ricki
05-12-2005, 07:46 AM
The following came out in the Wall Street Journal on April 23, 2004 ...
"TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS
Trickle-Down Luxury
By PAULA SZUCHMAN and HEATHER WON TESORIERO Staff Reporters of The Wall Street Journal
Updated April 23, 2004 12:01 a.m. ET
Kiteboarding and Caveats
You harness yourself to a giant kite, strap your feet to a board, the kite pulls you up on top of the board -- and away you go. More resorts are offering lessons in the extreme sport of kiteboarding. But the risks are real.
The Bitter End Yacht Club in Virgin Gorda just opened a new kiteboarding center with $2,200 weeklong classes, while the Dominican Republic's Hotel Caracol has a "Fly Baby Fly" package, including lessons in basic kite skills and "body dragging."
But last year, three people died in kiteboarding incidents in Australia in a four-month period, and world-wide, at least 20 people have died since 2000. Common causes include crashing into rocks or powerlines, or colliding into other people's boards. "It's like learning to drive a car -- you can get the basics in five minutes, but you're not ready for anything complex," says Rick Iossi, safety adviser for the Professional Air Sports Association, adding that winds in Hawaii and Florida can be especially unpredictable. Still, he says, "if you do your homework, the risks can be manageable, just like any other sport."
At the Bitter End, teachers are certified and the instruction of at least three hours is "intense," says Managing Director Ross Justice. The Caracol's general manager, Roch Labelle, says there's rescue equipment and everyone wears a safety helmet and other safety gear. No one has been hurt at either place."
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB108266713849991035
"TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS
Trickle-Down Luxury
By PAULA SZUCHMAN and HEATHER WON TESORIERO Staff Reporters of The Wall Street Journal
Updated April 23, 2004 12:01 a.m. ET
Kiteboarding and Caveats
You harness yourself to a giant kite, strap your feet to a board, the kite pulls you up on top of the board -- and away you go. More resorts are offering lessons in the extreme sport of kiteboarding. But the risks are real.
The Bitter End Yacht Club in Virgin Gorda just opened a new kiteboarding center with $2,200 weeklong classes, while the Dominican Republic's Hotel Caracol has a "Fly Baby Fly" package, including lessons in basic kite skills and "body dragging."
But last year, three people died in kiteboarding incidents in Australia in a four-month period, and world-wide, at least 20 people have died since 2000. Common causes include crashing into rocks or powerlines, or colliding into other people's boards. "It's like learning to drive a car -- you can get the basics in five minutes, but you're not ready for anything complex," says Rick Iossi, safety adviser for the Professional Air Sports Association, adding that winds in Hawaii and Florida can be especially unpredictable. Still, he says, "if you do your homework, the risks can be manageable, just like any other sport."
At the Bitter End, teachers are certified and the instruction of at least three hours is "intense," says Managing Director Ross Justice. The Caracol's general manager, Roch Labelle, says there's rescue equipment and everyone wears a safety helmet and other safety gear. No one has been hurt at either place."
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB108266713849991035