Sarasota County Beach Kiteboarding

[kitesurfher]

Hello Kiters; for clarity and conformity in our practices and the possible success of our negotiations;
EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THE COALITION ORGANIZER PROMISED AND REPRESENTED TO COUNTY STAFF BEFORE THEY AGREED TO NEGOTIATIONS;

THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS ARE YET TO BE PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR A VOTE;

IF, BETWEEN NOW AND THE VOTE, OR AFTER REGULATIONS ARE PASSED, WE ARE OBSERVED BY ENVIRONMENTAL WATCHDOGS PRACTICING, BUSINESS AS USUAL THEN WE WILL HAVE, IN MY OPINION , ALMOST NO CHANCE TO AVOID A BAN ON KITEBOARDING BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND AUGUST(NESTING SEASON), ON SIESTA AND LIDO BEACHES. WITH REGARD FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE ISSUE AND THE STRENGTH OF AND ORGANIZATION OF VERY EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS; WE WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE STANDING AS A SMALL USER GROUP; PRACTICING A SPORT THAT JEOPARDIZES THE SUCCESSFUL NESTING OR RESTING BIRDS ON THE BEACH.

further explanation if needed; The concerns that were listed by staff were environmental and public safety oriented.

We have addressed successfully, the issue of public safety by adopting language that sets acceptable safety boundaries and right of way for swimmers and pedestrians. Fears and concerns were addressed about public safety when our track record and self policing successes were offered as evidence of ability and commitment to operate safely.

Eliminating landboarding went a long way to establish our reasonableness in negotiating and to take dune destruction and bird conflicts off of he table.

Kiteboarding; was not defended nor presented to County Staff or Commissioners as NOT being a threat to nesting birds:

Staff members, the Audubon Society and Fish and Wildlife will probably not be convinced, by us, against all evidence that they may bring to the table; that we don't scare the birds with our kites. The flushing instinct is scientifically accepted and can be demonstrated. In the case of kiteboarding and other air sports, the canopy, seen in the sky looks like as the biggest bird ever, causes them to leave their nests, their eggs and or their young, unprotected and exposed to the real predatory birds. The distance at which this effect is observable? WE DON'T WANT TO KNOW. That distance if defined, and restricted would almost surely leave us with nowhere to kiteboard. Nesting areas are enormous, adjacent to all of our launching, landing and riding areas and are now clearly protected and restricted by law, from April to August.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND AND TELL OTHERS: WE HAVE AGREED TO KEEP OUR KITES OUT OF THE SKY ON THE BEACH.

THAT IS IT! KITE IN THE SKY; BIRDS THAT FLY


FOR FURTHER CLARITY:
LAUNCHING METHOD DURING NESTING SEASON:

1. WHEN LAUNCHING, KITE IS PLACED AT EDGE OF WINDOW TOWARD THE WATERS' EDGE, WELL AWAY FROM NESTING AREAS, OTHER BEACH USERS, AND PEDESTRIANS TO BE SAFE

2. KITE LAUNCHED (RELEASED) AS CLOSE AS FEASIBLE TO THE WATER AS TO EXPEDITE ENTRY.

3. KITE IS KEPT AT GROUND LEVEL AS YOU ENTER THE WATER, BEST TO THEN BODYDRAG A LINES LENGTH OUT BEFORE RIDING AWAY.

LANDING METHOD DURING NESTING SEASON:

1. GET OFF OF YOUR BOARD EARLY AND APPROACH THE BEACH WITH YOUR KITE AT GROUND LEVEL. MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE PERSON YOU EXPECT TO CATCH YOUR KITE IF POSSIBLE; IF NOT...

2. IF ASSISTED LANDING IS NOT AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY, KEEP THE KITE AT GROUND LEVEL AND WAIT FOR LANDING ASSISTANT IF POSSIBLE

3. IF PRACTICED, AND RELIABLY CAPABLE; CAPSIZE KITE IN AREA WELL AWAY FROM NESTING BIRDS, OTHER BEACH USERS AND PEDESTRIANS

4. AS LAST RESORT, MOVE TO A SAFE DISTANCE FROM NESTING AREAS, OTHER BEACH USERS AND PEDESTRIANS WITH ADEQUATE CLEAR AREA IN FRONT ON YOU AND USE SAFETY RELEASE TO KILL YOUR KITE AND RETREIVE BY WALKING UP ONE LINE, WRAPPED AROUND YOUR SPREADER BAR HOOK AND TENSIONED AS YOU MOVE YOURSELF TOWARD YOUR KITE.

Warning: this is not a reliable method if not practiced beforehand as your kite, unlike most ultra modern designs that flip over easily and fly off of center lines, may begin to loop if flagged in this manner and a large enough area for this to be uneventful is rarely available.

All of this new stuff is going to take a while to become habit. Our access depends upon our success in adopting these methods.

We will need each other more than ever to accomplish easy, safe, entry and exit. Be alert to other kiters; use the buddy system

Hope this helps.

Laurel
P.S. If we can pull ourselves together and make these agreements fly with Audubon and FSW, perhaps other kiting communities can preserve their access when faced with these issues.

Please forward comments and suggestions to srqkiteco@gmail.com