NEWS - Kevin Recovers!

[conchxpress]

Kevin

No matter how media savy a person is, the media can and will slant the interview to conform to what they want to say, not what you want to get across. AND, they have the tool of post-production editing. You can't win. The show they propose is meant to grab the audience with sensational footage. Do you think that the production staff really wants to hear your side of the story now that you've had a few months to think about it? Besides, I 'll re-iterate what another poster said. They're going to replay the video, with or without you.

So, IMO, just lay low. Live to kite a smarter day. Take one for the team.

[LSUkiter]

Man, prayfawind, you really oughta calm down. Like I said in the original post I made-I'm being nice, and trying to be political. He asked for opinions. I gave my opinion that he shouldn't do the interview. I in no way commented on his kiting or the conditions he rode in. I commented on what has happened in his other interviews. They didn't end positively. Sorry that Kevin wanted a "senior member response", which I'm not. I've only been in the sport for a year. But, it doesnt take a senior kiter to know that the media will sway things the way they want, and that Kevin's interviews didn't portray us in a positive light.
I again say don't do the interview. Let someone like Rick who studies kiteboarding sagety do it. And prayfawind, there was no attack here, so calm down.

[bayflite]

kite free or die
do what you want kev
i love freedom!

[Kiteboarding Tampa Bay]

He IS the one being responsible and talking about it with the rest of us, because he really wants to make a positive difference.
Kevin wants to talk safety, access, and highlight the positive aspects of the kiting comunity. He's not trying to make a buck or posturing to be #1, his love of the sport is no different than anyone reading this.

We don't get bans because a news crew caught a kitemare, we get bans by sweeping shit under the rug year after year.

Has Kevin's accident caused a ban?
Nope.
Has the inaction by everyone in this business and the "2 cool for rules" mentality by the rest of us caused a ban?
Yep, every one of them....

Its kinda funny seeing some of these posts, when these voices were nowhere to be found in the WBF and elsewhere, when it came to discussing the real issues that cause bans.

What happened to supporting certified instruction, creating launch site guidelines, and improving retailer responsibility?
Suddenly, every unemployed kiter is qualified to teach kiteboarding?
Oops, my "shop" has a flat tire- gotta run!....
get my point?

Nice rant Pray for Wind, I hear ya! (I bet I could top ya though!)

Rock on Kevin K., glad you're back on the water!

[The Kite House]

i so disagree with you.....cant even explain, but i repect others opions and all i ask is respect mine.

I have had 2 off the side conversaions with our city here , when they asked if i think it will happen here and they really dont want this kind of stuff giving them a problem. Others are hearing this stuff as well, was questioned about it in ecuador after it happened when i was there by there tourist council who is looking at prometing the sport. Trust me, news spins what they want, "i dont want to represent the sport" but i dont think kevin should either as stories have changed and they are looking for drama.

Steve, if it makes a problem at your beach because it gives them a leg to stand on, i will wait to see your email.

Egos aside, this is more about the sport, not about kevin.....he is just a pawn being used to get a good drama story and keep replaying it for the public to see, and no matter what you saw he screwed up.

enough energy on this for me, windy and other things in life that need to come first. I hope it all works out.

Watch who you elect to represent you....i see no certs, or organizations making coments on this, only a kiter who made a mistake.....why dont they interview iko or pasa or you steve?

No good drama news in it!

[Kiteboarding Tampa Bay]

I was pissed off too when it happened and ragged on Kevin harder than anyone, he knows that.
I also spoke with Kevin(several times), told him how I felt about it, and listened to him, his love for the sport, and his desire to promote safety and prevent future accidents. (Have others posting negative opinions here done that?)

I realized after speaking to him, that I had been a dick, and he is not a bit different than any other kiter I ride with everyday. He loves kiting just like we do, and was out that day along with hundreds of other kiters all across Florida, doing what he loves.
He just happened to get caught on tape by a news crew.
If his video is ammunition that highlights how dangerous this sport is, what do you call Rick's reports and hundreds of kitemares on Youtube?
It's the same type of ammo, they just don't hit the AP newswire.

I wasn't single-ing you out Paul, I was making a point that bans are not Kevin's fault.
Its the inaction by all of us.
(BTW, no egos here either, just the facts.)

Regarding your last comments, I have no desire to be interviewed or have the spotlight- never have and never will. I prefer staying down in the trenches and leave the PR stuff to someone less opinionated than myself.
most others would agree that is best.

I don't see IKO or PASA doing much of anything regarding accidents or bans. Its not their role. They provide training for certified instructors,provide insurance,and encourage learning through proper channels, something we should all be supporting.
If you're referring to ASF/K4L- yes, we support Kevin, his right to kite, and his freedom of speech.
Like all kiters, he is a friend to us.

I didn't quite get the "watch out who you elect to represent you" thing.
I represent myself and my views, and not here to win any popularity contest.
I think that's always been fairly obvious in my posts.

Fair winds to all of you