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Old 10-05-2004, 01:26 PM
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39a. Incident # 5 01 2 "Newbie hot Launch Into Condominium Unit" Location: East Florida
Date: May 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts:2 Added 10_23_04


Summary

A new kiteboarder was trying to figure out how to fly his 19 m flat area Naish four line kite in onshore winds averaging around 15 to 18 mph. He had not used a trainer kite or had lessons prior to this session. He had poor kite control and was overpowered. A few experienced kiters came up and tried to talk the guy into obtaining lessons and said that what he was doing was dangerous. The newbie ignored this sensible advice and continued to try to fly this kite. He crashed his kite into some trees directly in front of a two story condominium bordering the beach. A friend climbed up and released his kite and hand launched him directly downwind into the center of the wind window in overpowered conditions. The rider was lofted over the trees over 20 ft. high and was hurled into some sliding glass doors of a second story unit . The rider burst through the glass doors with substantial force and as a result a window on the far side of the condo was smashed outward. The condo occupants were having dinner and were fortunately out of the way of the rider and flying glass reportedly. The new kiter was taken the hospital but remarkably wasn’t seriously injured.

Lessons learned

1. It is not hard to find new kiters with full sized traction kites spending extended periods of time on land. Often these people are not receptive to well intended advice. Still, we need to speak with them as tactfully and effectively as we can.

2. Once new kiters are ready to move on from a training kite to a full size traction kite they should start body dragging in the water in side to side onshore winds in the lower rated range for their kite.

2. Avoid onshore winds.

3. Don't perform "hot" launches.

4. Avoid overpowered conditions particularly if you are new.

5. Where a good helmet, impact vest and other safety gear as appropriate.

Commentary

Kites can be deceptively powerful. People seem to be prone to ignore good advice in some cases. This has lulled many into easily avoided injuries, some severe over the years. This rider was very fortunate not to have been killed or suffered a head injury which easily could have been fatal. Onshore winds create substantial barriers to learning for new kiters and should be strictly avoided with land launch with a full sized traction kite. We all have a stake in NOT sending new kiters out without strong recommendations for adequate instruction, including retailers and riders selling used gear. Lost access, sales and possible liability suits are both possible and ideally avoidable with reasonable care. Our numbers are growing too great to allow for some much experimentation, easily avoided injury and negative public attention.



39. Incident # 5 02 5 "Use Experienced Kite Assistants" Location: Long Island, NY, USA
Date: May 28, 2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 0
Summary
A new kiteboarder was just going to launch a Naish AR5 9.5 m inflatable four line kite in 15 to 20 mph winds. His girlfriend offered to give him an assisted launch.
The rider went over the correct way to hold and launch the kite. The girlfriend apparently misunderstood the proper procedure as she proceeded to walk downwind towards the center of the wind window. The rider yelled at her to just put the kite down. A gust came up and started to launch the kite from her hands. The rider then released his bar to activate his depower leash. The girlfriend suffered line burns on her arm and leg.
Lessons learned
1. Never have inexperienced people assist you with launching or landing kites.
Commentary
Fortunately, no serious injury came about in this incident only a lesson. There are many stories of miscommunication, premature kite launch and the like that have resulted in accidents. It is best to have few, very clear signals for holding, launching and landing kites with trained assistants. I recently had an experience when my girlfriend went to catch my kite. She has been helping me land kites for over two years.
She apparently didn't look like she knew what she was doing to two bystanders who jumped in and promptly managed to relaunch my kite. One of the bystanders actually was hanging on to all four lines. So, make sure your assistant is prepared to tell bystanders in no uncertain terms loudly if necessary to please stay away, they might lose fingers if they try to help.

38. Incident # 5 02 4 "Serious Tampa Dragging" Location: Tampa, FL, USA
Date: May 15, 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 2
Summary
A new kiteboarder was practicing downwind runs in 15 to 28 mph winds with a Slingshot inflatable four line kite of undesignated size. He would walk back upwind through the shallows between downwinders. He had some kiteboarding training but was still working on basic techniques. He was suddenly dragged by a strong gust, closer to some mangrove trees located downwind. He then released his control bar in an attempt to depower the kite. The kite didn't depower but dragged him at speed into the mangrove trees breaking several ribs and collapsing a lung. A kiteboarding instructor was in the area and saw the injured rider (not his student), secured the kite and took the rider to the hospital.
Lessons learned
1. Don't walk or stand with your kite aloft for extended periods of time. It is better to land the kite and carry it while you are walking.
2. If you are upwind of hard objects practice anti-lofting kiteboarding techniques. Please see "How to Try to Avoid Lofting" included with this resource for more information on these techniques.
3. Don't wait until you are close to an impact or obstacle, release your control bar earlier than later while you still have time and space.
4. Always use a kite good, well maintained kite depowering leash. Don't rely excessively on your depowering leash as it may not work under certain circumstances.
5. Always wear good safety gear including a helmet, impact vest, gloves and a whistle at a minimum.

Commentary
The kite and depowering leash were thoroughly checked out by the kiteboarding instructor that helped out. He found it all to appear to be functioning properly. It is theorized that when the bar was released the rider was close enough to the trees to where a line caught on a branch and prevented proper depowering resulting in the accident. All riders should regularly checkout all their kite gear and particularly the kite depowering leash. The leash should be strong and not likely to break or tangle.
Always practice anti-lofting kite techniques, regardless of weather conditions, even if the wind appears to be stable. Wearing a helmet and impact vest could have significantly reduced this riders injuries.
Jeff Weiss of Kitemare.com suggested the following simple leash test that ALL KITEBOARDERS SHOULD PERFORM: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kitesu...%2C%202002.htm



37. Incident # 5 02 3 "Serious Lofting in Oz" Location: Melbourne, Australia
Date: May 15, 2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 2

