Hey Newbies! JFC, Take a lesson or two!!!

[rando1994]

What a great weekend for kiting here in the tampa area. Blessed with plentiful launches, it should be a training paradise.

What is happening though is the opposite. While there are many reputable and skilled instructors available, too many newbies "can't afford" or just don't think they need instruction.

When I was learning two years ago, I burned the ones and zeroes off my kiting dvd's. I took advantage of local instruction. More than once.

Yesterday, in 20 knot gusty winds, I saw a noob trying to launch straight upwind of his kite. A 12m. And he was 140 lbs soaking wet. No concept of the wind window.

Another noob got dragged onshore out of control and crashed his kite, borrowed it seemed, 20 feet from a family on a beach blanket.

And these are not isolated incidents. Saw a noob last week rig his lines completely wrong. Luckily he asked me to check them before he killed himself in the 20 knot gusts.

Bottom line, what can we do? I am in no way an expert, but have taken the time and spent the money to learn how to be safe. These noobs have been willing to listen to advice, free, but are unwilling to get proper instruction.

More and more launches here are getting crowded with clueless noobs. It's just so frustrating.

Lack of skill, I can live with. I was there not long ago. But lack of knowledge and proper instruction? There's just no excuse.