*** Hurricane Riding, the Real Deal ***

[ricki]

Originally Posted by greg meintjes

You got to be real careful, even a 5 mph gust can can cause problems if you have no buffer zone, my biggest worry tomorrow is if we get some newbies on the water and and we also get some strong onshore gusts,Ijust read a kiter got killed in Brasil while riding when a squall came through , I will not be taking any chances if the weather is squally, and hope some of the other riders will help set an example for the benefit of some of the newbies.

Greg

From: http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.p...t&sd=a&start=0

The kiter was lofted or dragged into this building by squall gusts. I wish what comfort can be found to his family and friends. Brazil is not known for having a lot of violent squalls from what people have told me. Our area on the other hand Florida has very powerful squalls on a regular basis particularly in tropical systems.

I agree new kiters should sit this one out. Here's a harsh fact though, it is the experienced guys who are getting taken out more often in these tragic events. I'm updating this information but up to around 2006;

65% had three or more years of experience with 42% with four or more years kiteboarding
The average age among the lost kiters was 39

From: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=412...ight=100%2C000

When it comes to squalls everyone should sit it out and well before the wind or temperature changes too. If it is roaring in at a mile a minute and the gust front kicks out five or more miles in front you don't have much time to react. Sometimes with impediments to sight, you may have no time at all. The main thing that claimed these kiters were the choices they made. It all starts with us and what we choose to do, when, where and how.

[ricki]

HEAD'S UP -

Just heard from Lloyd, Channel 4 is supposed to show footage of a kiter being lofted into a building around Las Olas Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale today in squall gusts. It should be on in a few minutes in the 6 pm news I would guess. I am not sure if my cable even has Channel 4 anymore, I would appreciate if someone could tape it. Lloyd thinks the kiter survived the impact. Let's hope so.

STAY OUT OF THE DAMNED SQUALLS!

[ricki]

It's on Channel 4's website:

HERE


.

[conchxpress]

This brings me back to another post, I believe it was yours, Rick.

LET GO OF THE BAR. Yes, ladies and gents, his hands never left the bar.

I just hope he survives to kite another day.:shock:

[onthefritz]

holy crap... my heart stopped completely. Wow! Any word on the rider?

[latino]

i just saw the guy on the news get lofted and hit a van or something it looked like tiki beach ?

[greg meintjes]

I saw on a later segment one kite flying loose through the air and another kiter trying to land his kite also get into trouble, surf and kiteboards were also according to the reporter blowing dangerously across the beach, he also commented that the authorities are getting concerned with these activities. As I said on kiteforum ,I really hope the guy that got lofted recovers completely but there are no excuses for anyone been out in those conditions, any look at a radar or sattelite image should have been warning enough, that and the fact that for at least the last 24hrs, there has been almost nonstop coverage of the storm on all local TV and radio stations.

Greg

[ricki]

Yes Frank, that was another bad one, that time on the west coast. We really need to physically and mentally rehearse Emergency Depowering on a regular basis. In reality in emergencies all too few riders even try to Emergency Depower. They just lock up or even less often fail at the attempt to depower for whatever reason and go for the full ride. The first order is to avoid squalls and if despite all precautions you get caught out, Emergency Depower early. More about that other accident at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=6940

Originally Posted by conchxpress

This brings me back to another post, I believe it was yours, Rick.

LET GO OF THE BAR. Yes, ladies and gents, his hands never left the bar.

I just hope he survives to kite another day.:shock:

The video clip of the tragic accident today in Ft. Lauderdale appears:

HERE and another shorter clip HERE

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE thinking of going out in this storm or any others for that matter,
make sure they see this video and think about what could go wrong. They should also
read over the Brazilian fatality in another storm three days ago at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=7025
More guys could easily get chewed up in Fay or any of the numerous other squalls that
sweep through every year. Seek clear conditions free of squalls, always.

Again, best wishes to the man that was injured in Ft. Lauderdale today.

[Steve-O]

I am going to go out on a limb here. I always voice what I feel on this forum.

A look at the weather on the film, a look at the radars, the obvious fact that a big storm system is close by, why in the hell would anyone kite in this stuff.

When someone gets stupidly drunk, gets in a car, and crashes themself into a building, I really don't have any sympathy for them.

I am going to go on record and say, I really don't have any sympathy for this guy. He got what he deserved. Completely avoidable. I feel bad if he has a family or children. Completely selfish and irresponsible. He makes the sport look bad for all of us. Add to the fact that he was hanging on to the bar the whole time equals super kook for me.

Folks have called me all day and asked where I was going to ride tomorrow. My answer was not only no, but "hell no".

I'm not surprised however by the incident.