Blast Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 It's that time of year again! Rest Bay Porthcawl PLEASE note the signs in the car park and on the slip way onto the beach. Basicsally the council wishes us to stay up the beach in line with the golf club. Two guys (Cardiff Uni again!) yesterday set up immediatley in front of the life guard hut and when asked if they could move up to the kite area said "but the beach is empty". Later when when they were landing loads more people had arrived after work etc and they then landed the kites amongst the public enjoying the sunny eve, come on guys walk the extra 100m's!!! These two guys were friendly enough (and good kiters ) but could not be arsed to walk a few minutes extra! S.Wales enjoys big open sandy beaches with virtually no restrictions and a sadly a few people could really spoil this for everyone! http://www.kiteboarder.co.uk/kitesurfing/images/smilies/icon_evil.gif Quote
paulie_amoose Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 S.Wales enjoys big open sandy beaches with virtually no restrictions and a sadly a few people could really spoil this for everyone! http://www.kiteboarder.co.uk/kitesurfing/images/smilies/icon_evil.gif South Wales is a proper kiteing mecca, I hardly ever go anywhere else. No restrictions and the world's friendlist kitesurfers.. Dont spoil it! Quote
wenglish Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 The same has been happening at aberavon, two lads set up right in the middle of the no flying zone then spent 30 minutes stattic flying a couple of big LEIs. if your infront of the wall then you should not be flying. stu Quote
john_crossland Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 I will pass this onto the cardiff uni crew Quote
alib987 Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 ok i have to admitt, it was very lazy of me and my friend to set up in the wrong place at Rest. I put my hands up to that and to be honest, and obvious there is no excuse for that. We both knew the rules about rest, but greedy as we were wanted more time on the water with the incoming tide. From speaking with Mark, i was not aware of how keen the council were about this matter. I will definately be setting up in the correct place next time, and landing. Just to let you know Mark we are from Cardiff University but we were kiting on our own and not on any kind of trip related to the University, so to say that it is related to the university is not warrent. Also over the years i am sure you have told the uni kiters to kite in the correct area, but whenever i have taught there i have always made sure we are in the correct area, especially in summer when it is considerably busier. After speaking to you, Mark (Blast) at the beach i fully agree that people should respect the area given at rest. I also think that this matter is more complicate than one might think. Firstly there is nothing (as far as i am aware) stopping surfers surfing in the kitesurfing area. There is also nothing stopping the public walking in the kiting area. I am not sure the exact reason for the council restricting our kiting area, but if surfers and the public are allowed to be anywhere on the beach, then there is not much point in having a designated kiting area as they will be at the same risk no matter where we kiters are! I do agree that it is safer to have the kiters in a confined area, and i think that the general public will see this area and respect it, but it will not stop surfers who i think are in the most danger. One last thing keeping kiters in this designated area is harder than the council think. The conditions yesterday, meant that it was easy to ride downwind into none kiting area. My friend was on a smaller kite and did go down wind into this area, but did try to keep out of this area by walking back upwind to the kite area. I was more powered so stayed up in the correct area, but sometimes did slip back into the none kiting area. Also Mark you will even admit you did not keep to this kiting area, with you and your friends all spending much of you session downwind in the none kiting area, in and amongst the surfers. From teaching here, i'm sure Mark you will agree it is even harder to keep students in this area. It can be done, but it is not easy in certain wind directions. I think the only way this can be policed is by kiters. Mark i know you don't like having to tell everyone to kite in the correct area, but enless you have any other ideas i think it is the only possible way. I think telling everyone to kite in the correct area and setting an example when on the water will help but will not solve the poblem. Any other ideas would be very welcome. Quote
alib987 Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 The same has been happening at aberavon, two lads set up right in the middle of the no flying zone then spent 30 minutes stattic flying a couple of big LEIs. if your infront of the wall then you should not be flying. stu I know i'm probably not the best person to telling you this, but 30mins flying a kite in a dangerous area! Don't you think you are responsible to tell them of the dangers of the obvious sea wall at aberavon. That said is it really your responsibility to tell every person who kites in the wrong place. I think this needs more thought. Should you do your upmost to tell every person you see kiting/launching/landing in the wrong place to go to the correct place. I think yes, but there is only so much you can do! Some people will not listen. If they think it is save then they might be right, they could be very experienced, more experienced than the person telling them of the danger, or not know the dangers at that spot and so think it is save. At the end of the day if you have told them and they have not moved and have got injured, you are still going to feel like you could/should have done more to get them to move!! Quote
