Kiting in Marco Island?

[ricki]

West winds are starting again and threats to our access to kiting this unique place may well start again. It is up to us whether we keep access by our behavior. Lots of us travel to kite, east coast, west coast, Keys, we need to show respect and use common sense to preserve our ability to kite wherever we may be.

If guys keep breaking rules here we may lose access, so heads up. There are volunteers in the trees photographing people who violate the rules and turn them into authorities. It has happened before.

* Stay out of the out of bounds lagoon and at least 100 yards from marked off areas and large concentrations of birds.

* Avoid flushing concentrations birds, wherever you may be, in Florida.

* Don't bring dogs on to Sand Dollar Island (the sand bar). It is against the law anyway and puts needless pressure on our ability to kite here.

It is easy to do all of this but it is a good walk, worth it in my opinion however. There are strong bird supporters at the State, County and City levels here so don't give them reason to remove our access. Please work to preserve our access to this unique spot.


The northern ending point of that red area will vary year to year based on where the birds roost and winter. You should see signs and roped off areas on Sand Dollar Island. Stay at least 100 yards north of those out of bounds areas.

Thank you!

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[ricki]

Despite all the efforts to get the word out, it sounds like a bunch of people were riding in the red out of bounds area over the weekend.

This has to stop or we will simply be kicked out of this location. If you have ever been there you know how unique and special a place it is. It is worth working hard to preserve access here, so please help.



It is a LONG walk north to the riding area, about 3 miles roundtrip. If you aren't up to that then please kite somewhere more convenient for yourself where you want trash our access. I understand there is now a large sign just north of the entrance area on to the sand bar (Sand Dollar Island) summarizing the rules.

Please study this photo, we need to stay at least 100 yards north of the red area AND signs, ropes (which may be moved as the season progresses).

Talk about this with your friends. It would be a crime to lose access to this spot through indifference. Also, you don't want to be with the guys responsible for shutting down a kiting area. Please help and thanks.


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[ricki]

West winds are in the forecast. Westerly wind in South Florida often brings guys to the southwest coast. Please work to
keep us flying there as the FWC, City, County, Birders, some misc. non-kiting businesses have been bringing pressure to
bear on our access, WITH our help. It would be a crime for any kiter riding in the out of bounds area to cost our access
to this unique spot. Guys have been photographed in secret in the past and more than once. Things are to that point
here, so please keep it sane and open here.

If you want to ride here you need to WALK 3 1/2 to 4+ MILES R/T, look at the photo. If you aren't up to it, don't trash the
kiting community's access go some place else or take a boat in. I'm almost 60, did an even longer walk in than that, in
total darkness well before dawn for the first time solo in freezing conditions. Don't wimp out in short. Focus on having fun,
not on destroying our ability to ride a remarkable spot.



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