Some thoughts after my first trip to Matanza Inlet

[BizGuru]

It was nice to be at a true kiting beach for a change. It really was a great place to ride. It seemed as if everyone respected that area as being for the kiters and did not come and set up to close. This is something I wish we had around here. However they were a few things that bothered me and I have to ask if I am in some confused about the interactions between kiters. Please someone let me know what is right and give me your thoughts on the situations below.

The first was disaster waiting to happen. We set up on the beach leaving some room between us and the other kiters, knowing we are inexperience we wanted to make sure we had plenty of room to rig and launch without interrupting anyone. Some other kiters came in a bit later and park fairly
No issue so far. However they go to launch and rather than walk close to shore and launch where we were not 10 feet downwind of kite right in the power zone from where the guy was standing. If the kite where to roll on the launch it would run though the power and into me, my girlfriend and my grill. Ok not a good practice but not THAT stupid. Then with his kite launched and up overhead he picks up the bar to his partners kite and holds it in one hand. Now his partner lifts the second kite at the edge of the wind and attempts to keep it stable with one hand. This kite too was launching in a spot the left us right in the hot zone. I seeing a disaster coming begin to stand up, sure enough the first time he lets go of the kite to go grab the bar it attempts to roll into the power zone and take off. I run over right as he catches the kite and pulls it back to the edge of the wind. I inform him that I will be happy to launch him and let him run to his bar and safely launch his kite. I have seen someone with a kite launch hold a kite until his partner is ready witch seems risky but holding the bar seems far more stupid. Thoughts?

The second thing I noticed I have seen several times and that is a lack of support from kiters unless they are there with you. I mean I am not asking someone to fetch my board they I had to down my kite and chase 300 yards down the beach and swim out and get but it is little stuff. I have watch kiters sitting around watching people struggle self launch, I mean your just standing there how hard is it to hold a kite so someone does not have to self launch or land there kite. Another example I was moving my kite down the beach to place it next to my car and I watch a guy crash his 20m Aero 2 with 5th Line. Not the easiest of kites to relaunch. As I sat my kite down I watch several kiters 20 yards away watch him struggle to relaunch as his kite ended up right at shore. Since no one else seemed to care I walked over signaled land and launch to the guy in the water. He signaled launch so I tipped the kite up and he was quickly back on his way. I got a yelled THANK YOU, and I went back on my way. I read about how close the kiting community was but I really didn't see the support for each other I was expecting. I mean this was a small act from me but it I know it saved a world of effort on the other end. Is my hospitality to much? Is it not appropriate to help other kiters out? I just know if I was on the other end I would great appreciate the help.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Don't get me wrong I love the beach and there were some helpful people around however, stuff like this seemed to bother me and I just wanted to get others thoughts on this subject and find out what types of things they have noticed. Here is a nice pic from that day (sorry pic to big, I will edit tonight and post some pics. I have one nice pic with 15 kites in the air.

Here is the link

http://74.238.64.35/FULLBEACH.JPG