Alameda Safety Meeting Sunday 13. At the shack 12-1pm

[windhorny]

It's time to call another group meeting and try to address the issues of the growing kiter population.

Issues to be covered:

1. How to keep kiters from drifting into beach goers.
2. Right of way
3. how to prevent kiters from launching in between families on a crowded day.
4. Ideas to inform the uninformed.
5. Possible requirements for schools to issue a "solo" certificate.
6. Safe ways to learn (bring a friend)


If there is wind I would also like to offer a self-landing class for intermediate kiters. I would also like to show beginner kiters how to drift your kite on the water as to avoid obstacles and drift in to the beach when blowing side - off shore.

The issues that Alameda faces are unique in that we have a growing amount of beach goers topped with a steady flow of ambitious beginners that are sometimes overly eager to try out their new gear.

Although these issues are serious I am sure we will all have a great time and tighten the community. This is not an advanced vs. beginner topic. We are al part of the same family. We all learned at some point. Bring a friend, bring some food. Please dont bring alcohol as the park police are eager to issue very expensive tickets. This will be an informative meeting and a great way to better understand some of the issues that need to be addressed.


Next Sunday,13th at Boardsports aka the Shack. Will be around 12-1. Hopefully we get some wind.


Thanks

Yuri

[Boardsports]

thank you for organizing Yuri!

we need to have regular safety meetings to educate everyone on safety guidelines and offer free safety instruction.

i have attached the document that was created as the result of safety meetings in the past. it has overall kite safety guidelines, as well as alameda specific guidelines.

i look forward to seeing any of you who are able to join us sunday 9/13 12noon at the shack. we will host more of these in the Spring as well.

[Boardsports]

contents of attached safety PDF also pasted here>



KITEBOARDING SAFETY TIPS

Kiteboarding is an incredible new extreme sport that is sweeping around the
World. The thrills and shear joy of flashing over the water and flinging
yourself, spinning into the sky at will is addictive! Lot of power in this
sport, it's part of the attraction and sometimes a threat as well. Riders
are slammed and injured sometimes for want of just a bit more care and
knowledge. Consider working the following ten points and other good
practices into your riding habits. They may help to keep both you and
bystanders safer and help to maintain kiteboarding access for us all to
enjoy this great sport. These guidelines have grown out of the analysis of
almost one hundred kiteboarding incidents and accidents. We are always
learning new things about safe kiteboarding in this new sport so be aware of
new techniques and updates to this list. NOTE: Even if these guidelines are
followed serious injury can still occur in kiteboarding, so be careful out
there.

1. NEVER LAUNCH OR RIDE WITHIN 200 FT. OR 60 M UPWIND OF BY STANDERS OR HARD OBJECTS ...land, boats, rocks, walls, buildings, powerlines, roads or prominent vertical surfaces or steep slopes that may cause uplift. Depower your kite as early as possible if trouble threatens. Waiting may remove the option to do so safely. Riders have been injured and killed by ignoring this. In kiteboarding "DISTANCE IS YOUR FRIEND" and may sometimes help to forgive bad luck & errors in judgment.

2. AVOID STORMS & SQUALLS. CHECK WEATHER RADAR, WIND & FORECASTS & BE AWARE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS WHILE RIDING. Storms & squalls have injured lots of kiteboarders & are a serious threat. Actual weather may differ from predicted conditions so stay alert. If you see squalls or storms, LAND, remove the lines & SECURE your kite in advance of any change in wind or temperature. Riders have been injured by reacting too late or not at all.
Avoid offshore & onshore winds.
3. TAKE ADEQUATE PRO KITEBOARDING LESSONS FROM A GOOD SCHOOL carefully build experience in manageable conditions. Lessons cost but you should be kiteboarding faster, easier & safer for your investment. Also you could save your expensive gear & yourself from damage & our access to ride.

4. CAREFULLY PREFLIGHT YOUR GEAR, make sure lines are equal, in good condition, free of tangles/snags, are properly attached & no leaks are
present. Repair gear before launching.

5. USE SAFETY GEAR ... a suitable helmet, impact vest, tested kite leash,
reliable chicken loop quick releases (QR), &
hook knife(s). Practice mentally & physically reacting to emergency
situations, e.g. lofting & dragging, to try to reduce critical reaction
time. Test & maintain your quick releases before each use to improve
reliable performance.

