My fellow watermen. It is probably too late this law is as good as passed but there is a chance if we as a group speak loud enough we may stop it. The bill has passed the senate and the house and needs only the governors approval to become law. Please use whatever influence you have to rally people to contact Governor Rick Scott first through phone calls then email copy and paste or rewrite as soon as possible and lastly sign the petition. Primarily a parasailing bill the kiteboarding amendments were added just prior to signing the bill to avoid us having a say or influence.

2014 Bill Summaries - The Florida Senate​     2014 Bill Summaries - The Florida Senate SB 320 — Commercial and Recreational Water Activities by Senators Sachs, Margolis, and Sobel   View on www.flsenate.gov 

   Call request a veto-it's just a box they will check but enough calls will get their attention. (850) 488-7146 Then copy and paste or rewrite and send this email to the Governor. Go to his webpage to send your email or use the address below. http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/email-the-governor/​ rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com lastly sign the petition and share with as many supporters as possible.    

  The Honorable Governor Rick Scott   

Executive Office of Governor Rick Scott
400 S Monroe St
Tallahassee, FL 32399          

Dear Governor Scott,   As a member of the kiteboard community, I am concerned about recent news from the capitol regarding the White-Miskell Act Senate Bill 320 recently passed through the senate and the house.     It is our understanding that the bill has been under review for several years by government officials and the parasail industry. However, the Kiteboarding community and the general public were not made aware of the last minute kiteboarding amendments when they were reintroduced to this bill and it was already in your hands when most of us found out.   

Kiteboarding regulations don't belong in the Parasailing bill. Kiteboarding is not parasailing.  Kiteboarders are powered by the wind. Parasailers are powered by a boat. Our kite lines are typically 20 to 25 meters or 60 to 80 feet. The average Parasail lines are 800 feet long and fly the passenger as high as 600 in the air. Kiteboarders have full control of the kite steering and power delivery. Parasail passenger are just that, they dangle from below a parachute 600 feet in the air with no control at the mercy of the boat.  

There is no need for blanket regulation prohibiting kiteboarding near all airports. Prohibiting kiteboarding within one mile of the end of all airports runways in Florida will close down many riding locations that have never had any conflicts or posed any threat. Kiteboarders lines are no longer than the average sailboat mast and pose no greater threat to airspace.  

The kite community has a history of working with the public to ensure safety and protect our access. We wish to continue an open line of communication to prevent the need for undue regulation. Upon hearing the kiteboarding amendments were reintroduced we sent a representative to the FWC Boating Advisory Council Meeting to speak on our behalf.  

This airport rule will affect at least ninety two kiteboarding locations along the coast not including inland lakes and rivers. One of the great things about kiteboarding is the freedom to ride where the wind takes you. Unmarked zones where kiteboarding is prohibited will unnecessarily regulate areas where there have never been any complaints or conflicts.  

Restricting the rights of kiteboarders will directly affect Florida tourism. Every year kiteboarders and their families come to FL because it's got great places to ride and beautiful weather.  Any rules restricting our sport will only encourage them to go somewhere else. Roughly 10 thousand kiteboarders a year travel here to ride at 3 thousand a trip that is 30 million dollars a year. There are over 40 shops with an average of 2 million in annual sales each totaling 80 million dollars. The annual Industry trade show 3 million dollars. Every year there are around 6'000 new people introduced to the sport.  

Kiteboarding brings people to FL for a sport that is beautiful to watch and has little to no effect on the environment. Please veto or amend SB-320