Summary
Two very experienced riders were out kiteboarding in 20 kt winds when a 35 to 40 kt. squall blew in with minimal warning. The riders were behind a breakwater and couldn't see the approach of the squall and didn't observe a change in the visible clouds before it was upon them. One rider was 70 m, (230 ft.), upwind of a house on shore and riding when he was suddenly lofted 6m, (20 ft.) off the water without his board. He was hurled 50 m, (165 ft.), towards the house before he hit the water again. The rider flew the kite away from the direction of travel and the house as if performing a transition. He felt this reduced the overall distance of travel during the lofting. He was pulled at speed barely missing a wooden groin or structure in the shallows. He then let go of his kite control bar to avoid slamming into a brick wall. He had managed to unhook from his chicken loop while still airborne making releasing the control bar possible. This very experienced rider was using a kite depowering leash. The other very experienced rider was having great difficulty in unhooking from his chicken loop and was rigged with a Naish ARX 11.5 m kite. He managed to unhook and release his bar also avoiding slamming into a brick wall. He was also using a kite depowering leash. Both kites landed in the backyard of a nearby house almost hitting a man gardening there.
The rider related another lofting incident that happened to another rider the same day but during an earlier squall. The rider in this earlier incident was on a wide beach and some other riders managed to grab him and hold on after two 50 ft. long loftings over the beach.
Lessons learned
1. Kiteboarders need to avoid squally, unstable weather.
2. Always use a kite depowering leash.
3. Consider using a properly rigged, well maintained snap shackle to possibly aid the release of the chicken loop in an emergency.
4. Rehearse in detail how you will manage various accident scenarios in your head frequently.
Commentary
Many of the more serious accidents in this resource came about in unstable squally weather. Many of the accidents and incidents occurred to experienced to very experienced kiteboarders. Skill doesn't seem to make a lot of difference in avoiding storm induced lofting. The obvious solution is to avoid being put into these circumstances in the first place.
Squalls may come up fast with little visible warning as in this case. The solution is to carefully evaluate the weather in advance of riding through color radar and wind recordings, if available for your area. If such aids aren't available in your area seek local knowledge on normal weather patterns and become thoroughly versed in what to look for and expect. If you are in such an area, it would be advisable to be even more cautious. If it looks like strong storm cells and gusty storm winds are in your area or coming your way, DON'T GO KITEBOARDING.
The earlier lofting of another rider established that this was not a great day for kiteboarding with a reasonable expectation of safety. Of course riders can go out in such conditions frequently and possibly get away with it for a while. Given past experience, simple physics and current safety limitations in kite gear, it is probably that things will get seriously out of control one day during such conditions. The enjoyment of a session in squally unstable weather can be eclipsed by a long recovery time from a serious injury. By keeping his head and continuing to fly his kite, even while lofted, it sounds like this rider was able to reduce the severity of this serious incident. So, his skill paid off, but only after he was flying at high speed towards a possible bad impact.



36. Incident # 5 02 2 "Stuck!" Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Date: May 6, 2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 0
Summary
An experienced rider was going to go kiteboarding offshore in steady 15 mph onshore winds. He had launched his Arc 1120 kite and walked out into the tidal pool about 20 ft, sinking about 6 inches into soft silt with each step. He mounted his board and started to ride offshore, edging hard in very shallow water a few inches deep. He struck bottom and one foot came out of the bindings. The resulting torsion caused a compound fracture and dislocated leg and ankle. He will likely need reconstructive surgery and has been advised that he will probably not be up to kiteboarding for about three months. Another kiteboarder at the launch landed this rider's kite and took him to the hospital.
Lessons learned
1. Don't ride in shallow water, particularly with a soft bottom. If you have to walk out a distance or ride in very shallow water over a soft bottom with your kite aloft, consider riding somewhere else.
2. Always ride with someone nearby, preferably another kiteboarder or someone that understands the sport.
3. Carry a whistle to signal for help if things go wrong.
Commentary
Strange things can and do happen in this sport. This rider was wise to have another rider in the area to help. Carefully analyzing conditions and evaluating scenarios before things get out of control is a good idea. The power of a kite to cause harm if things go wrong should never be underestimated.


35. Incident # 5 02 1 "Ignoring Instructions = Serious Lofting" Location: Cabarete, DR
Date: May 3, 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 2
Summary
Two riders of unidentified skill level had rented some kiteboarding gear and attempted to set it up. They attempted to rig a 10 m Wipika Freeair in 10 to 20 kts. gusting to 25 kts. sideshore. They rigged the kite incorrectly and sought out some assistance.
One of the beach attendants of the kiteboarding business rerigged one side of the kite but was then called away to take a board to a student. He asked the two riders to wait until his return before rerigging the kite further. The two riders ignored this request and launched the kite. The kite rapidly looped twice in the power zone and lofted the rider through two shade structures, a surfboard sign and into some concrete stairs and a rock wall. The rider was wearing an impact vest and helmet. His helmet left green paint on both the stairs and the rock wall.
He was hospitalized for two days, had multiple stitches and some memory loss. Immediately after the accident the rider had no idea that he was in the Dominican Republic or that he had been setting up for kiteboarding.

Lessons learned

1. Never ride in conditions or with equipment beyond your level of skill or experience.
2. If you are not totally sure that you have rigged your kite correctly and have thoroughly checked by someone who knows your system very well.
3. Always carefully preflight your gear. Refer to the Safe Kiteboarding Guidelines in the section that contains this document for one preflighting procedure.
4. Always wear a good helmet and impact vest.

Commentary

This was a serious, avoidable accident. If logical preflighting procedures or the instructions of the attendant were followed this accident never would have happened. It is very fortunate that the rider was wearing safety equipment. The outcome could have been far more serious if he had not been properly equipped. Safety gear such as helmets are worn in many activities routinely such as motorcycle and bicycle riding, and hang gliding. Helmets are not worn because they are needed routinely in these activities, far from it. Many people in these activities never actually need a helmet during an accident through their entire lifetime. They wear helmets to deal with sudden, rare accidents in an attempt to reduce injury or to aid in survival. The rider in this account was very lucky to have been wearing a helmet. It is unfortunate that he is in the vast minority of riders in choosing to take this simple precaution, at this time.

