Latest revision of the safety pamphlet can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/kite-traction-safety-pamphlet

1. Right of Way Rule #2 was reworded to remove some ambiguity. Thanks to labrat for pointing it out.
   
2. A failsafe rule (#6) was added
   
3. A link/entry for the NAPKA.org site was added.
   
4. Some of the URLs for tutorials/forums/resources were updated.
   

ATB,
Sam

Anyone going to Wildwood for the first time, needs to read and study the diagrams. Get em'in your head ,and riding w/ the pack isn't that hard at all.

Good job Sam. sorry I'm not gonna be there this time. I really wanted to meet ya' Bro. I'll be there in April ,come hell or high water! As long as those pesky Mayans are wrong...

Very nice and a big thank you to all that helped put this together.

Yes thanks again Sam, Dan, and Mike!

Like Donnie said, please take a look at this, it will be for everyone's best interest. I am sure there will be some printed versions available at WBB on the front desk.

Donnie, bummed you guys won't be making it up this time!

The pamphlet came out great; Sam you do good work. Thank you so much for your efforts.

This pamphlet is both a great tool to inform kiters about best kiting practices and to show the general public that we take safety seriously. Please take the time to look it over and try to apply its lessons when you kite. Remember that we have to kite in a controlled safe manor and police ourselves in order to keep access to our flying spots open.

With all the attendees at the bash, at times it can get quite crowded in some areas of the beach. Don't panic, follow the rules of the road as best you can and please communicate your intentions and/or position to other pilots when you feel they are unaware of it. This will greatly reduce the risks any unwanted incidents.

Quote:

sorry I'm not gonna be there this time.

Donnie I can't believe that you wont be there for this bash. I thought for sure that you would pull something off in the last minute and make it. I guess that is not likely to happen and we will have to wait to the spring to see you again.

I'm really going to miss you, Kelly and oh yeah that big bag of PKD kites to try. It is not going to be as fun without you.

I know .... It sux.... See ya in April....Just had too much against me at this time. Gotta have your priorities.... even if they suk....

Nice job Sam.

The easiest way for me to remember who has the right of way is who's left hand is in the front. Wayward / leeward... I can't remember that, but if I'm travelling left on my board such that my left hand is forward facing, I consider myself to have the right of way. If I'm travelling right and my right hand is forward facing, then the opposing rider has the right of way.

I would like to ask you buggy guys to remember that you are much more mobile than boarders and have the ability to better travel through soft or wet sand than those of us on boards so regardless of right of way please, please, please keep in mind what happens when you refuse to yield and push a boarder towards the water or soft sand. Not a complaint just an insight to those of you who don't board but do fly by us with more manueverable vehicles and often faster, more manueverable race kites. Sometimes I don't yeild because I can't really yeild as I'm being pushed towards unfavorable terrain.

Me, I prefer to have just my little piece of beach to fly more-or-less undistrubed so I can jump, slide, carve, whatever without worry of being pushed off my line or avoided or ride at uncomfortable speeds on harsh terrian just to get out of your way.

Just becuase buggies can travel the whole length of the beach, move at greater speeds and cut upwind better than boarders can, doesn't mean you have to. Just one man's opinion and worth exactly what you paid for it.

A couple of us have actually had that discussion about that very subject Roc, I agree totally. If you are coming up on a land boarder, give them plenty of room whether they have the right of way or not. Boarders are much more vulnerable. Great point!

Nice pamphlet guys.

Maven! He has appeared again! Are you coming or what! Bring the new bride, take her for a ride!

Not going to be there. Stuff to finish up at work this week before going on work travel next week.

Quote:

Originally posted by B-Roc The easiest way for me to remember who has the right of way is who's left hand is in the front. Wayward / leeward... I can't remember that, but if I'm travelling left on my board such that my left hand is forward facing, I consider myself to have the right of way. If I'm travelling right and my right hand is forward facing, then the opposing rider has the right of way.

The pamphlet is well presented and clear to me.

But this could start to confuse things - what you wrote is totally opposite to what is called the starboard rule in windsurfing and also used by a lot of kitesurfers. Here is a clip of the rule:

"2. Starboard tack over port tack
But who has right of way if two surfers are heading towards each other from different directions and their ways cross? Here the second rule "starboard tack over port tack" applies. If a surfer is coming towards you, the one whose sail, from his or her own point of view, is on the left side of the board (starboard tack), has right of way."

So when the sail (or kite) is on your left side, it's your right hand that is forward on the boom (or bar). Most people I've kitesurfed with as well will talk about wind coming over their right arm forward having right of way.

Quote:

Originally posted by shehatesmyhobbies Are you coming or what! Bring the new bride, take her for a ride!

Bridge ?!!?! :o Whaaaaaat?!?!?

Crikey.... you leave them alone for a bit and you never know what kind of trouble they're going to get into.

