Sarsota Kiteboarders' Coalition

[kitesurfher]

Calling all Kiteboarders--------------

If you have ever kiteboarded in Sarasota or ever hope to we could sure use your help in expanding the numbers of our organization. The more members we represent, the more our credibility and clout with County Government.

The Sarasota Kiteboarders' Coalition was formed last Friday evening by a handful of Sarasota kiters, in response to a proposal that is being put before the County Commissioners that would ban kiteboarding on ALL Sarasota County Beaches, both public and private.

OK, that WAS the wording, we were dealing with on Friday. At this writing, we have achieved a tremendous jump on the issue and County Staff has revised their recommendations to the County Commissioners in regard to Kiteboarding. Instead of a ban, the preliminary wording of the proposed regulations are as follows:

DRAFT CH90 REGS: (lacks Audubon input)

under the heading of AIR SPORTS

KITEBOARDING ON PUBLIC BEACH PARKS AND BEACHES WATERWARD THEREOF

* 200' setback along water's edge from edges of swim zones for launching activities

* Kites deployed away from pedestrian foot traffic and bird nesting areas

* Kites give way to swimmers/pedestrian traffic

LANDBOARDING

* Banned from public beach parks and beaches waterward thereof


In a meeting hastily arranged with County Staff on Monday morning that took place at 3:00 Monday afternoon, we were able to ascertain the motivation behind the ban; public safety and nesting and migratory bird population impact.

Through discussion, we were able to come to an understanding that we have a track record of 12 years of Kiteboarding on Sarasota County Beaches, without significant incident or complaint from the public.

It was established that the "Bad Boy" image that was perceived of Kiteboarding from County Staff's explorations on the internet, does not reflect the reality of our local Kiteboarding communities participants and their practices.

Assuring staff that our self policing policies that have been in place up to now, have worked, went a long way in furthering our cause and giving staff members cause to reconsider their reccommendations.

Perhaps most importantly, the demonstration that we can launch and land without disturbing the birds, has gotten us reconsideration. That practice has to be sold to the Audubon and Fish and Wildlife officials. I am working on that.


IF you would like to help us out by joining please send me an e-mail to that effect right away. I hope to have 100 members by Monday. Your information will not be used or made available for any purpose other than communication on this subject.

You may also telephone 941-587-1009 and say this is me and I want to Join, and you will be counted.

Our mission statement is simple: To promote safety and preserve access for kiteboarding on Sarasota County Beaches


thanks, in advance for your support

see you on the water soon


Laurel Kaiser

[ricki]

Sounds good Lauren and quick work diminishing the issues on the table including some particularly nasty ones!

I copied this post to the SKC's forum at:
http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=134

Good luck folks, when it comes to access, we're all in the same boat. Hope things continue to work out.

[kitegrandad]

Please provide email address.

[Anto]

I am brand new in Sarasota, of course I give you my support, if you can provide email address...

[ricki]

There is a forum just for promoting access in Sarasota County at the link below. There are regular updates posted there.
http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=134

Laurel has a kiteboarding shop and can be contacted at:
http://www.islandstyle.ws/

Local kiters have set up a kitesurfing association to work to preserve access, more at the Sarasota Kitesurfing Coalition or SKC website at http://sarasotakiteboarderscoalition.com/

[Anto]

Thank you Rick, I am reading the forum dedicated for promoting access in Sarasota County.

I found this link where we can join : http://sarasotakiteboarderscoalition.org/JoinUs.html

and many thanks to Laurel for all that

[kitesurfher]

Originally Posted by Anto

Thank you Rick, I am reading the forum dedicated for promoting access in Sarasota County.

I found this link where we can join : http://sarasotakiteboarderscoalition.org/JoinUs.html

and many thanks to Laurel for all that

I am not associated with that site. For now, the membership page is located at

http://srqkiteco.wufoo.com/forms/sar...on-membership/

Also, please join us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/...1997369?ref=ts

You can send e-mail to the Coalition directly at srqkiteco@gmail.com

[Anto]

OK, I will do an other membership on the page you mentionned.

Regarding the facebook page, the link is broken, I think this is the good one ? : http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/p...7180590?ref=ts

[kitesurfher]

Hey, Anto, thanks for the mention of the facebook issue. We are not going to use a facebook page for the Sarasota Kiteboard Coalition at this time. We are making tremendous progress on our access issue and hope to eliminate as many sidetracks as possible for supporters. Thanks for hooking up on the website we put up to keep you informed.

Just came from another meeting with County Commissioner Carolyn Mason who was completely positive in receiving information and reviewing the new proposed regulations. She asked to be invited to come and see kiteboarding at the beach before the meeting. She welcomed the sport's representation as they desperately need input from people who know the activities when making regulations and decisions that effect them.

Our MAIN MESSAGE RIGHT NOW is


KEEP KITES AWAY FROM NESTING AREAS AND AT GROUND LEVEL WHEN LAUNCHING, LANDING AND ENTERING OR EXITING THE WATER. NO KITEBOARDING KITES ARE TO BE IN THE SKY (ABOVE GROUND LEVEL) ON THE BEACHES DURING NESTING SEASON NO MATTER WHERE. THIS RULE IS JUST SIMPLE ENOUGH, IF FOLLOWED, TO KEEP US KITING FROM APRIL TO AUGUST.


SEE YOU ON THE WATER SOON,
LAUREL

[robertovillate]

Great job with the website - simple and to the point.

This could help serve as a great model for other "coalitions" to develop to protect access - probably best to do it before it is threatened as opposed to the 11th hour ??? I am sure that everyone feels differently about that one.

I noticed there is a member list that requires a password/username - is that something that SKC issues to members?