Wind on Sunday

[RbGar]

Was visiting Naples this sunday, went to 7th ave south, wind died and went NE. packed up and went to moms house just south of the Edgewater Hotel. Said what the hell and rigged my 16m on the beach just in case, the breeze filled NW, had two good sessions in the afternoon. Saw some guys doing a downwinder. It was good to finally have kited Naples, nice and warn with sandy beaches. Great day except for Maryland losing to Duke!

[toby wilson]

Originally Posted by RbGar

Great day except for Maryland losing to Duke!

In kiteboarding???

[Danimal8199]

Ok my 2 cents and so nobody gets anything confused I have labeled my responses and joking and not joking.

This is the part where I'm not joking:

I launched and walked through the mangroves and had no problem. Not ideal by any means.

Steve Sadler was doing it properly and I wish more people were out there to see him setting a good example.

Also, Scott, I like the pics.

Now the part where I am joking:

Scott, about the pictures, there are three in particular that I noted.

1) a guy riding in what appears to be puddles
2) someone close to the mangroves
3) A picture of Bryan and Toby

With your track record of safety I think that if newbies see those two pictures they will think that its ok to ride in puddles and near trees.

And the picture of Bryan and Toby standing so close to each other might scare off people from our sport. So WAIT, maybe you should leave that one up!

That's a pretty good point.
They are gone now.

BTW, someone almost got hurt REAL bad today at EB. It was on a launch. I didn't see it, but heard he was literally inches from a serious head injury. I guess the rider ended up pinned under the front end of my truck (parked at the edge of the road) after being dragged about 75 yards at high speed.
He was hauling ass with his kite looping repeatedly.
I was told his head was one inch from colliding with the underside of my truck.
Several people told me the exact same story and I guess at least ten people saw it, so it's not exaggeration.

I guess another launch went bad and the guy got dragged to the other side across the road, too.

Very glad no one was seriously hurt. I then heard about 5 other stories of recent kitemares over the last month or so.
Every single one was associated with a launch.
Not bringing it up to be negative. Just bringing it up to reinforce that launching (imo) is the most dangerous thing we do and unfortunately, most people are pretty lax during a launch.
Stuff can go wrong, that much is certain.
If it does during a launch, it's usually pretty brutal cuz the kite is somewhat out of control for one reason or another.

Just play it safe on the launches.

[Steve-O]

Use those exit rings. That is what they are there for. Can make a QR situation actually work. Putting your leash on the chicken loop may not always do the trick. Some kites have these rings on the back line, some on the front line. Either way, they can kill the kite if used.

I know some of the closest calls I have had have been on a launch. I definately think most kiteboarders practice their latest trick instead of practicing using their QR.

Glad no one got hurt!!!!!!!!!

[kite-4-life]

They don't call 'em SUICIDE leashes for nothin'
Glad they're both O.K.
Glad that I didn't see it and add to my kitemare nightmare collection.
Take those distances and imagine the kitemare(s) at the Skyway.(Either side)
Later

Tom dug up so old pics for me off of his old forum (the hard drive associated with it, actually).
Thanks Tom.

I went ahead and loaded them up. Some are pretty old, most look to be about 3 years old.

http://web.mac.com/scottfears/Site/S...s/Vintage.html