Ocean Beach
1. Do NOT launch / land your kite anywhere near the sea wall and promonade. Yesterday I saw a guy land his kite right over the wall to his friend standing on the promenade. Pedestrians and especially children on bicycles that are on the promenade are not visible from the beach and it is extremely dangerous. Kite launching /landing is always safest with kite towards water. In case of on shore winds, best to get to a clear spot NEAR the water. In case of a mishap, you will be dragged towards the water and not into a 15 foot wall, through a parking lot, over the great highway and into the side of a condo.
2. Do not practice flying your kite on the beach among a bunch of sunbathers / walkers / children / dogwalkers....... especially if you are a beginer and constantly crashing your kite on the beach and letting it roll downwind. Again, I saw a beginer doing just this yesterday while three people walked right in the impact zone beneath lines and kite. The person learning was not wearing a harness, and repeatedly crashed and rolled his kite. The beach is large enough to find a spot south of Lincoln way that will have less people on the beach than in front of the parking lot between Cliff House and Lincoln Way. Just use common judgement. If it is foggy and the beach is empty there should be plenty of open space anywhere along the beach. If people start walking near you, land the kite if you are learning and wait for the area to clear out before you relaunch and practice more.
3. Take lessons before you show up at the beach and know how your gear works. Last week I launched a guy and found out he did not know what the depower strap did. There are three good schools in the bay area and the safety issues alone are reason enough to spend a few bucks to learn the sport.
4. Stay clear of windsurfers and surfers. They are less maneuverable than kite boarders and the windsurfers need more run out space to get over the beach break to the outside.
5. Spread out! Why does everyone need to kite in the same spot? With on shore winds it is hard sometimes to stay off the beach. There is good kiting from Sloat to Cliff House. Especially if you are learning, try and kite in an area that is less crowded.
Let's keep OB open to everyone. One mishap could close the beach to all kiteboarders and someone could get seriously injured.
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