i put this letter on my web site

[ricki]

It seems an important component of the current problem involves instructors. Guys that are teaching in poor locations among other beach goers and causing complaints. If folks are still going to teach starting lessons from the beach instead of from a boat, they need to be particularly sensitive to maintaining bystander, kiter safety and avoid complaints. A few complaints can be the start or even the finish of the process of closing an area to kiting.

In still other cases, ironically, it involves new kiters in need of proper quality professional training who have been injured in kiting accidents and/or scared bystanders through incidents. We can't handle that many of these type of avoidable problems.

Some in the Industry care which is only right and logical, while a good deal more seem indifferent to this problem. This makes no sense as lost access only hurts public perception and freedom to responsibly practice our sport and ultimately their income.

ASM has pursued one solution, to try to effectively maintain responsible riding practices at a specific venue and in that way trying to secure access there. Is this the only way these problems will be resolved? It would be great if the training organizations properly policed instructors and motivated an initiative to compel all instructors to acquire quality training and use good teaching practices. This seems to be lacking at this time. If people don't pull together then it falls on individuals to put systems together to secure things when and where they can for best effect.