34a. Incident # 4 02 4 "Leash Problems - #3" Location: Foster City CA, USA
Date: April 1,2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 0
Summary
An experienced rider was out in 10 to 15 mph side offshore winds with a 12m North kite. He was underpowered and hooked into the static loop. A gust suddenly hit the rider causing him to be slammed on his face and to be dragged. He estimates the gusts to have been 30 to 35 mph. He got back on his board and started to be hit by a gust again. He tried to unhook from the static loop and hook into the chicken loop. As he was doing this the bar was yanked out of his hands by a gust. The leash line had wrapped around his leg and in the gust he was being pulled leg first through the water. He couldn't activate the depowering leash because of this tangle. He disconnected the leash from his harness but it was tightly wrapped around his leg and didn't fly free of him. He was rapidly being pulled offshore and underwater for extended periods through this. He grabbed his board to act as a plane to try to keep his head above water so that he could breath. Eventually there was a lull and the kite crashed to the water. He reached down
and pulled the leash from his leg. He pulled in one entire leader line to manually depower the kite. He then pulled in the kite with one line and detached all lines except for one to take things back into shore. The rider suffered a bruised leg.
Lessons learned
1. Don't go kiteboarding in offshore wind conditions.
2. Don't go kiteboarding in excessively gusty or unstable weather.
3. Don't rely excessively on your kite leash as it may not work. Rehearse various scenarios in your head so that you may react quickly and properly in such situations.
4. More kite leash development and improvements are needed.

Commentary
This account supports the conclusion that sometimes things go wrong and working through things as best as you can is all that you can really do. Luck plays into it as does skill and safety gear. Ultimately, resisting the urge to go out in less than safe conditions should govern.
Carrying a knife is essential should it become necessary to cut yourself free of your gear. This rider used a very good manual depowering and kite disabling technique to help assure that there would be no more surprises on the way to shore.

34. Incident # 4 02 3 "Line Interference Drags Rider" Location: Point Judith, RI, USA
Date: April 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary
Winds were SW 15 to 20 kts. As a rider self-launched his Naish 21 m ARX kite he realized that one of his flight lines had been made significantly shorter by a tangled stick. The kite rapidly flew up into the center of the power zone dragging the rider at high speed over several hundred feet. The rider barely missed two metal sign poles, a truck and finally was dragged into a wooden fence. The old and weakened fence yielded on impact. The rider forced his kite down by crashing it into a parking lot on top of windsurfers and beach goers. The rider walked away without reported injury.
Lessons learned
1. Assisted launching is always preferred and particularly when flying in overpowered conditions.
2. It is much easier to look down your lines for problems with assisted launches than with solo launches.
3. If you must solo launch, carefully walk down your lines, several times during preflighting in higher winds.
4. A snap shackle or safety harness line might have made getting free of the kite easier or feasible.
5. A helmet and impact vest may have reduced injuries if the rider connected with hard objects over the several hundred feet distance of the dragging.
Commentary
Careful preflighting would have avoided this accident. When rigging for overpowered conditions become even more careful and methodical than normal. In such conditions the rider must accept a higher likelihood of things going wrong with possible injuries resulting. If you attach yourself to the kite near hard objects you must accept the possibility of being dragged into them if things go wrong.

33. Incident # 4 02 2 "Poor Assisted Launch" Location: Point Judith, RI, USA
Date: April 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary
Winds were S 10 kts. A rider was about to do an assisted launch of his Wipika 11.5 m kite. The helper had just attached the lines to the rider's kite. This was a test flight to check out a new control bar system. The helper picked up the kite and walked out until the kite loaded up with wind. He then released the kite without any signal from or to the kiteboarder. The rider quickly realized that his lines had been attached to the kite incorrectly. He was then dragged for 10 to 15 ft at which point he was able to depower the kite. No injuries or kite damage were reported.
Lessons learned
1. Always attach your kite lines yourself. If for some reason you don't do this personally take the time to carefully preflight the lines and other gear yourself.
2. Never have inexperienced people do assisted launches or landings for you.
3. Agree on simple hand and/or verbal signals to coordinate launch and landings. Make sure your assistant is very clear on these signals and under no circumstances will release the kite until properly signaled.
Commentary
Make a set preflight procedure and stick to it, always, just like pilots do. Talk carefully with your assistant about procedures before launching or landing. This was a minor incident but in powered conditions the outcome could have been much more serious.


