Stupid behavior costs us, again

[ricki]

To be able to kite, you can't be this stupid. It simply takes more intelligence. So, the problem isn't that riders aren't smart enough it is that they become dumbed down through inconsideration. Most access problems in these parts involve kiters riding too close to others and to the shore. This has resulted in a bunch of bans and current threats here and elsewhere.

The current case relates to the potential loss of access to kite at the National Park near West End, Grand Cayman. This is the second island in the Caribbean where I have heard of access problems related to a rider being thrown when the animal was spooked by a kite. "Usually" there simply aren't that many horses or ones that come along frequently enough. Keeping your flying kite far enough away offshore and there shouldn't be a problem. Failing that, keep the damn thing stationary until the horse passes well by. If you are still working on kite control, make sure there are no horses or nearby people for that matter to avoid problems. NO ONE has a right to kite but you do have a right to be banned ironically enough. Show some respect, be considerate and avoid problems like this - use distance!

Here is the background:

"To bring to everyone's attention there is in the works to close barker's beach to us kitesurfers due to an incident that happened where a lady was thrown from her horse. The person responsible was associated with kitesurfsup school who in the past had no regard for the local horseback riding tours by kiting near the horses as they passed, and crashing his kite near them. Barker's beach is highlighted to be closed to kiteboarding because of this. Local riders please inform others about kiting near horses, leaving kites, lines, near the shoreline where the horses pass. Show some respect on the beach so we can keep access open for everyone and not let one neglectful person ruin it for us all."
http://www.ecaytrade.com/detail.php?id=211389

[Kitehouse Cayman]

To give you guys an update on the situation

As a result of this incident, there has been a lot of communication between Cayman's kiters - which I consider to be a good thing. I hope that now people feel they can say something if they see a kiter behaving in a way that could jeapordise their access.

A meeting is being set up between the horse companies and kite schools to try and find a solution that works for both horse riders and kiters. Hopefully, both parties can learn about the other's activities and some guidelines can be agreed on which will not only substantially reduce the threat to horse riders, but also reduce the chance of a new kiter getting injured.

In East End, we recommend that kiters launch from public beach, (a very nicely maintained beach with a shallow seagrass area infront) and that we maintain a 200 metre boundary from the busy resort beaches. This works out nicely, as the flatest water or wave riding exceeds this distance anyway. One resort already has a no-launching policy off their beach as a result of an accident, so we ask kiters to stay away from these highly populated beaches and launch from the significantly less busy Public Beach instead.

Richie