Siesta Key Incident

oldschool · #1 04-01-2007, 07:43 PM

I was riding today back and forth at Siesta Key from access 12 all the way down to access 5 (nice SW)

I just got off the phone with a buddy of mine who reported what happened so I will keep it simple

The beach, like most, was real crowded and an older asian kiter (late 40s?) who my buddy said his name is pronounced "key" launched his kite and hit two people on their beach chairs.

I was a couple hundred yards off-shore and did not see it and my buddy did not get a chance to say anything to "key"

Apparently "key" is local so if anyone knows him maybe you could call him up and tell him how unacceptable this is

I am not trying to be a dick but I kite Siesta just about every day and do not want to lose my privileges cuz someone is taking out tourists

Thanks

OS

venice · #2 04-02-2007, 03:53 PM

Hey Old School,
This sounds like the same guy who mowed me down at the Sky Way about six weeks ago. I was walking my kite in from the sand bar. I was about 20 yards from shore. This "Key" guy was about 30 feet upwind of me, he looks directly at me and then launches!! He came screaming into my board. I of course verbalized in a kind manner " You dumb F***"!! No apology, nothing!
I then saw him a few weeks later and discussed the incident. No remorse, just arrogance or was that ignorance. Sounds like wisdom doesn`t come with age.
Hope he does not injure someone. Sounds like another close call on Siesta Key.
But if you see him on the beach, walk far far away.Oh ya make sure you are upwind!!

#3 04-02-2007, 05:39 PM

I know who you guys are talking about. He has a black lab.

It's unfortunate that such incidents ever happen. If they do and the rider doesn't say sorry to involved bystanders, I recommend just apologizing for them. That way, at least we don't all look like we don't care. A similar incident happened at EB yesterday with a kite crashing into a Lexus. The rider said zip after the kite hit and wrapped over the Lexus. Donna ended up apologizing for the person.

#4 04-02-2007, 09:16 PM

Last year Colin and I met up with some guywho was at T.I. He had a sign on his car that said "Kite ski lessons" (I think it was an orange thing like ebone drives). We walked over to find him dragging a student around attached by a rope to his harness with a caribiner. yes thats right, he was diving the kite and "ski'ing" on his bare feet in the sand, with a student tied to his harness dragging along behind him completely out of control.

Then, he connected the student to the kite (again with a seat belt or rope harness and a caribiner) and then attached himself to the student with a 4 foot strap. As the student got lofted and dragged by the kite he "held the student" down with the strap. I can't even begin to go into how stupid this was and how incredible it was that neither student was injured.

He also had all sorts of ridiculous strokery attached to his body. Cameras, compasses, I dont even know what some of it was. He was a walking techofool. Anway, that was pretty bad.

I guess there is a spectrum of behavior, from not apologizin' to outright jeopardizin'! Wooohoooooo!

#5 04-04-2007, 12:18 AM

I've met the guy invisible is talking about. He is on a weird trip, thinks he is a kiteboarding instructor and holds himself out as one and I don't think he can even kite. I mean, I don't think he can even kite like a newbie. I don't think he can even fly a damn kite.

His most dangerous moment ever was related to my epic 2006 kitemare when I got hammered by that 9m Waroo. He saw the kitemare, then while I was packing my gear so I could go home to lick my wounds, he walked over and suggested to my wife that maybe I needed to take a kiting lesson from him.

Luckily, I didn't overhear this suggestion (my wife mentioned it after we got home, she already knew he is a jackass), otherwise I would have gone postal.

toby wilson · #6 04-04-2007, 10:42 AM

What are you guys talking about? Key is a good friend and a great kitesurfer!!! I hear he is getting sponsored by one of the bigger kitekook companies! Just goofing off, I was hoping someone would read the beginning of my post and start to take it seriously. I guess we should all just keep an eye out for Key and stay clear. Props to Donna for apologizing for kookiness that she wasn't even responsible for...