32. Incident# 3 3 02 "Record Lofting" Location: Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Date of Incident March 2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 4
For more information see: http://216.92.244.20/pictures/patoKi...eAir/index.htm
Summary
A 155 lb. (70 kg) kiteboarding instructor of about 2 1/2 years experience on a four-month holiday in Cabarete was rigged with an RRD 11.9 m kite. The wind had been consistently side shore 10 to 15 kts. He noticed a black line of clouds or squall moving in to shore. He came into shore at the west section of Cabarete Bay at Bozo Beach. He lowered his kite to within 3 to 5 m (10 to 16 ft.), off the ground for an assisted landing. He was then hit by a violent wind gust, that he described as an “explosion.” Wind records from nearby wind meters reported that average winds were 35 kts. with gusts up to 51 kts.
The winds had shifted suddenly from side shore to dead onshore. By the time the rider understood what happened he was flying inland over a building under construction with exposed rebar at an altitude of approximately 20 m (65 ft.). He didn’t feel it was safe to pop his snap shackle release at this point. He continued to rise in the gust and at one point estimated his altitude to be 30 m (98 ft.) or higher.
Looking forward he saw no clear area to land but was rapidly flying towards high tension lines and trees. He noticed a pine tree and headed in that direction.
He described the kite handling to be stable but very “twitchy” with attempted control inputs. He had a few previous experiences hang gliding and paragliding and felt this time at least helped him manage the shock of the flight in part. He was traveling at approximately wind speed or roughly 40 to 45 kts. over ground. He then hit the pine tree, breaking a limb and then rebounded into the trunk.
He then fell down through the tree breaking limbs until he hit the ground. His kite then started to power-up again. At this point he released the snap shackle and his kite flew off to windward where it was heavily damaged. The rider was admitted to the hospital for observation for possible signs of internal organ injury and brain hemorrhaging. He was released two days later and returned to kiteboarding two days after that. He was not wearing a helmet but was wearing an impact vest. The overall horizontal distance traveled was reported to be 250 m (822 ft.).
Lessons Learned
1. If a storm, black clouds or squall line is moving in, get off the water well in advance of the storm and while conditions are still stable and unchanged. Always be aware of weather conditions while you are kiteboarding and be prepared to act quickly if conditions change for the worse. Your kite should be down on the beach and thoroughly anchored well before any change in wind speed or direction or air temperature occurs. At a minimum it would also be a good idea to remove both lines from one side of the kite in case it is swept up in gusts.
2. If you suspect storms may be in the area, check out color weather radar if available in your area. If strong storm cells are moving towards your area, don’t go kiteboarding.
3. Don’t assume that the current wind direction and speed will persist if a storm hits as it may change both direction and speed violently several times.
4. Another approach that may have helped to avoid this event would have been to:
a) fully pulling in on a long trim strap almost totally depowering the kite while still offshore
b) unsnapped the shackle at that time
c) to have held the control bar while near the shore and landing. When the gust hit, the bar would have been ripped out of his hands.
This approach is different than what most riders currently do. It has recently been suggested as a potentially safer means of managing the kite while near hard object during launch and landings while on or near shore.
5. Always wear safety gear including a good helmet, impact vest, gloves and hook knife at a minimum.
Commentary
This rider was incredibly lucky to have come through a flight about 100 ft. in height, over a horizontal distance of over 800 ft. moving at a speed over ground estimated to be on the order of 50 mph, alive and largely uninjured.
The boost in wind speed from 15 kts. to over 50 kts. equates to over ten times the lifting kite power. So if 15 kts. could easily lift this 70 kg. rider, the reality of what 50 kts. could do is astonishing. This rider was lofted by another squall in Europe almost two years ago into a rough landing on the beach.
Another rider at Kitebeach in Cabarete reportedly was lofted into a palm tree and was left hanging on to the tree when he lost his kite. Three other kiteboarders lost their kites, which ended up hanging in two trees and one power line. I was told that no white caps or other surface disturbance signs were noted in advance of the storm cloud. Those that were looking for changing sea conditions and thought "no strong wind was coming", were sadly proved to be very wrong in this case.
Finally, on a very serious note, two girls were admitted to the hospital at the same time as this rider. They had been out parasailing off Puerto Plata about 15 miles to the west when the squall hit. One girl was killed and the other paralyzed. Violent squall winds are a serious hazard to more than just kiteboarders.
The conventional wisdom on how to avoid lofting is to keep your kite low while near hard objects. Apparently in this case either the very high wind speed and/or perhaps inadvertent control bar inputs sent the kite flying up from the ground fully into the power zone. Normally it is expected that violent dragging would occur. Not in this case. Dragging could have easily caused serious injury or death considering the wind speed and associated kite force. Logic dictates that the only proper, reasonably safe way to deal with this situation would be to never be in it in the first place. If squalls are coming, land your kite very soon. Squalls of this level of violence are reportedly rare in Cabarete. They do occur with some regularity in Florida, particularly during the warmer months. They may also be reasonably common in many other parts of the world. If you see a squall coming in, you have no idea whether the wind will die, reverse, boost 5 kts. or 50 kts. or all of the above.
I am reminded of a story about Luftwaffe glider pilots trying to learn about conditions inside cumulonimbus storm clouds just prior to WWII.
Of the original group of 35 pilots I recall that two survived interacting with the incredible violence inside these clouds. Some things are best left alone. Other kiteboarders have been injured by squall winds in several other accounts in this section. Black incoming storm clouds and squalls should be avoided by kiteboarders at all costs.





31. Incident 3 02 02 "Board Leash Injures" Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Date: March 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 2
Summary
A new kiteboarder was on a downwind run with a 12 m F one Mach I kite and an F One TT board with a leash. He was moving along quickly in 11 to 12 kt. wind when he wiped out. He fell forward and the board slingshotted into his calf at high speed. The board lacerated his leg causing a 4 to 5 inch gash in his calf. The rider managed to cut his leash with his hook knife and body dragged into shore with his leg bleeding heavily. He was not wearing a helmet. He was then taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment.
A second kiteboarder landed a jump at a launch a week or so earlier at a launch nine miles to the north. He wiped out in the waves, had his board slingshot into his eyebrow badly cutting it. This rider was wearing a helmet. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Lessons Learned
Many riders have suffered board impact injuries because of board leash use. It may be better if riders work on body dragging techniques early on as opposed to transitioning from leash to no-leash use.
Commentary
The steadily rising number of board leash induced injuries makes a strong case for going without board leashes. There doesn’t appear to be an easy, reliable option to leash use at this time other than to work on body dragging and to dispense with leash use entirely.
Even if the odd rider loses a board this appears to be more desirable than dealing with some of these serious board injuries. Some riders have had better luck with reel leashes but I understand that they normally have no more than 10 ft. of leash. This may not adequately protect against slingshotting boards. An option that may work in areas with contrary currents is to wear a reel leash but leave it unconnected during routine riding.

30. Incident # 3 02 1 "I Can Handle It" Location: East Coast of Florida, USA
Date: March 1, 2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary: A kiteboarding instructor and professional kiteboarding competitor with very extensive experience had just completed giving a lesson. He rigged up an Airblast 11.8 m with the steering lines 6 inches shorter than the backlines. The wind was side offshore at 20 mph reportedly.
The kite flew backwards at speed into the power zone as a consequence. Instead of running towards the kite or letting go of the control bar he attempted to fly the kite out of the situation. He was violently pulled into a parked truck nearby in the downwind direction. He broke his femur on impact with the truck. He was pulled on to the hood, over the windshield and roof, and off the back of the truck. Someone tried to hold on to him at this point but was unable due to the major kite loading. He then was dragged into the water without hitting anything else. At that point he was able to crash the kite and pull it in, defusing the situation. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and was released.

Lessons learned
Many lessons are carried by this account; some of the critical ones follow:

1. Always carefully preflight your gear. On high wind days, two or three checks wouldn't be too cautious. In preflighting make certain that your lines are of equal length. Refer to and use the Safe Kiteboarding Guidelines (see: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kiteboard/files/)
2. If you have new gear try very hard not to try it out in powered conditions, save the experimentation for a lighter wind day. If you must use new gear check it out very carefully.
3. Never launch upwind within one or preferably more line lengths of anything that you wouldn't want to slam into. All riders lose control sometimes, even a rider of this superior level of skill.
5. Here is another case where a helmet and impact vest could have made an important difference in degree of injury or even actual survival.
6. Use your knowledge to make good, responsible judgments.
Commentary
You can have more experience and skill than virtually any other rider but all that may not save you from bad judgment. This rider had more experience than most kiteboarders but still was unable to safely defuse the situation due to a couple of bad decisions. Excessive over confidence is quite common among many far less experienced riders in Florida (many with less than one year of experience), and no doubt elsewhere. Also, denial that anything bad will come from irresponsible kiteboarding habits is also pretty commonplace.

