The kiteboarding community in Squamish has been dealt with another blow as the District announces a permanent ban on the sport at Sp’akw’us Feather Park.
Squamish Windsports Society (SWS) vice-president Olivier Corbeil told The Squamish Chief that the ban—implemented on Oct. 16—means kiteboarders have no access to the ocean during the off-season.
The restriction comes as a result of a District investigation on the safety of watersports at the park following the death of North Vancouver resident Gray Taylor while kiteboarding in Squamish on Canada Day.
Squamish Windsports Society reaction
“We've been involved with the District on the investigation, so we've given recommendations since the incident, and also prior to the incident, on how to make it safe, and to make sure everything would go well,” Corbeil said.
“So obviously this is not the outcome we were hoping for.”
According to a District of Squamish press release, staff reviewed the usage of the beach and surrounding areas to determine if any changes were required following the tragic accident on July 1.
“While the risks of the downwind hazards and difficult onshore winds were known, the review further identified a significant level of risk to bystanders who may get in the way of long lines from kiteboards,” the press release reads.
“This dynamic interface between kiteboarders and the wide range of park users, and the challenges of implementing effective separation measures, has led to the decision to close the beach permanently to kiteboarders.”
The restriction is only on kiteboarding, with wingfoiling and windsurfing still permitted “due to their contained nature.”
‘No public access to a waterfront for kiteboarders’
Corbeil says the ban not only means a lack of year-round water access in Squamish, but also an increase in pressure on the SWS, which was forced to get a shuttle service to transport members to Pepahím̓ Island following the removal of Spit road.
“When they removed the Spit road, the access to Pepahím̓ Island, we were kind of led to believe, and I think it was a sentiment, that the Watersports Beach would be the new location for all-year- round access,” Corbeil said.
“[The road removal] was less than ideal for us. It cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a shuttle service, and our operation costs are quite up, because now we have to shuttle people over to the island…we get well over 100 to 150 people a day on the island in summer months,” he added.
“So we were hopeful that we would get access to the [Watersports Beach] back, but unfortunately with the outcome of this investigation, there's going to be a permanent ban at this location instead.
“Which means that now in Squamish, when the Windsports Society is not operating and running the shuttle service to the island, there's no public access to a waterfront for kiteborders.”
Currently, the SWS is only allowed to run their shuttle service to Pepahím̓ Island from May 15 to Sept. 15, according to District instruction.
The kiteboarding future in Squamish
As for what the future holds, Corbeil says it feels “underwhelming.”
“We don't really know where to go from now on. We're hoping to work with the District to find a solution, although, from our experience, it takes a long time and as of right now, there's just no access for kiteboarders in the whole town, which is a problem that we want to solve right now,” he said.
“The (Watersports Beach) was already the plan B and unfortunately there is no plan C.”
The District said in the press release that they will continue to engage with the Squamish Windsports Society “as they work to facilitate ongoing access to windsports in Squamish.”
“The District acknowledges that much work by marine, parks and windsports experts went into designing and providing feedback on Sp’akw’us Feather Park, and that the Watersports Beach was anticipated to be accessible to advanced/expert kiters as an alternate launch to Pepahím̓ (Spit Island).”
Mayor Armand Hurford also acknowledged the inconvenience the ban would have on the local kiteboarding community.
“We ask the windsports community to understand and appreciate the District’s decision in considering the broader safety concerns,” he said in the release.
The full press release on the District of Squamish decision to restrict kiteboarding at Sp’akw’us Feather Park can be read on its website.
