PSKITE Rider's Etiquette

[ScottR]

I totally agree with Stringy on the whole looking out for each other thing. Helping someone out is a great way promote comraderie and generally creates a positive friendly beach scene. I think everyone feels a little better out there knowing that other kiters actually care about their well being. Lets never turn into Cali where we're territorial and punching each other over missed waves etc.
Here's a little on the water ettiquette. When you are following another kiter, either ride way behind, way down wind or just upwind, if you ride along just behind and a little downwind you effectively block that person from being able to safely change direction.

[Ghostrider]

Instructors please share this simple courtesy with your students if yer not already...when passing another kiter downwind kiter kite low and upwind kiter kite high. I see a lot of beginners not doing this

Thanks - good thread

[James Owenby]

Marijuanna is illegal yet pot smokers seem to have an etiquette...

Drugs are bad...mmmmkay

[CarrotHead]

Something that didn't immediately occur to me as a beginner is that if you are the downwind kiter and you drop your kite (as you should) in more powered conditions, if you don't bear downwind you will gain speed and possibly have less control as you are passing someone upwind of you. This can be a bit nerve racking because if you crash, your kite will go to zenith and could interfere with the upwind kite. Just saying, downwind kiter may have to lose some ground, too. It's to be expected. And the upwind kiter should peel off upwind to minimize this effect for the downwind kiter.

[CarrotHead]

Marijuanna is illegal yet pot smokers seem to have an etiquette...

bad analogy...
if you wanna get high, good for you. you don't really affect my access to kiteboarding.

General Beach Etiquette:
1) Pump up your kite, THEN lay out your lines. Tuna, SickNick
2) Roll up your lines / maintain a small beach foot print. SickNick
3) share your marijuana. I see a lot of beginners not doing this.

[James Owenby]

In all seriousness etiquette is important especially in tight launching and landing zones. I was at the Event Site last weekend and it was pretty much un-managed chaos especially on Saturday. I thought the vibe amongst the people really sucked on Saturday. We should have all been having fun, but everyone was so stressed.

Here are a few things that could have made it go smoother.

1. Be dressed and ready before you pump your kite if you are pumping up in the launch zone
2. Pump your kite
3. Now run your lines.
3. Be ready to go. This is not the time to make a phone call or go to your car and change. Your stuff is in the way so get a move on.

Also I witnessed a tense exchange that I thought our Seattle person could have taken the high road on.

One of our Seattle people was rolling out his kite when someone was bringing a kite in. The person who brought their kite in, brought it in fast and hot so it came slamming down in a crowd. Certainly not good. One dude (we'll call him the bystander) jumped out of the way and stepped on our Seattle person's kite. It was clear he didn't care what he was stepping on, he was just trying to get out of the way for his own safety. Our Seattle person bitched at him..."hey get off my kite" or something to that effect. Normally stepping on someone's kite is not cool and of course should be avoided. However when someone is just trying to get out of the way of a tomahawking kite then you need to let it go.

There was an exchange about not wanting to get your head taken off....Of course I doubt a tomahawking kite could literally take your head off, but it could really mess you up. Unless this person who steps on your kite is wearing logging spikes it isn't going to hurt your kite if someone steps on it wearing flipflops on the grass. The bystander walked away shaking his head in disgust. I don't blame him. To the Seattle person...I say, I love you bro but as they say on that NFL show "C'mon Man." We are all in this together and that bystander may end up being the person who saves your board, pulls your ass in after a kitemare or lands your kite.

Let's all be kind people...the Summer is just getting started.

[j.p.]

Let's all be kind people...the Summer is just getting started.

On the water and the forum... not just on the forum.

Thanks for Contributing!

[wylieflyote]

In La Ventana, I swear to God, folks would often intentionally look the other way as you're coming to shore and tapping your head indicating a request for a landing.

[j.p.]

In La Ventana, I swear to God, folks would often intentionally look the other way as you're coming to shore and tapping your head indicating a request for a landing.

I'd be willing to bet some of the folks who looks away are the very same folks that go on at lengths when they have an audience stating what a supportive, friendly, caring etc. community we have.

I encourage all who care about promoting our sport to take the time and read the following...

http://www.ikitesurf.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17544

[jason]

.... seems like Sunset Beach has some pretty strict but well defined kiteboarding rules with a marked launch and land area that doesn't allow swimmers. Did I miss something important in that link?