29b. Incident # 2 02 9 "Leash Accident" Location: Cape Hatteras, NC, USA
Date: Feb. 2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 0
Summary
An experienced kiteboarder had just landed a 3 m Liquid Force two line inflatable in 10 to 15 mph in advance of a squall. She used her depowering leash to land the kite. She was still in the water and winding up her leash line on to her bar when the squall hit. Winds rose to approximately 35 mph. Her kite powered up and the full load was transferred to her wrist leash. The leash was suddenly pulled off of her wrist while still in a closed, she was wearing a wetsuit. Her kite ended up caught in some reeds. She had immediate wrist swelling and pain. She went to the hospital and was diagnosed as having a permanent hairline fracture in the area of a previous break.
Lessons learned
1. Always land well in advance of squalls before any temperature, wind velocity or direction change. If conditions are squally it would be wise not to go kiteboarding.
2. This rider will no longer secure her wrist leash over her wetsuit but will slide her wetsuit to permit direct attachment of the leash.
3. Consider rigging your leash to your harness or spreader bar and eliminate the use of a wrist cuff.
Commentary
Squalls sometimes create conditions that are best avoided with no easy solutions. Avoid flying in or around sqaualls. NEVER disable your depowering leash until your kite is secured. An alternative approach would have been to wind up a length of ONE KITE LINE (not the one connected to the depowering leash), equal to or exceeding the wingspan. This should permanently depower the kite. After this has been done then you should be able to detach your leash attachment and wind up both lines at the same time. Grab your kite by the center of the leading edge or wingtip as soon as possible.

29a. Incident 3 02 02 "Runaway Kite Chaos" Location: Durban, South Africa
Date: March 31, 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 2 For more information see: http://www.kitesurf.co.za/index.cfm?pageid=483&id=38 and http://www.mediacity2000.com/biz/bks...=59&Topic=3545
Summary
The wind was 15 kts. rising to 20 then gusting to 30 kts side onshore. A rider was setting up a Cabrinha 9.4 m Blacktip kite for solo launch. No one reported seeing what exactly happened, but reportedly some one or something kicked a kite flight line, launching the kite on its own.
The kite rose rapidly and flew fully powered into the power zone. Both the rider and a nearby kiteboarder grabbed the flight lines without gloves on but only suffered minor lacerations. The kite flew higher over about a 100 m horizontal distance. The kite then flew into another kite that was well anchored to the sand, ripped it and cut both of the flight lines of this other kite. The runaway kite then flew into lines that a kiteboarder was winding up, cutting both of those lines. The kite then hit a teenager who was looking the other way. The line wrapped around his neck and arm. He received a line burn to the neck and deep lacerations to his arm and hand as he tried to get the line off of him. The kite then flew on, landed on the road and was run over by two cars. The beach is 50 m at this location. The beach is paralleled by both a road and highway.
Lessons Learned
1. Self launching should be avoided at most times and particularly in higher winds. If you kiteboard with other riders there should be an experienced person around to help you launch.
2. If you must solo launch, place the kite into launch position at the last minute and launch without delay. Never leave your kite in solo launch position.
Make sure your kite is very well anchored with sand. If the wind is strong and gusty it may be difficult to judge the appropriate quantity of sand to use. Therefore do an assisted launch.
3. Designation and marking of kiteboarding launch and landing zones with signs could help to avoid bystanders becoming involved with incidents and accidents.
4. Use of a kite depowering leash, attached it to your body as soon as possible will also help to better manage such situations should they occur.
Commentary
This was a potentially severe incident that could have caused serious injury to both the teenager, other bystanders or even to people driving on the road or highway. Small errors, particularly in higher winds can lead to serious consequences. This accident could have potentially happened almost anywhere given the relatively common circumstances. It is important that riders take their time and suitable care in setup and launching. Assisted launches should be the norm in higher winds. Designation of kiteboarding launch and landing areas in populated areas should be negotiated with the authorities in an effort to preserve safety and access.

29. Incident # 2 02 9 "Inadequate Preflighting LeadsTo Broken Back" Location: Cape Hatteras, NC, USA
Date: Feb. 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 4
Summary
An experienced kiteboarder of roughly four years had just rigged his North Rhino 7.5 m in 15 to 20 kt., rising to 25 to 30 kt. winds. He strapped on his wakeboard and launched the kite. The kite went up very quickly and started spiraling in rapid 360 degree rotations. The rider was dragged at speed through this and tumbled five times with his wakeboard attached to his feet. He let go of the control bar but he may have been hooked in or the otherwise connected to the control bar. His kite was seen in the distance violently spiraling in the powerzone. Eventually, the kite settled to earth and stopped dragging the rider. The rider was reported to have stopped about 10 ft. from a car. The kiter was diagnosed with a fractured vertebrae, i.e. "his back was broken". He had a serious operation the next day from which reportedly 9 out of 10 people never walk again. This rider, I am told, will walk again, which is a very good thing. He is very lucky. No other details are available at this time about the accident.
Lessons learned
1. Always preflight your gear and do so in a focused and methodical fashion, every time. On high wind days, two or three checks wouldn't be too cautious. In pre-flighting make certain that your lines are of equal length. Pick up your bar and look down the lines to make sure they are clear. Pickup your bar and shake the lines to verify that the both front lines are connected to the leading edge of the kite.
2. This is another case where a helmet and impact vest could have made an important difference in degree of injury or even actual survival if things had been more severe. In this case it is uncertain whether a helmet would have helped or not. An impact vest might have, so why gamble? Routinely wearing both a good helmet and impact vest takes out some of the guesswork.
3. Good judgment is the most essential kiteboarding resource that we have. If you don't exercise good, responsible judgment, all the skill and experience in the world may not help or save you. Good judgment is the product of thorough training, careful experience and choosing to use it. If you trivialize safety, this sport can have a way of putting you in line in the most violent and damaging means possible.

