The Squamish Windsports Society (SWS) is urging the District of Squamish to take immediate steps to improve access and safety for kiteboarders in the community. In a letter to the Squamish Council, Olivier Corbeil, Acting President of SWS, called for help as he outlined the challenges faced by the kiteboarding community. In October, the District announced it would permanently ban kiteboarding at Oceanfront Park.
“The removal of the access road has not only disrupted our business model but has also compromised safety for the increasing number of users at the site,” Corbeil wrote, noting that more than 90% of SWS members are kiteboarders, with peak summer days drawing over 150 participants.
Please support the Squamish Reporter with a small subscription.
To address the challenges and to reopen access to the new wind sports beach, the society has proposed the following measures:
Windsports Beach Safety Enhancements: “We urge you to prioritize the reopening of the beach for kiteboarding by implementing necessary safety measures, as suggested in the investigation meetings with the district staff, the SWS and Matthew West,” he writes. This includes adding larger signage, installing a bollard on the bike path, marking the boundary of the wind sports area, and ensuring staff presence on-site to mitigate risks.
Dedicated Planning for Windsports Access: We recommend collaborative planning efforts with the wind sports community to ensure better access and infrastructure within Howe Sound under the guidance of a new committee to replace SEMC, as stated in a district statement from 2020.
Expanded Safety Resources: Allocating resources to enable SWS staff to extend their reach during the summer months will help provide critical safety and rescue services for all water users.
These measures, Corbeil emphasized, are essential for the safety of watersports participants and the broader community. “The presence of the Squamish Windsports Society on the water acts as a crucial safety net for the entire community,” he said, pointing to the organization’s daily rescues, often including non-members such as paddleboarders and kayakers.
SWS’s operations have been severely impacted since the removal of the Spit access road, a change that has also undermined local tourism and economic activity. He said a recent survey estimated that wind sports contributed over $3 million annually to Squamish’s economy before the road closure. The removal has also led to a 50% drop in SWS membership and prevented them from hosting international events.
Compounding the issue, the closure of Spakwus Feather Park as a kiteboarding site has left no legal access points for kiteboarding outside the SWS main season. Corbeil warned that this could push users to unsafe launch areas, increasing the risk of accidents.
“This lack of legal access may lead people to launch from unsafe locations, increasing the risk of incidents on the water.”
Read the entire letter here.
