Helmets compulsory at Ainsdale

[spooky]

....I believe the rules which are posted are a genuine typing mistake ( of the ’cut /copy and paste’ variety) and are not the new rules and regs.....

...The wording should not have changed from that agreed some time ago and would read "the use of protective head gear is strongly advised". This wording will be retained......

 

Hi, have to ask is that due to some one copying incorrectly, or no proof reading of the original agreement?

Only ask as I work for a Council dept (not SCC) and we to have "issues" with some one being told to "..just type this up for me..." with out actually being aware of the ramifications?

 

We now get things passed by the Council Solicitor, as if any one falls foul of the regs/policies we need to ensure that we can actually action it rather than finding out to late it is not worth the paper it is written on.

 

Good luck,

Peace and good will to all kiters.

 

Jon

[carl999]

I dont believe this is a typo, I do however understand that typo's are an every day occurence, surely this is not!!

This agreement has been reached after consultation between Sefton Council and Kite-Zone users.

 

If you do not find the current rules suitable, then I would suggest Ainsdale Kite Surfing Club (AKSC) invites views, opinions & suggestions from its members, start the consultation process with the kite zone users, some of the potential rules could easily invalidate your insurance.

My car insurance covers me in the event of me braking the rules of the highway code, giving insurance companies easy opt out clauses is not in our best interest, some of us have encouraged many to purchase insurance, with the potential up coming rules we may just find people saying "whats the point" it wont pay out anyway

 

The two main bodies BKSA & BPKA are in constant negotiation with the insurers, there guidlines are worded in the way they are for very good reasons, do we really need anything other than local zoning rules ?

 

Bring back the sense of freedom allowing us to enjoy Ainsdale's Natural Coast!!!

 

Carl.

[Marshall10488]

Oh my God this is the fear of being sued taken to the extreme, ok i can kinda deal with them stopping ppl kite in areas coz of birds nesting, i defo cnt deal with bans, but safty measure for ur own safty becoming compulsory is idiotic, if you choose to endager ur self thatxs up to u, wearing a helmet wont make u safer to ne one else its a pointless rule so they can find a reason to bring a ban into effect coz some ppl will go kiting with out helmets. all i can say is the coucil there are jst being GAY they need to focus on more important things.

[Sefton CCS]

Mr Pennington, it is not our intention to enter into discussions with you, but on this occasion I feel the need to once again put the record straight. The Kitesurfing rules were changed to reflect the winter setting up area, along with a name change and the date of course; they are basically the same rules that have been in place for some time.

 

When asked to make this minor change it was cross referenced with the traction regulations and someone identified that the rule relating to protective head gear was different. Traction requires head gear - water strongly advises it.

 

It was changed so that both were the same, an innocent mistake by a member of staff thinking they were fixing something. Please stop trying to make more of it, the club were involved in the original devising of the rules.

 

Ainsdale is currently operating just below the desired level for traction at 95 permits and Kitesurfing at around 150.

 

Sefton Council has only ever rescinded two traction permits since 2004 (when permits were introduced), both belonging to the same person - yourself. It has never prohibited a kitesurfer from using the beach.

 

Sefton Council welcomes all, as long as they have a permit and insurance, stay in the zone and follow the simple rules that, in respect of traction usage, you helped develop in 2003/04.

 

We allow freestyle except for aerial freestyle in respect of buggying.

 

Judging by the comments myself and colleagues receive on a regular basis, there is a good many peolpe who really do enjoy Ainsdale and probably do not read these forums, so have no idea what is being said about their beach. Those of you who do read the forums - come and see for yourself.

 

Mr Pennington, it is your own fault that you cannot enjoy Kiting on 'Sefton's Natural Coast'. You were asked to submit an appeal recently, but you declined the offer!!

[spooky]

.....but safty measure for ur own safty becoming compulsory is idiotic, if you choose to endager ur self thatxs up to u, wearing a helmet wont make u safer to ne one else its a pointless rule....

Sorry going to have to step in there, wearing a helmet is safer as it means less likely to injure your self and hence can remain (hopefully) in control of your kite and hence not effect any one else?

I've been taken out a few times by idiots who were more interested in looking cool for cameras than being aware of what they are doing, ie not looking before turning/jumping. As well as two occasions where people have been stunned/unconciouse and hence no conrol of kite.

