Jumping in shallow water injures three in Hood River

[ricki]

Lots of guys have been messed up doing tricks in shallow water over the years. Some of these kiters sound like they may be at risk of paralysis, hope it doesn't come to pass. Distance is your friend in kiting, that includes adequate depth of water too. You don't need those extra feet of water, until you do. Best to always make sure you have it.

"A dangerous day on the water for 3 kiteboarders

HOOD RIVER, Ore. - Three kite boarders are recovering after they were seriously injured on the Columbia River.
The incident happened Friday in Hood River. All three were hospitalized, including one who had to be airlifted to OHSU. One of the victims is just 17 years old.
Rescuers say two of the victims were doing flips on a ramp in the water and landed head first. They suffered serious spine injuries."
NEWS VIDEO at:
http://www.katu.com/news/local/127666783.html

and

Originally Posted by oldyeller

The first guy was skimboarding on the dance floor. He came off of it and lost his balance. He was pulled forward off his board into his head. I was filming right there.

He stood up and said he couldn't feel his left arm. I told him to stay calm and let me catch his kite. I walked his kite in while my daughter carried his board. He was hurting but nothing too serious. I think it ended up being a cracked vert.

The second guys was up at the Event site. I guess it was a windsurfer. They life flighted him out while we were carrying in the third guy.

He did a raley to pile drive, head first into the sand. He was face down in the water when they pulled him out. A bunch of us went out to help carry him in. The kid said he didn't have any feeling from his shoulders down. He was a 17 year old German kid.

Honey hole, pussy pool, whatever you want to call it it's still a death trap. Deep water is safe water. When the water is low, head up wind. No crowds, the wind is stronger, steadier, better swell and in some areas, total flat water perfection (above Wells Island).

http://www.ikitesurf.com/forums/post...=quote&p=70044


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hood_River,_Oregon


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[Danimal8199]

As a noob 3 years ago I had a similar experience. I had been kiting for a month and a half and was learning how to boost. I must have had 20 successful jumps of around 6-8 feet prior to botching a jump and coming down in about 8 inches of water flat on my back.

I was positive that I broke some ribs or something but everything turned our fine. It was my wake up call.

A few years later I botched a trick in about 8 inches of water. I lost my board landed on m back, and when I rolled over and looked up, my board was lodged vertically just a few feet in front of my like my tombstone. That really woke me up, lets hope I don't have another incident now.

Danny