6. BE CAREFUL IN & CONSIDER AVOIDING HIGHER WINDS while kiteboarding, that is potentially winds much greater than 18 kts or 20 mph. Kite forces & flight speeds can be much greater & conditions far less forgiving of errors in judgment & simple bad luck & have resulted in serious injuries.

7. HAVE AN EXPERIENCED HELPER LAUNCH & LAND YOUR KITE who understands your instructions without error. If conditions permit, it may be safer to launch your kite near or from the water.

9. KEEP YOUR KITE LOW & NEVER BRING IT TO THE VERTICAL WHILE NEAR HARD OBJECTS OR LAND TO TRY TO AVOID LOFTING. GET OFFSHORE WITHOUT DELAY.

10. AVOID COMPLAINTS TO KEEP KITEBOARDING FREE & AT WILL. Jump to help kiteboarders. If you see someone doing something reckless, grab your friends & go talk with him. We are all in this sport together so pitch in & be ready to help to keep riders safe and to work to preserve access.

ALAMEDA KITEBOARD SAFETY GUIDELINES

Beginner Guidelines

• All beginners should get professional instruction from a certified instructor at an established school
• All beginners are encouraged to get at least 6 hours of practice on a training kite before instruction. However, do not fly the trainer until you have read and understand its instruction manual
• Never buy, rig and launch a non-trainer kite before instruction
• Never try to help launch or land a kite before you’ve had instruction

General Guidelines:
• When in doubt, don’t go out
• Kite with a friend and let a non-kiter know where you have gone kiting and when you should return home
• Kitesurfers are responsible for their own safety and for the safety of others in their vicinity
• Always use a proper safety leash
• Always were a helmet, life jacket/Impact vest, harness and wetsuit
• Never kitesurf in off shore or onshore wind
• Check weather forecast before every session. Avoid storms and squalls. Consider not going out in higher winds (20+ knots) and gusty conditions
• Before going out read site specific guidelines and/or talk to other kiters about water hazards, obstacles, land considerations, etc.
• Kiters should yield right of way to all other beach users
• For beach goers’ safety, it is strongly recommended that you do not walk up the beach with your kite in the air
• Be helpful to others and take responsibility for public safety
• Do not leave unused kites on the beach
• Roll up your lines when not in use
ALAMEDA KITEBOARD SAFETY GUIDELINES


Please protect kiting access at Crown Beach in Alameda.

FOR RIGGING, LAUNCHING, LANDING, AND SCHOOL ZONES, PLEASE SEE MAP AND RESPECT DESIGNATED AREAS

Launch Area:
• The launch zone must remain clear of equipment. It is for launching and landing only. Additionally, launch areas are typically based on kiter consensus and not sanctioned by law. Often they are also the launch area for windsurfing, kayaks, etc. That means that anyone has the right to stand in the launch land area and you are responsible for their safety. Ask bystanders to "Please remain clear

Pre Launching:
• MAINTAIN A SAFETY ZONE around you of a minimum of 200 ft (or approximately 2 kite line lengths at all times!)
• Set up kite and clear all tangled lines
• Ensure that all safety systems are properly working
• Always prevent kites from inadvertent launching on the beach by weighting with sand etc…
Launching:
• Attach kite safety leash
• Make sure that launch zone area is clear and there are no incoming kiters.
• Look in the launch area before signaling to be launch. Ask bystanders to "Please move out of the launch zone” before you launch
• Don’t fly your kite at 12:00 over land.
• Whenever possible, launch toward the water, keep your kite low and go. Self launching is discouraged. Please ask for assistance
• When launching, make sure that kite is free of sand before release (This is a courtesy to other beach users)
• Launch kites only from designated areas
• Leave the beach in a slow and controlled manner, but do not hesitate to get to the water
• Beginners should body drag 200’ out before water starting
• No beach jumping


ALAMEDA KITEBOARD SAFETY GUIDELINES

On the Water/Right of Way:

• Starboard tack has right of way (right hand forward is starboard, left is port)
• Right of way does not mean you can veer up or down wind. While passing, maintain your course
• While passing another kiter who is down wind of you, fly your kite high; if you are the down wind kiter, fly your kite low
• Keep clear of all beach goers, swimmers, and waders. They always have right of way
• Downwind kiters/windsurfer has the right of way (they can’t see behind them)
• Kiter should give way to other water crafts (kiters can maneuver easily, others can't)
• Don’t jump 50m upwind of another water user
• Incoming kiters should let launching kiters go out first before landing
• Jump and jibe at least 200’ outside shore break and swimming area
• Always yield to ALL other water users
• DO NOT COME WITHIN 200’ OF THE BEACH OR SWIM AREAS UNLESS LAUNCHING OR LANDING!! …

