Forums > Kitesurfing   Western Australia

Wave kiting and Paddle Surfers Etiquette

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Created by Stewart25 > 9 months ago, 1 Oct 2020
Stewart25
WA, 56 posts
1 Oct 2020 2:24PM
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What are the rules/etiquette if people are paddle surfing a spot and you turn up on your kite?

I just had a bloke tell me I wasn't following etiquette when I was kiting a popular learner reef spot down south. It was **** conditions and two adults were surfing, or should I say attempting to surf. I caught a couple of waves and then went in as the wind went too light.
In this bay there are three surf breaks a full on heavy right hander, a left hander that breaks along a steep cliff and this learner spot in the front of the bay. I was really respectful, stayed out of there way and went in when I thought it got too light so I didn't drop my kite in the surf spot.
While packing up this fella comes over and says I wasn't following etiquette as I was kiting through the surf break, as you do when wave kiting. He said that it was too dangerous. I told him I was being safe and careful and he continued on his rant saying if there's people surfing I shouldn't be kiting there and that there were kids surfing. Which there were but nowhere near me and they weren't down wind of me either.
So where the truck are you meant to kite then if there's a couple people surfing? The heavy right hander where if you stuff up it's a long swim in? The left hander which also had a couple surfers on it where if you stuff up your kite is on the rocks?

This spot will always have people surfing it. So should they get out if they're not comfortable with me kiting while they're in the water?
Or should one of these three waves be a designated kite surfing wave spot where paddle surfers aren't allowed if there are Kiters out?

I will be kiting here again and live in the area. So what is the general consensus with kiting when there's a couple crew out surfing?

What is the correct etiquette in this situation?

DJMWA
WA, 342 posts
1 Oct 2020 4:08PM
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Go elsewhere, if you were where I think you were you have about a 10-15 km stretch both north and south of that bay which would've had next to no-one.

Stewart25
WA, 56 posts
1 Oct 2020 5:32PM
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Errr 10-15km of coast that you can't kite. One stretch to the south With a suitable kiting wave which is a bloody good left, which I would also have thought would have had crew on it even in the onshore. Hence my original question if someone is out surfing are you not allowed/supposed to kite on the same break?

DJMWA
WA, 342 posts
1 Oct 2020 6:45PM
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Select to expand quote
Stewart25 said..
Errr 10-15km of coast that you can't kite. One stretch to the south With a suitable kiting wave which is a bloody good left, which I would also have thought would have had crew on it even in the onshore. Hence my original question if someone is out surfing are you not allowed/supposed to kite on the same break?


Yep pretty much, especially at a kid friendly/beginner wave. When they paddles out they didn't sign up for having lines wrapped around them should you drop your kite in marginal westerly winds.

We'll have to agree to disagree about that stretch of coast only having one good left to kite too.

Falco
102 posts
2 Oct 2020 12:20PM
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What about if you're kiting first and someone paddles out?

pablolo
WA, 1 posts
2 Oct 2020 8:45PM
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Select to expand quote
Stewart25 said..
What are the rules/etiquette if people are paddle surfing a spot and you turn up on your kite?

I just had a bloke tell me I wasn't following etiquette when I was kiting a popular learner reef spot down south. It was **** conditions and two adults were surfing, or should I say attempting to surf. I caught a couple of waves and then went in as the wind went too light.
In this bay there are three surf breaks a full on heavy right hander, a left hander that breaks along a steep cliff and this learner spot in the front of the bay. I was really respectful, stayed out of there way and went in when I thought it got too light so I didn't drop my kite in the surf spot.
While packing up this fella comes over and says I wasn't following etiquette as I was kiting through the surf break, as you do when wave kiting. He said that it was too dangerous. I told him I was being safe and careful and he continued on his rant saying if there's people surfing I shouldn't be kiting there and that there were kids surfing. Which there were but nowhere near me and they weren't down wind of me either.
So where the truck are you meant to kite then if there's a couple people surfing? The heavy right hander where if you stuff up it's a long swim in? The left hander which also had a couple surfers on it where if you stuff up your kite is on the rocks?

This spot will always have people surfing it. So should they get out if they're not comfortable with me kiting while they're in the water?
Or should one of these three waves be a designated kite surfing wave spot where paddle surfers aren't allowed if there are Kiters out?

I will be kiting here again and live in the area. So what is the general consensus with kiting when there's a couple crew out surfing?

What is the correct etiquette in this situation?

This has gotta be a p!ss take! Surely nobody could be so clueless to kite through surfers at the only semi protected beach on the entire stretch of coast!

timmybuddhadude
WA, 738 posts
3 Oct 2020 10:37PM
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This is an awesome guessing game... as I may have done every 'kiteable' bay in the south West.. except for this one.. As I can't guess where it is.. What fun..

Falco
102 posts
4 Oct 2020 7:33AM
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Select to expand quote
timmybuddhadude said..
This is an awesome guessing game... as I may have done every 'kiteable' bay in the south West.. except for this one.. As I can't guess where it is.. What fun..


it's obvious when it hits you, had me guessing for a while, but I guarantee, you have surfed there but probably not kited lol, kind of one of those ones where it's right in front of your face, hope this helps

Jonopark
WA, 399 posts
4 Oct 2020 10:51AM
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I kite the left in Westerlies (wsw) (25 knots plus and the surfers are usually not out there) and if there are crew out there go surfing.
The middle of the bay is for learners and to be honest an absolute waste of time kiting - fat slow lefts, better rights (but still fat and **** and your going against the wind which is a waste of time). Also it is one of the only protected beaches that beginners can be safe.
My advise go to google earth there is a much better spot.

timmybuddhadude
WA, 738 posts
4 Oct 2020 11:40AM
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Another clue??..
The suspense is killing me.....

Falco
102 posts
4 Oct 2020 12:34PM
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Okay last one ............





timmybuddhadude
WA, 738 posts
4 Oct 2020 4:09PM
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Ummm coramup bay cowtown? Can't be uuummm
Lol awesome pic..



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"Wave kiting and Paddle Surfers Etiquette" started by Stewart25