"Whilst the temptation to get up close and personal is strong we must also respect the rationale and protection around this endangered species."
An Australian kitesurfer from Old Reynella, Australia was arrested Saturday on two counts of “molesting a protected animal” after getting very close to a southern right whale and her baby calf. The 32-year-old man was in Adelaide, as were the whales, but where the wind blows, so the spirit goes.
Whales and dolphins are protected under South Australian law and molestation carries a criminal penalty.
The molester will appear before Christies Beach Magistrates Court on August 2, according to ABC News, though Kiteboarding South Australia (KSA) has said he is remorseful for his actions but also released a statement reading, “Whales are majestic creatures and whilst the temptation to get up close and personal is strong we must also respect the rationale and protection around this endangered species.”
A witness on the beach snapped photos of the molester and wrote, “Unfortunately, some wanted to get too close,” on Facebook.
Where do you rank kitesurfing amongst the wind-powered boardsports?
I put classic windsurfing number one and by far.
I think a classic windsurfer would never molest a soul.
Do you?
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He’s going to now be a registered whale offender for the rest of his life. Can you imagine the burden of carrying that tag forever? The trauma…
Molestation of cetaceans is an Australian tragedy. We need brave surfy journalists to fling open the doors of our national shame.
Why did my comment about Jamie O’Brien molesting sea turtles get removed? Is it because I called him the worlds best living free surfer or because he loves vodka and red bull?
My wife says the best fish she’s ever had was the Opa(?) from Mamas. I imagine there are several hundred dollars of uneaten delights there every night. Just cut around the edges. They better keep that dumpster on lockdown. But from my experience ice addicts are often not very hungry.
Used to work at the Outback Steakhouse in Napili with a couple Brazilians; they wouldn’t let any unfinished coconut shrimp make it to the trash can unmolested. Good surfers those guys maybe there’s something to it
Cheer up T Neilson, it wasn’t a total loss. At least she fondled your fuzzy balls. After all, it was her serve.
Seals smell pretty bad too, just sayin.
So keep the harassment and molestation in the comments section and out of the ocean?
Sea world is really fun.
I had a dolphin swimming directly under my board for an entire ride yesterday, even following me as I did a turn, and I’ve never felt so Inertia in my life
Inertiation at it’s finest. That was a sick turn though… I totally saw the dolphin and everything(in my mind)!
Are you a convert??
They sent the dolphin
Dyslexics can’t spell “molester” or “molest” without e lo.
Wind Powered Board Sports Power Ranking Table
1/. Kite Surfing
2/. Kite Foiling
3/. Wind Surfing
4/. Whatever that hand kite thing they’re doing in Hawaii is called.
Kite surfing takes the bikkies because it is the best alternative to surfing when it is too windy to surf. You can rock up and get going in about 10 minutes and pack down in 5. And you can fit all the gear in a small sedan.
I’ve never kite foiled, but I figure it allows you to get on the water in light winds, so there’s that.
Wind surfing is fun enough, but being strapped in and having all that extra hardware around you is threatening. And you need a huge van to fit all the gear in.
That hand kite thing just looks like something invented as a rescue device.
Freeboarding some other guys boat beats all that.
Please don’t forget terrasailing!
https://i0.wp.com/wind-on-w…
Nothing like gravel rash from an afternoon’s sailing. I always thought those guys who did the kiting on snow and ice were a bit fucken nuts too.
That’s Jenna de Rosnay styling on Maui circa late 1980’s. AKA Jenna Severson, John Severson’s daughter. Her late hubby, Arnaud de Rosnay was lost at sea in 1984 attempting to windsurf from China to Taiwan. Jenna was a top woman’s speedsailor and smokin’ hot model. Too bad Chas and Drek are clueless about wavesailing in all its forms. They might have something more to write about than sharks, gay bukkake and real estate.
https://www.outsideonline.c…
Windgrit could be the number one website for all enthusiasts of wind powered gay bukkake shark related happenings. Headquarters have to be in Pa’ia. Also the editor must be a Euro or South American expat who also works part time at the Pa’ia Fish Market.
Yeah Drek wtf?
I’m glad they’re clueless about almost everything except
Surf, queers and black arabs
https://youtu.be/Uzg6xPzIOLw
Epic track for this fascist regime
Hey Black Arabs.
Good call. Somebody on this taste-forsaken website actually has taste.
As smooth and orchestrated and musical as the Pistols were otherwise.
I see Jonesy around Malibu sometimes and I compliment him on playing Robin Trower on his radio show, and tell him Black Arabs is my favorite Pistols song.
Atta boy.
I just googled Jenna De Rosnay.. Smokin’ indeed!
All male wind propelled ‘boarders’ are cut from the same cloth no matter their era or equipment.
Molesters the lot of ’em, who should be kept well away from all sea creatures and young children.
P.S.
Best to leave their kind for stab and inertia etc…
Some day If we try hard enough we can lower the bar for what constitutes molestation amongst humans as these right whales seem to have achieved. Unless of course he was actually windsurfing and took a quick break to actually molest this right whale in which case I agree with the Facebook commenter. Too close indeed.
I’m disappointed to see this transition away from being a hard-hitting shark reporter into some cocked left handed women’s day gossip columnist.
Tragic.
Please don’t molest me.
More as the story develops.