Miami Beach Ban

Matt V · Wed Dec 27, 17 10:48 am **Miami Beach Ban**

Miami kiters are in need of some support on this one.

Not the best petition format, but hopefully it works. Toby, the moderator and owner or Kiteforum, posted this so I trust it. Help out by signing this and hopefully we can again set precedent FOR access being allowed. Precedent is the one thing that can transfer from one side of the country to the other.

Link to the original post on Kiteforum:

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2398445&p=1000773#p1000773

Link to the petition:

https://mbkf.miami/contact-city-representative/

jack · Since 12 Mar 2006 211 Posts Stoked

I kited Miami beach once and I forget the exact location (somewhere south oh the Fountainebleau). What amazed me was how close kiters kept coming to swimmers who were right by shore (10 to 15 feet or less). The kiters all seemed local. If they weren't local, then there was no vocal local presence discouraging such unnecessary activity.

I am not saying they deserve what they may be getting, but I was really very surprised by how kiters there behaved.

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 607 Posts Addicted

Yup, everything happens for a reason
Sometimes...., sometimes the reason is you’re stupid and make poor choices.

Sorry, couldn’t help myself. I have no idea what the situation is there but I do hope it works out well for everyone concerned.

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 663 Posts Addicted

1surfer · Thu Dec 28, 17 8:12 am **Miami dangerous**

I was one of the first 2 kiters in Jupiter back in 98'. We had it all to ourselves for a couple of years but when the kiters started coming of from Miami, they were super dangerous kooks. There were one or two nice responsible kiters that came up from Miami and Lauderdale and they were welcome as we were stoked to kite with other humans. The main reason that Jupiter has 3 kite beaches is not because of their specific locations. Its basically the same beach and wind for miles in either direction. It is because the dangerous kiters from Miami and Lauderdale kept coming and taking over the Jupiter beaches with their dangerous and scary kiting, so we kept moving launch spots just to get away from them. I can not overstate how dangerous they were ( and still are ) when they came to Jupiter, and they were even worse in Miami and Lauderdale. I did kite in Miami and Lauderdale a bunch of times as I was there for other reasons and the kiters there were stoopid scary dangerous. They had no regard for other people, children, swimmers beachgoers or other kiters. They were dangerous while launching and kiting. They would do hot launches right next to children and then kite right up to the beach and swimmers and launch kook airs. They still do. No regard for safety or other people whatsoever. Ft. Lauderdale is the same. Miami and Lauderdale are the most dangerous spots and the most dangerous kiters that i have ever seen anywhere. Nothing has changed there. Bad judgment, bad safety practices, bad kiting practices, bad attitudes. From my point of view they brought the ban on them selves and they deserve it. Should have happened a very long time ago. If you look at the way they drive there, its exactly the same.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

1surfer · Thu Dec 28, 17 11:08 am **Re: Miami dangerous**

Matt V · Fri Dec 29, 17 8:56 am

I will not argue against the previous posters assessment of the average Miami Beach kiteboarders personality.

I will not argue against there being some locations where beachgoers would be safer without kiters at that beach.

But a ban sets a precedent – there is no argument against this!

How many Oregon Coast kiteboarding locations have beach goers mixed with kiters? How many beachgoers are at the event site and out on the sand bar? Even Rufus, and many other locations have seen conflicts between beachgoers and kiteboaders.

If you believe that a TOTAL BAN is justified and deserved, I bet you will change your tune when you see this posted in response to a proposed kiteboarding ban at a Gorge or Oregon coast site that you use.

