[ricki]

I just came across a video clip of a bad lofting during a pro kiteboarding competition on Lake Silvaplana, Switzerland some years back. I was asked to make some inquiries about it at the time. Apparently it involved an intermediate skilled rider, a larger guy at 110 kg out on a 18 m LEI in 13 to 14 kts. He suffered some facial fracturing and some spinal injury but apparently no nerve damage. Fortunately, no one tried to move him but secured him to a back board and air lifted him out. I was told that the guy should be released from hospital in 2 to 3 weeks and ideally will be back riding in 2 to 3 months. I believe the injured kiter was from the DR. Too little downwind buffer in gusty conditions, perhaps rigged too big as well for the gust that came through. Add in no safety gear and he was quite lucky all the same.