|
|
|
|
#1
03-03-2010, 09:58 AM
|
|||
|
|||
Nice job keeping your eyes out and heads on for other kiters (or anyone) in distress on the water.
It's a good thing the story ended up happily. Although things can happen to even the most experienced waterman, it sounds like there are some important lessons to be learned from this particular incident.
__________________
Roberto Villate 4 Winds 7 Seas PASA Level III Instructor rvillate@msn.com http://www.kitesurfatlas.com/schools/4winds7seas 
|
|
#2
03-03-2010, 06:18 PM
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
It very easily could have turned out very poorly and that was a frustrating read. Anyway, great work guys.
|
|
#3
03-22-2010, 12:49 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Interesting, but it's easier to see the kite from the air than a swimmer.
"Always stay with the boat" Swimming for it especially against a strong current is a bad idea. Looks like these kiters found this guy because was still with his kite (which is where they went first). If he was already swimming for it, and you didn't see him waiving his arms, where would you have looked for him when you saw his kite? The kite floats, it's big and easy to see from the air, it can be raised out of the water to be seen by boat, and it can be used as a sail. Stay with the kite.
|
|
#4
03-22-2010, 01:40 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
im personally not a strong swimmer (i sink like a rock), 9 out of 10 times, im staying with the kite.... mine arent one pump, so they will always float....
__________________
handle passes are easy...  at least i think they were.. been so long i cant remember 
|
|
#5
03-22-2010, 01:40 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Whitey,
Good point about pinching the struts. I used to do this for all DW events, even more so on the very long ones. I have since disregarded this, but your point is very good regarding the flotation that they provide. I'll be back to pinching again.
__________________
Kent Marinkovic www.adventuresportsmiami.com www.pryde-group.com www.cabrinhakites.com www.neilpryde.com www.jp-australia.com www.npx-hq.com
|
|
#6
03-22-2010, 06:00 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Nice job guys! Craig is always looking out for the safety of others. He has helped me out as well. I think a lot of guys would benefit from a PFD especially in those kind of conditions. They make some pretty slim ones that keep your mobility. Granted - some guys are great waterman but in deep water, heavy winds, and swell - gets challenging if you have to swim in from afar-
Tony
|
|
#7
03-22-2010, 07:04 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
In this case the kite did not have any left in it and is was sinking. He actually tied it around his waist so he would not loose it. If your kite has any air in it absolulty stay with it. Once it is sinking out it's time to swim. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you are off shore and in this situation you can pull off the rubber tube and inflate the struts with your mouth and pinch them off and create floatation for your self with the good struts.
Kent I read an article written by the kite designer at Ozone and he insists that keeping the struts independent from the leading edge has performance benefits by not letting the air pressure transfer from the struts on the side of the kite under turning pressure to the main bladder. Which is why he refused to put a single point inflation system on their high end kite the Edge. I don't know if it's for real, but I can't think of a down side to pinching them off, other than the 30 seconds of time it takes.
|
|
#8
03-22-2010, 08:08 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Also, the board floats, you can blow air into the dump valve just to keep it boyant, you can go under and blow an air pocket under the canopy. As Whitey mentioned you could pull a bladder. You can blow air into your wetsuit. In military school we were taught to remove our long pants, tie the legs closed and blow air into them to stay afloat... same idea with the kite. Get air in it just about anywhere and trap the bubble.
I know of more than one person who left the boat, and swam for it, and almost drown in the process. The coast guard and police never saw them.. just kept flying by while the guy was getting too tired to swim any longer. Had it happen myself once... went down at dusk and swam for it. The police boat almost ran me over 4 times even though I was waving my arms, they didn't even see me. I actually grabbed the swim ladder BEFORE they ever saw me. They went straight to the kite and I was not there. Will never leave the kite again. There is a STRONG urge to swim for it. I highly recommend not doing that unless you know you are near a sand bar, and can make it there, etc. Regardless good job guys for helping a fellow kiter.
|
 |
|
|
Hybrid Mode
