This is the list of special focus areas for the Kite Club Cph, and in line with the KCC Club Rules DK. At club inception we ran a survey among people what the focus areas should be and the results were (top 3):
- Bringing together kite surfers socially
- Place to find companions for kite-themed travel
- Improvement of spot’s safety and convenience infrastructure
Each project can be in different stage of advancement.
Installing live weather station on the SVP spot
| Update June 23rd | Trilateral meeting between Kite Club Copenhagen [KCC], Dragør Kommune [DK] and Natur Styrelsen [NS] : – DK explained the mutual benefit of making the data from wind station publicly available and allowing the wind station to be installed – DK and NS explained the purity-of-landscape plan for the area containing SVP, restricting among other things masts erection, and identified potential 3 locations to place the mast: – top of the fort observation tower – roof of a pumping station north of the parking lot – parking area itself is excluded from restrictions KCC to investigate how the station would technically perform in those locations, DK and NS to assess legal feasibility within a week. – Financing of wind station beyond commune scope, however perfect candidate for Friluftsrådet support. KCC to take further once consensus on location reached. |
| Update May | In dialog with authorities |
| Club focus area | Improving spot safety and convenience infrastructure |
Goal
Installing a wind station transmitting live readings of wind strength, gusts and direction over the Internet. This is typical infrastructure on spots world wide, which are maintained by clubs and schools. Live data, unlike forecasted, tells exact values presently and historical (shows trend if wind is picking up or going down), allowing kiters to make safe choices – size of kite relative to wind strength, whether to begin or abandon session based on wind direction, whether wind is too gusty and dangerous, especially for a beginner etc. Live data is accessible online, e.g. a Swedish surf club is transmitting their data like this, available on mobile phones etc.
Plan
Hardware-wise there are complete solutions available like e.g. from Holfuy, or Leonardo is investigating a DIY station (inspiration). There is a price vs convenience balance.
We would need to get in touch with the Naturpark Amager about the intention and permission to erect a mast with the station on the SVP.
Funding wise, we would seek support from sponsors – in particular for the out-of-the-box weather station solution, or crowd-fund (from members and beyond).
Installing information boards on the SVP spot
| Update June 23rd | Trilateral meeting between Kite Club Copenhagen [KCC], Dragør Kommune [DK] and Natur Styrelsen [NS] : – NS explained the ornithologists association lobbying for more lockdown in the SVP area, and political compromise authored in early 2000s resulting in present restrictions. Violation of the present rules are pretext for lobbying more restrictions in the area. – KCC explained the main reasons for breaking rules : new or visiting kiters unaware of the rules, disorientation on water – DK, NS, KCC all agreed that marking on water and visually improved info-boards are feasible solution – NS is finding this within their responsibility (buoy marking on water and information boards) and is taking next step to assess possible implementation |
| Update May | In dialog with authorities, meeting Dragør Kommune Teknisk Afd 23/6 |
| Club focus area | Improving spot safety and convenience infrastructure |
Pain points with present boards
- Relevant area is tiny fraction of the map.
- Instructions are complicated, in text, referring to not publicly known names like Kofoeds Enge or Aflandshage.
- Instructions are difficult to interpret while being on water.
- Boards are small and easy to miss.
The message reach is limited. Despite ongoing efforts to spread the knowledge over Facebook – the message doesn’t reach 100% of the kiting community.
Goal
Install new surfing-focused information boards, inspired by traffic signs that are visual, contextual to user – in fact 2 of them, 1 per access to the beach.
The new board would inform kiters about where and when to kite in simple visual ques. We would transfer the information from our SVP spot presentation. The boards would be placed more directly facing people on the way from parking lot to the beach. Beyond that, a reference to standard kitesurfing safety practices like hand signs, right of way etc for kiters, as well as for other users of the beach.
Plan
Contact Dragør Kommune Teknisk Afdeling and go into partnership.