hobojimumk Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 me and ali will be the first to admit that we were wrong yesterday, we were thought it was a general rule rather than council restrictions (maybe the sign in the car park needs to be more obvious one put on the life guards hut). To say that loads of people turned up later on is massively stretching the truth. Also as ali said u forgot to mention the fact that you were kitesurfing very close to the two surfers at the top end of the beach and that kites were not landed with even a lines length gap from the water to the rocks. My point is that its easy to come on here and write a link slagging people off about what might of happened but that is not going to help! Im not sure what your problem with cardiff uni kitesurfers is mark, because as far as i am aware thats the first time i have spoken to you in about 2 years. Reading some of the links on this forum you almost forget that kitesurfing is fun and a passion, it should be about education and awareness rather than slagging local kiters off! Quote
Blast Posted April 28, 2009 Author Report Posted April 28, 2009 Ok, thanks for the reply's and constructive comments. Your damn right, kiting should be fun, and thats why I love it so much & with a passion as you say. This is perhaps why I get fed up of running around pointing out the obviuos to people setting up in totally the wrong places. ....and yes the forums are not a place for slagging off people, and maybe I should not have mentioned the Uni link. But as I said summer is coming and I for one still wish to be kiting here this year and for many years to come (hopefully with as little restriction as possible) so if that means running back down the beach and "educating" people then I will continue to do so even though I am also losing valuable time on the water;) Like I also said "These two guys were friendly enough (and good kiters ) so lets all spread the word and keep these beaches open. Anyway I look forward to seeing you both next time your down and maybe discuss ways to help the situation. Hey Paulie good to see you down on Friday, sorry I didnt get the chance to say hello!! Quote
paulie_amoose Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 Hey Paulie good to see you down on Friday, sorry I didnt get the chance to say hello!! No worries bud, good to see you too... I did like the huge rotated foot out to crash you did...! Quote
Blast Posted April 28, 2009 Author Report Posted April 28, 2009 Ha ha I heard the laugh just before I cried! Quote
Fairy Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 It's that time of year again! Rest Bay Porthcawl PLEASE note the signs in the car park and on the slip way onto the beach. Basicsally the council wishes us to stay up the beach in line with the golf club. Two guys (Cardiff Uni again!) yesterday set up immediatley in front of the life guard hut and when asked if they could move up to the kite area said "but the beach is empty". Later when when they were landing loads more people had arrived after work etc and they then landed the kites amongst the public enjoying the sunny eve, come on guys walk the extra 100m's!!! These two guys were friendly enough (and good kiters ) but could not be arsed to walk a few minutes extra! S.Wales enjoys big open sandy beaches with virtually no restrictions and a sadly a few people could really spoil this for everyone! http://www.kiteboarder.co.uk/kitesurfing/images/smilies/icon_evil.gif keep it up dude. As marc says, this is our local spot and we don't want the access ruined. Lets just make the effort....:D:D Quote
wenglish Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 i did walk over and have a chat ill always give someone the benefit of the doubt for a short while incase they are just rigging up and then go on the water , although my understanding is that even kitesurfing is banned infront of the steps (if its not then as a good practice and to stop any trubble then is it worth self policeing and adviseing anyone on the water that they should stay away from teh area?) there is a small bunch of kitesurfers non of which are anything to do with the uni or as far as im aware fly offen with your lot mark (yep ive just made you head of the gang lol) that when told off for flying infront of the steps by the nice guys that help us out in the yellow pick ups just told them were to go quoteing some random rules about restrictions not applying to the water and only the beach. I told them my views but they just laughed it off and chose to ignore me, thats their choice im not the type to threaten or get aggressive. see you all on teh beach stu Quote
john_crossland Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 God damn i miss south wales. London kitsurfing sux! u guys got it too good. Waves at gennith and rest, Aber for skin disiese swansea bay for flat water (if u know where and when to go) bruffers waves and flat water in a northerly oxwhich for pituresque riding. truly this is a case of you dont kno what youve got till its gone! Weve all done the od stupid thing tho. I never advertised this b4 but i once did a solo trip from broughton round to bluepool bay and back. lol. most epic scenery tho. god i miss those spots. Quote
paulie_amoose Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 Ha ha I heard the laugh just before I cried! It looked freekin awesome dude.... Until the end! Quote
kraftyone Posted April 28, 2009 Report Posted April 28, 2009 Shhhhh! You'll have every man and his dog here this summer - oh wait, too late! God damn i miss south wales. London kitsurfing sux! u guys got it too good. Waves at gennith and rest, Aber for skin disiese swansea bay for flat water (if u know where and when to go) bruffers waves and flat water in a northerly oxwhich for pituresque riding. truly this is a case of you dont kno what youve got till its gone! Weve all done the od stupid thing tho. I never advertised this b4 but i once did a solo trip from broughton round to bluepool bay and back. lol. most epic scenery tho. god i miss those spots. Quote
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