Squamish

[LeopardSkin]

... beginner kiter tourist who paid 20$ was rescues by jet ski ,and was told unkindly by the male rescuer to take lessons and stop bothering
Rescue!!! sounds wrong to me, anybody else heard problems wt rescue team paid from the Funds?

The jetski rescue is for unexpected emergencies.

If you are a beginner, a rescue is not likely "unexpected." Rather, the beginner is using the jetski rescue like a shuttle service.

I pay my fees so the SWS can lobby on my behalf, pay the required insurance, and pay for all the infrastructure that's needed to keep all the government agencies happy. Otherwise the spit road will be permanently closed.

I'm not paying for a beginner's shuttle service. The kite schools do offer shuttles for a fee.

[Laura]

If you are a beginner, a rescue is not likely "unexpected." Rather, the beginner is using the jetski rescue like a shuttle service.

agree... well put

[ezzylover]

... beginner kiter tourist who paid 20$ was rescues by jet ski ,and was told unkindly by the male rescuer to take lessons and stop bothering
Rescue!!! sounds wrong to me, anybody else heard problems wt rescue team paid from the Funds?

The jetski rescue is for unexpected emergencies.

If you are a beginner, a rescue is not likely "unexpected." Rather, the beginner is using the jetski rescue like a shuttle service.

I pay my fees so the SWS can lobby on my behalf, pay the required insurance, and pay for all the infrastructure that's needed to keep all the government agencies happy. Otherwise the spit road will be permanently closed.

I'm not paying for a beginner's shuttle service. The kite schools do offer shuttles for a fee.

very well said !

[BCKiter123]

Perhaps a standard competency (kiting level) should be mandatory for people to kite at the spit? Perhaps this should be part of the paperwork and signed for both season and day use members. Things like:
-ability to get and stay upwind (implies knows how to transition etc)
-kited at spit before?
-knowledge of launching/landing procedures at the spit? (helps to identify if SWS should give person a quick walk-through)
-knowledge of how to self-rescue and wrap lines
-previous lessons taken, IKA level attained etc.

And perhaps SWS should reserve the right to NOT let people kite at the spit if the above requirements are not met? Would this not ensure that SWS resources are best utilized to ensure the safety of 'eligible and competent' members? Just a thought.

Standard competency could be mandatory and 'proof' required before launching at spit. Local schools could provide some type of 'Spit Competency Check List' that kiter could show SWS before launching there.

[morrison]

"Standard competency"

We are talking about humans here?

[BCKiter123]

"Standard competency"

We are talking about humans here?

Edited to say 'kiting level' in case that clarifies.

[morrison]

"Minimum" ( the lowest amount, value, or degree attained or recorded ) is probably more applicable than " standard "?

[LeopardSkin]

Beginner windsurfers and kiters are always welcome. They should take lessons. They should hire a school boat to shuttle them back to safety.

[Alton]

Scored a nice pair today

First session - demo'd 9m Airush Union + 140 cm Airush Twin Tip for 1 sweet hour ... then rescued in the lull.

Second session - overpowered (and overcrowded) on 12m+TT for 1 hour. Called it quits because the smoke made me nauseous.

Squamish_Sat_Aug_5.gif (19.71 KiB) Viewed 14192 times

[C36]

Spooky. Logging road bumpy. Erie smokie haze. Lots of out of province sailors including two 'wild roses" (windsurfers from Alberta) and one 'trillium' (kiter from Ontario). Full wind (as noted by Dan). Low tide early on made for flat water in the river. A little light and a little unsettled but sounded like the best day in a while. Fun sailing with AJ in the river. Smoke seemed to clear a little throughout the session.

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