Landing:
• If you are on the water and can’t water relaunch and you are drifting toward the beach w/swimmers or bystanders, you must perform a self rescue before your kite reaches them – 200’ Minimum!
• Be sure that no one is launching as you come in
• Self landing is discouraged. Obtain assistance for landing your kite
• If you have been taken down wind, do not ask beach goers to help land your kite; self land in the water
• If you must walk your kite upwind, please only do so where the kite can be flown over the water and where you can maintain the 200' safety zone
• Roll-up your lines immediately after landing and move your kite out of the launching/landing zone
“Kite in hand when you hit the sand.” Kitesurfers who return to shore downwind of the antenna must land their kite in the water and recover it before walking up on to the beach.

[windhorny]

Since not one person has shown interest in this I'm not sure it's worth doing. I'll head to the shack as planned at noon but will plan on no one coming at this point.

[seashell]

Since not one person has shown interest in this I'm not sure it's worth doing. I'll head to the shack as planned at noon but will plan on no one coming at this point.

Sorry Yuri, I would be interested, but I already had plans for tomorrow so it's unlikely I can make it. Will try to attend in the spring. If you're ever able to give notice further in advance, that would be helpful.

[cncor]

Yuri
Thank you for stepping up to the plate if anyone knows the kite and how to control it that would be you. About two weeks ago the wind dropped I self landed and as I was wrapping up the lines a civilian (non kiter) approached me and asked if I was an instructor . I replied no and pointed to the shack and said lessons are over there. And then she let me have a piece of her mind that day a kiter got close to her children and she expressed some serious anger and how all it is going to take is one of us to ruin it for all of us. I remained calm and tried to bring her down to a calm level I reassured her that kiters would never mean to do harm to civilians and we would never do anything to jeopardize our beach. In the end I reassured her and told her that I would spread the word.

My message to the schools-this season 8 different schools were out there I wonder how many actually are legit with insurance pay business license and taxes? "oh I am just teaching some friends"
A message to the instructors-how about teaching how to kite 100' from shore instead of 20' feet and crashing the kite on the sand where the civilians are . This season I cant count how many times that I have stopped a kite from tumbling down the beach and what confuses me is the instructor behind the student that lets this situation happen. We all have to start somewhere LETS START WITH SAFETY! If you guys keep crashing on the beach I will personally deflate your kite and if you want to take it to the next level then lets meet in the parking lot.
Lets widen the gap between instructor/students I don't think that you guys can see it but it is like a train of 4 or 5 instructors in a row creating congestion.
The trainer kites same story set up one then go 2 blocks and set up another instead of plugging up a whole section of beach.
As for myself I was not aware of the 200' from shore rule I am going to try to improve that I usually like to go about 40' . And paying attention to the people down wind from me this year I did a couple of jumps and when I landed I realized that I was kind of close to the next guy down wind.
I did stop a new kiter this year he was putting everyone in danger. I then showed him some simple ways to control the kite and now we meet at Sherman and he is progressing really well. I don't want to give lessons I want to kite. With that said I see a hazard I am going to stop it.

How about a clean the beach day and clean the streets day just from the kite community to the residents? Show people that we care about our beach and the neighborhoods that we park in.
Last but not least if you are new and not confident ASK FOR HELP our job is to look good and not put the civilians in a awkward situation.

I hope that I don't offend anyone I really enjoy this sport and I don't feel like driving over a bridge to kite somewhere else. This season there were just too many close calls.

Chris

[CdoG]

Well chris...
You could drop the meet in the parking lot stuff
As that makes kiters look like bikers


I understand your love for kiteing
Beating someone up will not help.

[le noun]

I think that a meeting like this one is a great idea but I don't think the end of the season is the best tome to do it.
Why not wait end of April next season?

[CdoG]

Do both
Have the meeting today
And one in the spring

[windhorny]

Agreed. To be continued early next season. But where ever you are stand up for your sport. We all represent each other in the publics eyes. If you see something that is even remotely hazardous to the public please go tell that person they are jeopardizing all of us having access to the beach.

Yuri