Page 1 of 2

I am a Good example of a Bad example!

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:45 pm
by OliverG
Today brought another day of with with the added bonus of sun at Alameda. I was sitting on a log at my favorite spot this afternoon with a couple other guys and things weren't looking good. Charlie rubbed my face in his Northwest system theory once again via cell phone and sure enough he was right. Zeev was heading to Crissy where I'm sure he scored a most excellent session before his meeting as the numbers were good. See, when a nor-wester comes through, some wind will usually make it in to Crissy and some farther in the bay. But not far enough.

So we quickly packed up and hightailed it over to Alameda and sure enough, it was looking good. Excellent, powered up 14m wind. I picked the Outrage 14, although before long I could have gone out on the Rage II 12. But I was sore from the day before, probanly more from work than kiting although I'm sure that added to it as well. With the 14m up in the air, things were good and fun for close to 2 hours or so. We had another low tide, which can be fun to hit with some hard turns and butter water.

After having hit this time and time again for so long, throwing tricks and airs, I figured, no problem! I was coming in hot and powered up in the butter in a foot of water or less and sent the kite to score some major air and land with the softest kiss on the water as usual, when I goofed on my timing and the board was ripped off my feet upon takeoff! I sailed high and far and knew I was in trouble. All I could think was, "soft landing, soft landing!". It was soft, but not soft enough. I should have considered coming down on my butt, my went for the feet instead. The left one was find, but the right took a bit of a hit, and the pain was immediate and sharp. First thing I did was lift my right leg up, hell, I didn't know what might have happened. Luckily, nothing flapping limply and nothing broken through the skin! I got so lucky as it turned out to only be a sprain of sorts that hurts, sho' nuff, so I'm limped in across 100 yards of low tide sand and landed the kite.

Lesson learned? Yes!! It's just not smart to risk it like that in such shallow water. You might think you're nailing all your tricks, but all it takes is one that you don't! I got lucky, it could have been much worse. So know that I'm a good example of a bad example and don't put yourself at risk like that. Tomorrow it could be better or worse, we'll see.

Ollie

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:49 pm
by Guest
That sounds intense! glad ur okay tho, and your leg is still attached. ;)

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:55 pm
by OliverG
All things considered, I'm happy that it wasn't worse. I've got a funny story to add to it that I'll save for later, but for now after a beer or two and 800mg Ibuprofen, it's feeling better. :wink:

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:16 pm
by Guest
I'm about to try that remedy tonight minus the Ibuprofen and bad leg.

injury

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 12:18 am
by zgur
Ollie - glad you are ok....you can hurt yourself in a bad way in shallow water....go big, when it's deep.

Crissy was sweet 12m conditions. Could have been on the 10m first 1.5 hours. The ebb was pumping, and the swells outside the gate were big and smooth. A good time was had by all.

The fact that I landed on the beach with no swim was the cherry on top of that sweet session.

Good winds, Z.

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 8:37 am
by Bob
Please train your wife to be the backup administrator
- just in case you have not really learned your lesson about jumping in shallow water or next to the beach or in the launch/landing zone...

We would hate to lose you (or anyone) on the scene but it would really suck if we lost you AND your site!

Glad your ok.
Seems that LMG had a similar landing Tuesday too.

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:48 am
by OliverG
Bob wrote:Please train your wife to be the backup administrator
- just in case you have not really learned your lesson about jumping in shallow water or next to the beach or in the launch/landing zone...

We would hate to lose you (or anyone) on the scene but it would really suck if we lost you AND your site!

Glad your ok.
Seems that LMG had a similar landing Tuesday too.
Bob,

No worries! I have learned my lesson! I won't be airborn anywhere near shallow water, and no jumping on land either, which I never really did anyway, and I promise to work on not hucking big air too close to the beach on higher tides!

It would be good to have a backup admin, but as long as the hosting fees are paid, it will pretty much run itself. O:)

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:51 am
by knyfe
Olli,

good to hear that you are still fine. And good to remind us to the shallow water problem. It was the same at 3rd on thursday. but 3rd is even worse with the sprinkled small rocks for way out.

Lets leave early today to catch the high tide!

CU, K

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 4:57 pm
by Live2KITE
It's a tough choice when this happens to choose between going down on your feet or on the butt.
I chose to go the butt / back once and many things can get hurt at once. I still get the sharp pain on me neck every once in a while from this fall and it's been already 1.5yrs and multiple therapy sessions.
Feet vs butt/back? I'll go feet next time, although I hope it won't happen again.... :roll:

Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 6:15 pm
by consumerr
Get well soon ollie! we missd you at the crowne today.