Beach Access program

[seanbold]

Beach Access Program


With rapid growth in the Puget Sound area, we've experienced 3 kite beach access issues over the last 6 months. As of the time of this post, these 3 access issues are still in play and could shut down, or significantly degrade, access for kiteboarding at those spots. As a result, the pskite bod has decided to reinstate the beach access program. Some of you may recall there have been versions of beach access programs in the past.

The goal of the beach access program is to ensure ongoing access to frequented kiteboarding beaches around Puget Sound. Appointed pskite beach representatives (beach reps) will proactively work with local government officials, private parties, land owners, or others to ensure both kiteboarder's and the general public's reasonable best interests are considered and addressed. Beach reps will work to create positive relationships with important stakeholders, for example a park ranger at a popular beach with lots of kiteboarders and general public interacting.

Beach reps will also proactively work on site with kiteboarders to ensure they understand the situation at that beach and how to engage safely there. The inherent dangers of kiteboarding are extended to the general public when they are at the beach spectating. Being aware of and addressing the potential issues proactively gives us the best chance of achieving ongoing access to the beaches we love.

Safety is critical to ensuring ongoing access. Education and positive communication are critical to ensuring safety. Beach reps will be asked to understand the situation at their beaches in detail; all the in's and out's of what has happened, or could potentially happen, that would threaten access, shut down or degrade the overall situation for kiteboarders. The beaches in the program and the beach reps themselves will work on a rotating basis as needed. Beach reps will work as individuals or teams based on the amount of activity at that beach and/or for other reasons.

Beach reps have agreed to volunteer their personal time to work on behalf of the kiteboarding community - they need your full support for the program to work! They will be available to help educate new kiters, or experienced kiters new to that beach, regarding specifics at that beach. They are not your boss or the police, of course, but they will report back to the pskite bod any ongoing issues that could threaten access to kiteboarding at those spots. They will help the situation on site stay within boundaries that allow us to continue to kite there.

Below are the beaches and beach reps in the program (as of the time of this post):

Jetty Island - Caroline Heckathorn, and Jeff Heckathorn. Also Stephen Sibborn and Jeffro
Richmond Beach - TBD
Golden Gardens - TBD
Carkeek Park - TBD
Edmonds - Andy Dufus
Magnuson Park - Jim Buttrick (BBQ Jim)
Juanita Bay - Patrick Daniels (pdaniels)
Double Bluff/Whidbey Island - Jesse Thetford
Iverson - Rick Ratcliffe
Belfair - TBD
Ocean Shores/Westport - Dennis Crowley (crawddaddy)

If you are on this list and do not want to be part of the program please let me know and we will look for some one else. I know everyone but Andy and Dennis, I look forward to meeting you both in the future. Thank you all for supporting our community.

We are just one serious incident away from losing access at any of the beaches we kite, therefore, we are asking for your full support of the beach reps themselves and the beach access program overall. I'm available as the program manager to answer questions, address any concerns, or explore new ideas you might have.

Thank you in advance for your support! See you on the water!

Sean Bold
pskite board member
pskite beach access program manager

[Shred_Barbie]

Nice post BOD. Way to be proactive with solutions.

[steveanderson]

Thanks for getting this going. I'd be happy to be the RB rep.

[Wanna-Go]

Ought to add Lake Wenatchee to the list.

[kalena]

Nice one guys. We have a similar group in the Squamish - Vancouver area for beach access as well. Gotta fight for the right to kite!

[marcp]

Looks like this one died or fizz'd out.

[pdaniels]

Hi Marc - pskite beach access program is in place. Volunteers are working behind the scenes on things like clean ups, working with gov or local entities on minor and major threats to access, and helping kiters with local "do's and dont's" on the beach at important kite spots around Puget Sound.

All pskite work is volunteer based - there are no fees at present for members and volunteers receive no compensation of any kind for their the time they donate to the community. As a result, you don't see a lot of marketing communications to highlight or promote the work being done.

Beach access and safety are the most important items for pskite. We also facilitate the internet forum pskite.org and throw at least one party per year to facilitate relationships and stoke across the local kiteboard community.

Do you have a beach access issue or need help with beach access or safety at a local spot?

Thanks,
Pat

[bonesbrigade]

So,

Washington state parks is conducting a planning process around useless bay and it sounds like the unofficial mayor of dubba bluff has now been christened the official mayor. I've been trying to get in contact with Jesse, but for some reason my pm's are sitting in my outbox and do not appear to be going through.

Jesse if you are reading this or if anybody reading this has his contact info could you send me a pm? Alternatively, if someone could let me know why pm's seem to be stuck in my outbox that would be great.

Thanks in Advance!

[jason]

I think PMs sit in your outbox until they have been opened by the recipiant.

[pdaniels]

Thanks bonesbrigade for keeping your eye on things at DB. Jesse had been ill this summer, but has recovered and is back to kiting. It may be the reason for the delay, but I will email him and ask that he check his PM.

In the meantime, please do participate in the planning process and Jesse will join in to assist and work through any issues.

Thanks!