you are the only one that has replied has me believing that nobody cares and I am wasting my breath.

[cletus]

There were lessons being taught on Sunday am. I went to Hobie on Sunday but did not ride and had a friend getting a lesson. I let him know that Hobie was not exactly the best place to take a lesson and that I was not going to ride b/c it was starting to get gusty.

Really bad example set by the instructor.

[ricki]

Thanks for the info Cletus. Todd not sure what is the root of the apathy in the local community. We used to get 30 to 60 guys down for the meetings to try to keep Crandon open a few years back. Want to organize a meeting on access issues in Miami in general? There are still a ton of them, that is issues and riders too for that matter.

Just need to get enough guys onboard with a few basic rules and in a mood to try to promote them regarding Hobie. Guys used to go to Hobie nine years ago for SW winds from Broward and even Palm Beach, not sure if they still do in many numbers though.

Regarding local, recognized instructors teaching there and in all too often hazardous SW winds, not sure what the solution is. We know it is a bad idea, they may even know it as well but blow it off. Their students likely either don't know or stupidly blow the risk off too lacking understanding and appreciation for what is in play. Why not bring this up at the meeting.

Want to get a meeting of riders together on this?