 

Also seen a number of people with little tumbles release there kites, who IMHO were not in sufficent risk to warrent it, espcially in comparison to the risks created by loose kites?

 

Yes I choose to take risks when kiting, but they are my risks, it is my decission, and I will decide what level I wish to take it to. Not some one else who puts me at risk as they do not give a sh!t

 

Yes you can chose to endanger your self if you wish, BUT not on public beaches, nor expect rescue personnel to come to your aid risking themselves because you were to busy looking cool to worry about safety??

 

We should ALL take all resonable precautions, to protect ourselves, others and the sport.

Remember in this cotton wool socity we have created a situation of having to tell people what is safe and what is not as we are no longer able to make that informed choice as it has been breed out of us. The majority now expects everything (not just with in kiting) to be safe and if is not it as to be some ones fault??

ie rather than avoiding trouble and/or getting ourselves out of it we expect to be bailed out by others.

After all does wearing a seatbelt in a car or helmet on a bike effct the pleasure and excitment of driving fast?? No it just means when you mess up you have more chance of surviving.

 

Safety precautions, zoneing, PPE etc is just that, it does not stop you having fun, just helps you when it goes wrong.

How many on here have been treading water, doing self rescues or had to release the kite, getting trashed by waves wishing they had a PFD on just to give them that extra bit of floatation???

Its not cheating, just means you can have more fun

 

Adopting the "Its an extreme sport, so should be no rules" approach will just kill it.

Sorry but some people are more interested letting eveyone know how cool they are becuase they do an extreme sport, and how they "live to be extreme" or "go big or go home" or any other of the T-Shirt slogans that have been adopted.

Where as we should be promoting the sport because it is fun whilst high lighting that there are inherent risk associated with it, just like any aspect of life, but we are taking all resonable precautions.

 

Let COMMON SENSE prevail, ride responcibly, use appropriate PPE and SMILE

Remember do what you like in life, just do not mess it up for others

 

Fly safe, Jon

 

P.s Ref Carls comments on Helmets, correct me if I am wrong but I think his concern was not so much of wether we should/should not wear helmets. But that if the powers that be say we need helmets, then they need to specife a standard?

And if it was a rule then it needed to be up held, even if it was not required, just like any other rules/requirments.

If it is an inappropriate rule/requirment then the correct action should be taken to get it change, rather than just ignoring it and doing your own thing. As that would just invalidate your insurance and thus cause more isues.

In these case it has been an error in producing the list of rules, but it did need bringing up, as if not it would have stayed like that till some one had an incident a claim was made and then it would have been refuse as no helmet was being worn.

Petty I know, but in this "Lets blame someone to make a Claim" culture we can not wait for things to go wrong and then try and fix it

 

Good luck

[spanked]

Yea lets jump on Carl for posting this info. Info found on your very own web site, are you not the main instructor for west coast kite boarding?

I take it you have no input into the content of your web site ?

The WWW is for all to see, PROOF READING before publishing would be strongly advised!!

 

Carl. I am responsible for the info put on westcoastkiteboarding.co.uk/ainsdale.htm

 

I copied and pasted it from an email I received from Sefton Council so that people like yourself who for some reason didn't receive that email could see the new regs. This is not something Chris asked me to do and maybe I shouldn't have linked it to his website to avoid any confusion. Although I thought people ought to know these rules sooner rather than later, because we do not currently have a domain name set up for Ainsdale kitesurf club, I linked it to his site.

 

I have no involvement with westcoastkiteboarding.co.ukother than maintaining the website.

 

I am now going to update the ainsdale kitesurf club webpage http://westcoastkiteboarding.co.uk/ainsdale.htm with the updated rule about protective headgear which has been confirmed was a typo.

 

The club website will be up soon, the current URL is only temporary.

 

Carl can you do us all a favour and quit the anti-bullying campaign, we are all getting a bit tired of it now. yawn yawn!

I met you on the beach a while ago and thought you were an alright guy but the sh*t you are coming out with on here makes you sound like a complete tosser. Let's draw a line in the sand now and move on and if that has to be to a different beach than that is all down to yourself breaking the rules twice when everyone else seems to be able to stick to them. And anyway why are you on the kiteboarding section of the forum? Have you been banned from the buggy forum or will nobody speak to you there?

Leave us responsible kitesurfers to self police our beach and go and get back in your buggy!