Commentary
This rider had extensive experience. Add to that most of his experience was in Cape Hatteras, which has frequent high winds.
There is no more demanding riding environment than high wind kiteboarding. In reality, I suspect that many of us have made or have come close to making the same simple mistake that this rider did. It is merely human to make the odd minor mistake. In major wind, a minor mistake could be lethal or severely damaging. It is likely with the speed at which this happened no manual safety release could have but utilized in time. These lofting incidents can happen at blinding, numbing speed or they can be extended for a while depending on circumstances. Once you start to launch an out of control kite there is very little that you can do but ride it out and hope for the best. The key is avoiding having it happen in the first place.
Hang gliders used to die all too often by forgetting to attach the hang strap from their harness to their glider. They still do, but at a much lower rate. They learned from all the incidents and accidents. They would foot launch off a cliff and find themselves hanging off their base tube. It is infeasible to fly the glider in the position and rapidly loosing control and crashing at high speed is pretty inevitable. It is a very simple step, hooking into a hang strap but people are human and they forget.
High wind kiteboarding is similar in that, small mistakes are costly. Like hang gliders, we need a fixed preflight list to reduce the chance of such mistakes. These accidents and others in high wind reveal that riders should carefully consider their level of experience and precautions before going out in winds over 20 to 25 mph. Many of us have done it for years, but mistakes are proving to be devastating. Some of the best and brightest kiteboarders have been careless, injured or even died in accidents. It is human nature to become complacent with the familiar. Complacency in high wind kiteboarding, like flying an airplane or hang glider is unacceptable. Many accidents in those activities proved that. I hope we don't need many to convince kiteboarders to take this more seriously and prepare carefully before kiteboarding.
Riders should carefully consider what is at risk before going out in higher winds and ,perhaps, choose to wait for more reasonable conditions.

28. Incident # 2 02 8 "Kiteboarder Lofted Over Windsurfer" Location: California
Date: Feb. 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary
An experienced rider launched either an AR5 9.5 or 13.5 m kite. He attached a standard Dakine board leash prior to launching, as high, gusty winds at this launch don’t permit easy one-handed bar control. His kite was near neutral or the zenith when a gust hit. The gust may have been preceded by a lull that dropped his kite lower into the power window and at a high angle of attack.
He was violently lofted up high enough to where the board, hanging below him by the leash went over and cleared a windsurfer who was standing by his rig downwind. The kiteboarder landed on sand away from rocks and other bystanders and was able to get his kite under control. No one suffered injuries.

Lessons learned
To avoid having the same thing happen to local riders, they have already learned to keep their kite low. Many riders have experienced 6 to 12 ft. loftings even in light winds (like after quitting due to lack of wind!). No one needed a 25 ft. lofting to convince them to change the way they manage their kite while near shore and hard objects.
Commentary
To reduce the chance of lofting, immediately after launch raise your kite only minimally above the horizon. Do not bring it up to neutral or the zenith. If you need to reverse the placement of the kite, do it quickly but not so quickly as to build apparent wind speed. Also, if you have a depowering strap, depower the kite as much as possible and still maintain stable flight for the available winds while near hard objects.

27. Incident # 2 02 7 "Wave Wraps Rider In Line, Kite Flies On" Location: Sydney, Australia
Date: Feb. 2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary
An experienced kiteboarder was out in major swells on an unspecified kite in unspecified winds. As he rode out through a wide breaker zone and passed through a breaking wave, he was knocked off his board. The next wave broke over, slammed, and violently tumbled him toward shore. His kite continued to drag shoreward, and was sufficiently near neutral to lose forward flight speed, causing it to stall or luff. The luffed kite provided slack in the bridle and flight lines. Waves rolled the kiteboarder tightly up in the loose leaders and flight lines. He came up for air as the wave passed and his kite lines wrapped around his neck. Meanwhile, his board leash was tied nicely around both legs. The great and terrible thing about traction kites is that they often will not stay stalled for long; generally only long enough to fall closer to the center of the wind power window, where they will power up and apply major tension to the flight lines.
The rider was trussed up and largely immobile with a heavily repowered up kite pulling hard on the mess around his neck and his board dragging him in another direction. He didn’t detail how he got out of all this, but ,fortunately, he did, apparently without serious injury.
Lessons learned
Be ready for heavy waves when they come. This is not the time to figure out that you are not ready for heavy white water. If out in heavy seas, time the sets and select your tack to blast out before getting slammed by breaking waves. Keep your kite below neutral and to seaward or to the far side of the waves. If you fall, work hard to move your kite to the seaward or behind the on coming waves. You don’t want to drop your kite too low in major swells as you are the wishbone between the tremendous force of the wave charging shoreward while your kite is wanting to hurl in the opposite direction.
You want your kite low enough to reliably apply force to drag you through the waves and not to get pulled into a stall by having the kite too close to the zenith or the vertical. It calls for tricky judgment, so don’t find yourself in this predicament too soon in your kiteboarding career.

If you do fall in the breaker zone, concentrate on body dragging at speed out through the breakers or into shore. Which ever direction you go, be sure to keep your kite flying and avoid being dragged into an involuntary kite stall at all costs.
If you have time, try to water start and blast out of the breaker zone. In selecting this last approach to be certain you have enough time to get up and out before getting hit by the next wave.
Commentary
Breaking waves add a new set of factors and destabilizing conditions to kiteboarding. If the rider is rolled, the outcome may be similar to what the rider went through or worse. In incident # 12 01 1, a female team rider had her kite steered into the power zone by a breaking wave which launched her at high speed into a beach for impact.
She was putting her board on with a small, very fast high aspect ratio kite. It is a tough judgment call as to where it is best to put on your board. It needs to be made on the basis of experience with the conditions at your specific launch. If you are flying a fast kite on a small bar, be very careful to maintain complete control at all costs particularly while near hard objects. Be very conscious of maintaining kite control when traveling through breaker zones. Always carry a hook knife and wear gloves to help deal with line conflicts. It is questionable whether a rider could cut out of a situation like this in reality. It is nice to have options. though. Given the potential for lofting, it is recommended that all kiteboarders should routinely wear good helmets.

26. Incident # 2 02 6 "Board Leash Causes Serious Head Injury" Location: Australia
Date: Feb. 2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary
The launch had waves breaking in about 2 - 3 foot of water on a sand bank. A kiter was in the car park setting up. After talking to the person that related this account for some time about gear etc, he said he had been hit on the head by his board. I asked if he was using a leash. He said he had a reel leash that wasn't supposed to fire the board back at him. If your boards attached to you there’s always a chance of it coming back to hit you. I explained the technique to body drag upwind. It would seem that whilst the board didn't slingshot back at him, he lost the board and because it was attached to him it got caught up in a wave and it hit his head. He said he was going straight to the hospital. He couldn't see it, it was right on the back of his head. I was thinking it was probably just a scratch.
On the back of his head he had a gash about 8-10cm long, 2 cm wide and about 1 cm deep. It turned my stomach. He was very lucky not to be knocked out in the water. He seemed very coherent to me. I am so glad I got rid of my leash. I suggested that he practice body dragging upwind and gets rid of the leash asap.