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by markite The pamphlet is well presented and clear to me. But this could start to confuse things - what you wrote is totally opposite to what is called the starboard rule in windsurfing and also used by a lot of kitesurfers. Here is a clip of the rule:

Probably nothing is going to change before the Bash. But there's always V3.

Doneski sent along a bunch of suggestions too.

Will sit down with everything when my head clears a bit. Running very stressed right now. Most days head feels full of oatmeal and cotton.... ready to explode.

The feedback is much appreciated.

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by markite Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc The easiest way for me to remember who has the right of way is who's left hand is in the front. Wayward / leeward... I can't remember that, but if I'm travelling left on my board such that my left hand is forward facing, I consider myself to have the right of way. If I'm travelling right and my right hand is forward facing, then the opposing rider has the right of way. The pamphlet is well presented and clear to me. But this could start to confuse things - what you wrote is totally opposite to what is called the starboard rule in windsurfing and also used by a lot of kitesurfers. Here is a clip of the rule: "2. Starboard tack over port tack But who has right of way if two surfers are heading towards each other from different directions and their ways cross? Here the second rule "starboard tack over port tack" applies. If a surfer is coming towards you, the one whose sail, from his or her own point of view, is on the left side of the board (starboard tack), has right of way." .

OK, so my wording was wrong but the way I interpret the rules would have me following the directions you outlined. I should have used red / blue side of the bar as opposed to hand forward. If I'm travelling left and my left handle / side of the bar / hand / side of the body is facing the oncoming rider then I consider myself to have the right of way. That would appear to be true based on your quoting of rule #2. By left hand forward I mean on the side facing the rider not forward on the bar / boom.

I think riding along the beach needs to be clarified. Its like a narrow road when riding the hardpack along the shore. Travel is in both directions, done in a narrow lane and soft sand to the sides limites where you can move to.

Should people treat oncomming traffic like when you're driving and keep to the right?

When traveling in the same direction, what does the overtaking traction pilot do? They can move around behind a slower pilot and could pass on either right or left, upwind or downwind of the other pilot
- Can they decide which side to pass?
- Should they be asked to only pass on the side that allows them to keep their kite higher than (and out of the way of) the slower pilot?

Quote:

Originally posted by doneski Travel is in both directions, done in a narrow lane and soft sand to the sides limites where you can move to. When traveling in the same direction, what does the overtaking traction pilot do? They can move around behind a slower pilot and could pass on either right or left, upwind or downwind of the other pilot - Should they be asked to only pass on the side that allows them to keep their kite higher than (and out of the way of) the slower pilot?

That would be my preference. I don't think any rider being passed should have their line compromised as they may not be aware they are about to be passed so they should not be expected to alter their course or kite position - unless they choose once they realize what is occurring.

At the end of the day I think its just common sense that's needed assuming you both see each other coming and you have time to act or react to the pilot that makes the first move.

The thing that I want to again stress is that I think boarders should have the right of way whenever possible. On the ocean, the biggest ship has the right of way because it is slower and less maneuverable. I think the same principle holds true for boarders. Though we aren't bigger, we tend to be slower and less maneuverable and if forced to send our kite up in the window, down in the powerzone or we get pushed into less friendly terrain, then things can go badly quick for at least the boarder and potentially the approaching rider if the boarder crashes or entangles the approaching rider.

My view is obviously biased as I don't know what approaching buggy pilots think of when they approach me but I'm always thinking how I can get them to alter their line in order to allow me to stay on mine regardless of right of way if an alteration of my line potentially puts me somewhere I don't want to be. Personally, I can't stand being "tailed" by faster riders. I don't board for speed and when being tailed I can't cut upwind into the rider on my tail so I'm forced to hold a line and build speed to pace the tailgater until they pass me at which point I usually slide to scrub the speed. Not griping just trying to raise the awareness since this thread has been started.

With all the attendees at the bash, at times it can get quite crowded in some areas of the beach. Don't panic, follow the rules of the road as best you can and please communicate your intentions and/or position to other pilots when you feel they are unaware of it. This will greatly reduce the risks any unwanted incidents.

Quote: Originally posted by indigo_wolf

Quote: Originally posted by shehatesmyhobbies Are you coming or what! Bring the new bride, take her for a ride! Bridge ?!!?! :o Whaaaaaat?!?!? Crikey.... you leave them alone for a bit and you never know what kind of trouble they're going to get into. ATB, Sam

It's okay, I don't have a bridge

Quote: Originally posted by Maven454

Quote: Originally posted by indigo_wolf   Quote: Originally posted by shehatesmyhobbies Are you coming or what! Bring the new bride, take her for a ride! Bridge ?!!?! :o Whaaaaaat?!?!? Crikey.... you leave them alone for a bit and you never know what kind of trouble they're going to get into. ATB, Sam It's okay, I don't have a bridge

9 month delay on a post reply.... Wow... :wow:

I think that qualifies as a pregnant pause..... wait.... what.. huh. :o

ATB,
Sam