“I kite mostly in Florida and Texas. I went to the Gorge once and the kiters there are idiots. They launch at unsafe small beaches, if you can even call it a beach. They don’t even follow their own rules about not throwing tricks inside of a buoy next to the beach. They have no idea about the right of way rules. And there are beginners there dropping their kites on top of people just walking on the beach. If kiteboarding gets banned there, those kiters deserved it!” - (fictional post, meant as satire)

jack, knotwindy, bigjohn, 1surfer, SalmonSlayer thanks for your input. It helps some of us in determining whether or not to go to Florida. But you are shooting yourself in the foot with statements BY A KITER, FOR A KITEBOARDING BAN!!!! If I was affiliated with a particular political party, I would love to have all 5 of you as members of the opposing party.

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 663 Posts Addicted

Matt,

I appreciate your input as everybody has an opinion.

I think that you (as I am sure others will also) misunderstood the intent of the critical postings.

Nobody wants to see a ban in Florida. I would bet that all the posters you called out had already signed the petition on behalf of the kiters in Florida. I know I did.

The point is that anytime there is a potential ban on a kitesurfing location it is an opportunity to perform a little self reflection.

Did the local kiters in that region do things to escalate the tension?
Were there things they could have done to mitigate concerns?

We can learn from others mistakes. Simply putting our heads in the sand and ignoring the signs will only lead to a repeat of the failures of others.

Forum communication among members of the kiting community is one of the best tools for getting the word out regarding safe and acceptable kiting standards.

The Miami Beach Kiteboarders Foundation is now asking the Miami Beach Comissioners to enforce new kiting rules in lieu of shutting down the beach.

I think the point myself and others are trying to make is that if the Miami Beach Kiteboarders Foundation had been able to convince their local kiting community to follow the rules previously, one might assume they might not now be begging the Miami Beach Comissioners to leave their beach access open to kitesurfing.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

Ho-Toe · Fri Dec 29, 17 12:12 pm

MattV: “How many Oregon Coast kiteboarding locations have beach goers mixed with kiters? ”

All of them. And if anybody pulls this sorta shit at any of those spots, corrective action is taken. Self-regulation, you know, like the type that will prevent a kite ban.

Keep tilting at those windmills, buddy.

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 607 Posts Addicted

and again
I did not say a ban was a good idea. I also don’t know that it isn’t. I said I don’t know enough about the situation.
And saying all bans are bad and setting a precedent? As if bans should never happen? Anywhere? Ever? Really?
If you can’t self govern your area and that puts others in danger, something will be done and someone will step in. So step up first, as in do the right thing.

And they don’t need us to justify an opposing view. Plenty of info out there already. I have heard little about the Miami scene over the years but having said that, all I have heard was pretty bad and not one mention of ‘no it’s not like that’.
Still hope they clean up their mess and it works out well for everyone.

mrdnd · Since 11 Feb 2011 33 Posts Bend

I think what struck me about the kiters in south Florida was the culture. It was a cold every man for himself, get out of my way, these waves are mine and you are not welcome. Those proposed rules will help but so would an attitude adjustment. I think that the sandbar can get hectic but the attitude is still solid for the most part. Aggressive, difficult communication and a bad vibe is a big part of what contributes to a ban and is why the Oregon community is still viable.

It is tempting to let the vibe sink as things get more crowded. I have seen a selfish attitude infrequently creep into crowded kite spots in the NW and I can only hope that it doesn't sink down to the level that I experienced in that part of Florida. Even non-kiters can pick up on it. Positivity, manners and stoke are a huge commodity when it comes to keeping spots open.

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

I remember Neil Hutchinson and Hamish Mcdonald came to the gorge and thought they were some kind of rockstar kite duo. They would drink beer all morning and then drunkenly buzz the shore at the event site. Lou Wainman finally told them they were risking access for everyone and they stopped. Nice guys but I believe they are from either Miami or ft lauderdale so that seems in line with a ban if everyone there kites like that!

1surfer · Sat Dec 30, 17 8:17 am

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

Ok but that does sound a little too much like
me beatum head with coconut
Miami is a good place to make a plane connection
Nice view from above but not eager to be on the ground
Signed petition anyway...

1surfer · Sat Dec 30, 17 9:06 am