Lessons learned
Use good technique in board to avoid getting hit by your board. If things are too hard to get out safely, don’t go. Soon you may be able to handle it. Leashes, even reel leashes, have the capacity to cause a serious board impact injury.
Wear a helmet and use good, safe technique.
Commentary
Leashes can cause a board to rebound back to you, with serious injury as a result. Even reel leashes have had their share of problems. Helmets can be very important in reducing/eliminating injuries particularly if you use a board leash. Riders should work on skills to eliminate leash use.

25. Incident # 2 02 5 "Serious Auckland Lofting" Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Date: Feb. 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary
A rider of undisclosed skill, with unspecified gear and wind was apparently violently lofted, reportedly 100 ft. into a violent impact on land where he left a visible mark.
His board rebounded into his head, possibly fracturing it. His jaw and eye socket area were both fractured. He was not wearing a helmet.
Lessons learned
Very few actual facts are known about this accident. All that seems to be evident is that the rider was violently lofted and wasn’t wearing a helmet. All the normal awareness and careful precautions to avoid lofting must be observed to cut down of avoidable lofting incidents.
The rider may have been injured less by wearing a helmet to protect him from both board impact and possibly impact with the ground.
Commentary
It is possible that the vast majority of loftings may be avoidable with proper education and practice. The injuries may have been less if the rider wasn’t using a leash or was using a reel leash. A helmet may have made a significant difference in the injuries sustained. An impact vest may have also provided useful protection.




24. Incident # 2 02 4 "Board Leash Causes Serious Head Injury, Again" Location: UK
Date: Feb. 25, 2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 0
Summary
Rider was out in gusty conditions and was violently flung forward by a strong gust. His board was hurled at high speed towards him by his 9 ft. long, end mounted board leash. It hit the back of his canoe helmet, split the helmet and left a 2 inch gash in his head. He had the gash repaired with six staples. Other similar injuries have been reported by other riders.
Lessons learned
Leashes can be dangerous. If you can reliably recover your board by body dragging or from running down the beach to pick it up failing all else, it is a good idea to stop using a board leash. Many riders have successfully gone without board leashes for a long time but area conditions can reduce the effectiveness of body dragging. Heavy waves, too high or low wind, unfavorable sideshore wind and contrary currents can complicate or eliminate the effectiveness of body dragging or beach board recovery. In those instances, use of a reliable reel leash may help. Whether you use a leash or not, you should use a good helmet.
Commentary
Here is another case where a helmet appears to have made a major contribution to a positive outcome to a potentially serious accident. If you wear a good helmet, your potential survivorship and/or ability to react immediately after impact may be much improved. If you aren’t wearing a helmet, the degree of injury may be worse.

23. Incident # 2 02 3 "Small Kite ... Too Large" Location: Argentina
Date: Feb. 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary
A kiteboarder launched a two line Wipika 5 m kite in 25 kts. gusty winds at a launch with nearby rocks. He tried to control the kite but could not and was apparently dragged 15 to 20 ft. into the rocks. He suffered a computated fracture of his forearm, i.e. with exposed bone fragments sticking out of his arm.
Lessons learned
Know both your limits, kite control ability and the safe useable wind range of your kite. Experimenting with rocks and other hard objects for backdrops may well result in serious injury. This rider could have easily struck his head from the sounds of the accident circumstances. It is not known if he was wearing a helmet or impact vest.
Commentary
The author was once dragged 80 ft. or more over a beach by a Wipika 5 m at high speed by a sudden 45 mph gust. Fortunately there was nothing hard along the way to slam into.
A small kite in high wind or gusts can be powerful enough to do serious harm to the rider and/or bystanders. Always chose your gear and launch area very carefully. Consider local conditions and your level of experience. If you aren’t certain, don't fly. Get lessons and carefully talk with well experienced local riders.

22. Incident # 2 02 2 "Bad Technique Seriously Injures Rider" Location: Argentina
Date: Feb. 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary
An intermediate rider was out with a Naish 13.5 m kite in 20 + kt winds. He had just solo landed his kite, apparently without depowering it. It does not appear that he had a kite depowering leash. He ran up to the kite holding his bar with his center loop snapshackle still attached to his harness. The kite relaunched unexpectedly before he could reach the kite. He was violently dragged into serious impact(s) into hard objects. He had four displaced vertebrae and can’t feel one of his arms. Other serious injuries may be present, it is not known at this time.
Lessons learned
Never approach an unsecured kite while you are still secured to your kite control bar. If strong gusty winds are present the resulting dragging could cause very serious injuries both to the kiter but also to bystanders. Ideally always have assisted landings with your assistant thoroughly securing your kite immediately. If you must solo land do not approach your kite until you are no longer connected to your control bar. Move quickly toward your kite by carefully, pulling towards it along one line only. Wearing gloves routinely while kiteboarding for this purpose is an excellent idea. If you land your kite by using your depowering kite leash, pull the kite carefully toward you using one line only until you can safely grab one kite tip and properly anchor the kite. If in doubt take adequate lessons from a competent kite instructor.
Commentary
The practice of solo landing and going to your kite while still snapshackled to it is easy to, but the price if things go seriously wrong is too high. Make sure that if your kite relaunches, it will not pull you anywhere (i.e. open any snapshackle connection, first before ever approaching the kite). If the kite relaunches your kite leash should save you from being dragged. All riders need to use kite leashes for this and many other important reasons, including the protection of bystanders. It is important not to solo launch upwind of bystanders. This avoids them having to deal with kite lines if things go wrong. Kites can apply tremendous force.
Too many riders continue to lose sight of that, get careless and injured. Finally it is not known if an impact vest would have reduced the injuries in this case.
Wearing an impact vest, good helmet and gloves may make a difference in avoiding an accident or coming through one with fewer injuries.



