NEWS AND HEADLINES
NEWS AND HEADLINES
Getting a good start in kiteboarding. The earliest kiteboarders were for the most part, self-taught. Teaching yourself is inherently difficult and fraught with unpleasant surprises, unforeseen challenges , and is very time consuming. This gave rise to the "Kitemare", a tale of a scary kiteboarding ordeal. Learning to kiteboard is semi-difficult, somewhere between learning to wake-board and learning to ride a short-board in windsurfing. The difficulty of the process can deter many would be kiteboarders from making it through the early learning stages. In recent years there has been a huge increase in the number of good qualified instructors and schools available that it is a good idea to take a few professional lessons whether you are a beginner rider or intermediate. There are now several recognized teaching systems that certify schools and instructors. The main ones seen in the US are; the Hawaiian Based KISS System, The east-coast based PASA system, the French based Wipika system, the US based KBC system and the Dominican republic based IKO system. Contact them for a list of schools in your area. NB. there are a small number of non-certified schools around, that may or may not give a good lesson, we cannot recommend them. The certified schools will be more likely to hire the quality instructors and have adequate insurance, and provide good equipment. We recommend that you ask any instructor about their experience, qualification and riding ability, before you take a lesson. Good kiteboarding schools will offer longer courses to beginners, and the average person will need about three days to get the basics and about a week to get riding, depending on wind. The cost of a lesson is money well spent because of the inherent risks involved with kiteboarding. Go to the MKA links page to check out the different school systems and find a school, or schools in your area. Many schools offer travel packages so you can combine your kiteboarding course with a vacation in a good kiteboarding destination.
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Gorge
To US Kitesurfing Association,
On June 28,
the Port of Hood River put a temporary ban on kiting on all port property
while they investigate the safety risks involved with this sport.
We have a
loosely organized group of kiters here who meet weekly to discuss safety/access
issues in the gorge. We were completely surprised by this sudden
temporary ban that was issued. We have a meeting scheduled with the
Port Commissioners on Wednesday July 5, which will consist of an on the
water demonstration (including Ken Winner & Cory Roeseler) followed
by a discussion/presentation at the Expo Center.
Does the
US Kitesurfing Association have any interest in this issue? Should
we be working to more formally organize our own kite organization, or would
it be best to pool our efforts with the US Kitesurfing Association?
During the
next few days, we will be attempting to gather information/statistics on
kitesurfing safety, worldwide involvement/growth of the sport, etc.
Does the US Kitesurfing Association have any good resources already available
to assist us in our efforts?
Any information
or help would be much appreciated by all of the kite fanatics here in the
Gorge!
Thanks,
Spencer Berry
kitesurfer@go.com
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Hawaii
Sirs,
I am a windsurfer that is employed
by the Federal Aviation Administration here on Maui at the Kahului air-traffic
control tower. I frequent the lowers Kanaha beach area
several times each week. I have been observing lately (while sailing),
that a few of the Kiteboarders are starting to wander into the no-fly zone
east of lowers. I have talked with 2 kiters the past couple of days
about it, and warned them of the dangers of infraction into the no fly
zone area. They were completely uncooperative and claimed they were
in the fly-zone. I tried to tell them they were too far east
but to no avail. Today, 1 kiteboarder was repeatedly in and out of
the no-fly zone, while another I observed was way east almost to
sprecks until he finally came in to stop. All of them always launch
and stop in the approved launch site area as per your web page map.
That means launching and stopping in the approved area is being observed.
I told a female kiter a couple of
days ago, that all it takes is one aircraft pilot or some kind of incident
in the approach airspace, etc... to cause repercussion's that will end
your permission to be in the close proximity of the airport approach/departure
areas at our airport. I asked the kiters I have talked to,
to be very careful about their respect for the no-fly zone, but think because
I am a windsurfer they don't have much respect for anything I have to say.
Please consider these things as important,
because if a few are allowed to ignore the rules that your association
as agreed with us (FAA) to follow, then more and more will follow their
poor example, and worst come to worst kite boarding could be banned from
more waters within proximity of airport property. All it takes
is a letter from the Air Traffic Manager to ban it and a lot of innocent
kiters will suffer for a long time.
As a suggestion, you might erect a
sign (as per your map) at the point at lowers showing kiters they are not
to go east of the rock point just west of the canoe club.
Please know that even though I am
a windsurfer and work for the FAA here, I am NOT an enemy of your organization
or the sport of Kite boarding. I think it is neat and hope
you will continue to grow. I think thus far, you have done
a good job of self governing your new sport. Just thought you
would like to know what I have been observing so you could police it if
you feel it a need.
Sincerely,
Steve Annis(US-4164) (FAA-ATSS)
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