Sunday, September 13, 2020

Lockdown impact kitesurfing in Victoria again

The COVID-19 virus continues to have a major impact on kitesurfing activities in Victoria, particularly for people who live in the Greater Melbourne areas. 


Stage 3 lockdown for Greater Melbourne were reimposed on 7 July 2020 with the following impacts:

    • Valid reasons for leaving home are shopping for food and essential items, exercise and permitted work.
    • Driving to a location (e.g. kitesurfing beach) was not permitted.
    Kitesurfing was only possible for people who could walk to their local kitesurfing location.

    Stage 4 lockdown for Greater Melbourne were imposed on 2 August 2020 with the following impacts:

    • Valid reasons for leaving home are shopping for food and essential items, exercise and permitted work.
    • Travel only allowed within 5km of home
    • 1 hour permitted for exercise
    This has made kitesurfing impossible for everyone except the lucky few who live less than 5km from a local kitesurfing location.

    Stage 3 lockdown for the rest of Victoria on 2 August 2020 don't have as much impact - people are able to travel to kitesurfing locations and kitesurf, but not in the Melbourne lockdown area.

    I haven't been on the water since our SUP session at Thirteenth Beach on 27 June - that is 78 days off the water now. 

    Cabin fever has well and truly set in. I have been doing local bike rides to get out and about to keep fit, but I am really missing kitesurfing. 

    The 5km zone and travel restrictions will only be removed on 26 October, and only if the COVID-19 case threshold is met.