21. Incident # 2 02 1 "Over Confidence & Ignorance Gore Rider" Location: Arubinha a.k.a. Ponta da Acaira, Praia Seca, Brazil
Date: Feb. 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary
A new kiteboarder was out for the first time with a four line kite in unspecified but presumably higher wind conditions at this very popular launch in Brazil.
He lost control of his kite and was dragged over the beach or possibly through the shallows near the sandbar launch and onto a sharp root. The root impaled his leg, reportedly badly lacerating it, causing major tissue damage and substantial bleeding.
Lessons learned
This rider should have gone through adequate lessons. He chose not to and was badly injured as a result. Apparently he was out in conditions, at a technical launch with a kite that were all well beyond his abilities to safely body drag.
Commentary
Riders that go to launches in conditions with gear beyond their abilities to safely learn are stacking the deck against themselves for serious accidents and against access for kiteboarders in general. This appears to have been a readily avoidable accident. Apparently he had been warned about reckless behavior with kites in the past. He should have had a trainer kite at the most under these conditions. Instead he was equipped with a kite large enough to do some serious damage.

20. Incident # 1 02 2 "Lofting Into Cars ... For a Third Time" Location: Miami, Florida
Date: Feb. 25, 2002 Participant account included: No Number of independent accounts: 6
Photos of the accident appeared on page 74 of "Kiteboarding" magazine, May 2002
Summary
An intermediate female rider just had an assisted launch of her Airblast 8.4 m kite about 30 ft. off the beach at Hobie Beach, Miami, Florida. The wind was onshore and gusting with intermittent squalls. Following the launch in the shallows, with her kite in neutral, she was dragged shoreward to the edge of the beach. At this point things become unclear. Either her kite stalled, fell lower into the power zone, or she lowered one end of her control bar, thereby steering the kite lower into the power zone.
She was violently flung downwind or inland into a hard impact against parked cars and cutoff timber poles. She was screaming and bleeding from multiple cuts following the impact. Other riders caught and stabilized her kite and rendered first aid pending arrival of the ambulance. She was later diagnosed as having a skull fracture and a torn liver. She was not wearing a helmet or impact vest. She is recovering and interested in kiteboarding, soon.
Lessons learned
Given the squalls and gusty onshore winds present that day, deciding not to kiteboard would have been a prudent decision. Wearing a helmet and impact vest may have also reduced the degree of injury . Even deciding to kiteboard under the questionable conditions she could have gone further from shore to launch. Riders can walk offshore about 100 ft. or more from the beach at this launch thereby creating a buffer zone.
Commentary
Three riders have been flung or lofted into parked cars at this launch within the last 7 months. Two have gone to the hospital. The one who was able to walk away, did about $1000. USD damage to a car body with his board. The beach here is very congested and narrow with a normal backstop of cars parked about 15 ft. away from the water. A high speed four lane highway is located a short distance beyond the parked cars.
In each of these cases if a no fly zone within 100 ft. of the beach had been observed, it is highly unlikely that any of these accidents would have occurred. It is obvious that the winds making this launch useable from the SW are off the land, gusty and unstable. Three known accidents have occurred and at least three runaway kites have been flown into the highway. Two hung on traffic lights. One stopped traffic on the SAME DAY as this sad accident.
This launch is reportedly to be closed to kiteboarding in the near future. Kiteboarding inside the swim area and the incidents noted will largely be responsible for this kiteboarding ban. Once the ban is in place it is unlikely that it will be reversed. Riders have been asked on multiple occasions to stay outside the buoys and told that failure to comply will result in a kiteboarding ban.

19. Incident # 1 02 1 "Unstable Weather Causes Serious Lofting" Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Date: Jan. 5, 2002 Participant account included: Yes Number of independent accounts: 1
Summary
An experienced rider was just self launching his Slingshot Fuel 10 (2002) while hooked into the center loop when he was hit by a 40 kt. gust. Conditions up to that point were 20 kts. and gusty. His friend and many other riders were slammed when this gust hit. His kite was in at the zenith or vertical when the gust hit.
He was lofted and taken down the beach towards the trees and park. In hindsight he said he should have done whatever it took to unhook and ditch his kite. Instead he tried to recover it and 3-4 seconds later hit a tree. On hitting the tree the kite went from the zenith or vertical straight down in the power zone. He was dragged up and through the tree. The top of tree was about 20 feet high. He landed 60 feet from the tree, having flown at least 20 feet up.
He thought that if he had a snapshackle setup rather than traditional hook and had practiced an emergency release he would have had a better chance of releasing. As it was, the line tension was pulling so he would have had to lift himself up to release.
He might have been able to release it in time but would have had to do it the instant the pressure came on. The problem is you think it can be recovered and by the time it goes really bad you have lost the opportune moment.
He was wearing a helmet and sun glasses which he believed saved him from head trauma both in the tree and on impact. He ended up with a large cut just under his chin and several on his legs.
He firmly believed that if he hadn't had head and face protection he would have been a lot worse off. He still ended up suffered a fractured wrist, puncture wounds and a torn knee ligament.
Lessons learned
1. Be aware of the risks and mentally and physically practice what you need to do when something goes wrong. Sometimes you don't have time to think about what to do.
2. Riders with only one or two kites sometimes tend to push / extend the higher end of the range. Until they get a quiver they should be a lot more conservative in riding if the wind is at the top end. If is often better let your brain over rule your adrenalin.
3. Find other places to kite. The site of this accident has a tree lined park right on the waters edge. If something goes wrong in on shore conditions you only have one place to go! Onshore wind conditions should be avoided.
4. Where possible launch unhooked and keep the kite low (as opposed to 12 o'clock.) If something goes wrong let it go or at worst get pulled sideways.
5. A kite is infinitely more repairable than a human. If you ditch the kite you can back out on the water once it is repaired or replaced. This rider has been out of the water for a substantial period of time and missed the summer riding season while recuperating. He will soon have his cast removed, but will need many weeks of rehab before he can consider kiting again. Not to mention the impact it has had on my non-kiting life.
Commentary
This rider said that he has been watching people launch since then with a critical eye and most seem to get slightly pulled or lofted. Most people think it will never happen to them or are just not aware of the risk. He said the nurse at the hospital told him that he was the fifth injured kiteboarder to be brought into the hospital recently. He concluded that his injuries could have been much worse without a helmet and eye protection
__________________
FKA, Inc.

transcribed by:
Rick Iossi
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