[carl999]

SCCS, I also informed you that my appeal would take some time to put together, I will appeal in the near future.

 

Spooky, you are perfectly correct, I have no issues in wearing any PPE if it is appropriate and prevents injury, the water head gear potential rule would need recommendations from the powers that be.

 

Spanked, I look foreward to the day of feeling I can change my signature, I am not the only person to feel bullied in respect of kiting on Ainsdale beach, as the Chairperson of AOSPKC my signature is simply letting people know that there are people who care about bullying, I am also on the receiving end of a campaign at work, SCCS even publish info for:

Harassment and Discrimination - advice and support, even a link for bully online http://www.sefton.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=1832

Some Councils are being very pro-active by producing statements such as this:

NEWS RELEASE

Sport in Shropshire Takes Step Forward

to Stamp Out Bullying

28 November 2006 – Last year alone, 37,000 children rang ChildLine because they were being bullied. This is one of the many facts highlighted during last week’s national Anti-Bullying Week and one of the reasons sports organisations across the county have come together and launched their own ‘Anti-Bullying Policy’.

The policy, which has been formulated by the County Sports Partnership – or Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin as it is also known – has been produced in conjunction with partner organisations, including Shropshire County Council, Telford & Wrekin Borough Council and other local authorities and community organisations.

It offers sports facilities and providers, such as leisure centres and clubs, a framework and clear step-by-step guidelines on how to prevent and effectively manage bullying behaviour within their organisation. It also gives all children and vulnerable adults engaging in sport and physical activity in Shropshire the assurance that they are participating in a safe and friendly environment.

Commenting on the launch of their new Anti-Bullying Policy, Stephen Welti, Chairman of Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin said, ‘The implementation of this policy is not simply another box organisations can tick, but is about the active adoption of a more positive, safer environment in which people participating in sport can feel assured that their well-being is a priority. It is up to all of us to declare zero tolerance on bullying and this policy is a real move forward towards stamping it out in sport and physical activity across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin.”

- more -

The partnership’s ‘Anti-Bullying Policy’ has been welcomed by sports and community organisations across the county and is to be rolled out to all facilities throughout the rest of 2006 and 2007.

I also happen to have dealt many times with the aftermath of bullying, I can assure you this is the most unpleasant part of my work, especially when children are involved!!

Before any power kitesports club could put something back into Sefton I believe we need to adopt anti-bullying & other policies, club accreditation with Sefton Sports Council is the right way forward for the long term future of our sport!!

 

I do fully understand that my signature may cause offence, I am also sure SCCS would support any club who is trying to comply with Sports England.

AOSPKC policies are put in place to help protect our members.

I am shortly about to attend policy implementation training representing the BPKA, when all clubs in operation at Ainsdale have anti-bulling policies I will change my signature.

 

This forum is a prime example of a safe & friendly environment......NOT!!!

 

Carl.

[ShapeShifter]

Carl - if you want to be serious about this then go and see a solicitor - otherwise your comments might ammunition against you for others to use.

 

afterall you are accusing someone of harrasment arent you ?

 

Be a big boy and put this to rest, if you have an issue - take it up with the powers that be and stop polluting this forum with your predjudices.

 

I stand by Spanked for all he has siad - he's being your mate - listen to him.

 

Now do we remember when kites made us happy ? cant we get back to what its all about ? pleasure ? I for one just wnat to have fun and relax in my spare time - I see enough ****e to last a week at work - dont need it down the beach mate.

 

Peace out duuuude.

[HippyMchop]

I see enough ****e to last a week at work - dont need it down the beach mate.

 

I agree with that! Now can we get back to talking about having fun!

[Marshall10488]

to be perfectly honest it seems stupid that the council have made these rules and made permits to kite there.

since the beach is their responsability now i think they should sort out the water quality from what ive heard its not the cleanest water.

[SHED HEAD]

You lot want to wake up .

 

The purpose of kiting is to enjoy ,not b i t c h i n g on like a load of old women, Old women sorry .

 

No wonder I dont want to surf at Ainsdale any more, you have to go through a party political broadcast every time you turn up at the beech .

 

Get a life people ,and get back to where you should be , ENJOYING YOURSELF,not b i t c h ing on !!!!

[carltb]

most of the biatching goes on on here not the beach. its all peace and love @ the beach:eek: