Kiteboarders say new law could end sport ; Northeast Florida’s coastal conditions are perfect for parasailing adventurers
By Matt Soergel | |
Proquest LLC |
For now.
Kiteboarders are worried that a bill awaiting Gov.
"It would completely wipe away the kiteboarding community in
The White-Miskell Act, which recently passed the
A late House amendment to the bill added restrictions on kiteboarders, banning them from within a mile of an airport. That was scaled back from an earlier amendment setting the limit at five miles.
Kiteboarders at Huguenot can look across the
Much of the kiteboarding in the park - including a flat-water lagoon where beginners frequently learn the difficult sport - is within a mile of the base's runway.
Parasailors are towed behind boats and can be lifted hundreds of feet into the air. Kiteboarders ride on modified surfboards and are tethered to lines of about 60 or 70 feet in length.
The best can jump another 20 feet on their kites, said kiteboarder
Kiteboarder Nathan Scheu is helping circulate a petition urging Scott to not sign the bill.
"They're trying to classify us with the flying aircraft," he said. "We don't fly high enough to bother any planes."
On that, the
Kiteboarders aren't a problem for Mayport NAS, said
"The
The parasailing bill was named after
It unanimously passed in the
He said he was not happy about the add-on for kiteboarding, but had to accept it to get the bill passed.
The parasailing regulations are well-intentioned, said Shine, former head of the
It also has the space and flat water beginners need for their safety and that of other beachgoers - a combination that's hard to find elsewhere.
The bill, if enforced, would cripple the sport, Davies said.
"Is it enforceable? Yes. Would local jurisdictions enforce it? Probably not. But the potential is there that it would prohibit or ban kitesurfing in one of the best locations in the world, which would be really, really sad."
Copyright: | (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |
Wordcount: | 633 |
Career Track
Township still investigating arson
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News