Accident at 3rd Ave Fri 7/1/05

[Guest]

Got this by accident on another thread, it should be here.

Something that comes out in this story, which I have seen many many times, is that beginners don't go for the QR when the shit hits the fan.

I have no idea why. My sense (and I may be wrong) is that in teaching it is not emphasized enough that you should actually go for the QR on the slightest doubt, and also not practiced enough. I am thinking along the lines of diving lessons.

In things I did, using the safety is part of the training and you train until it is an instinct without thinking too much. It seems that this does not happen in kite boarding. I have seen so many people try to fly the kite when they should just throw the bar or use whatever safety they have.

Using the QR saved my a$$ more than once (though never on the water). I was so impressed with it, that I bought a newer model without much data, based mostly on the fact that it has the same safety system (flysurfer). I think the gear has something to do with your confidence on using the QR, but at the end of the day all kites have some form or another that kills the power, so the gear is hardly ever an excuse.

I don't think beginners that fly their kites for the first times even test their QR before going on the water. At least I havenít seen it done, which seems almost ridiculous. Every session I had on a mountain board I throw the bar to kill the kite at least once or twice in the beginning, just to refresh my memory and see how the kite depowers in the current wind conditions. On the water its not that simple because the launch areas are usually very tight, but still, using the QR the first time when you are actually in an emergency does not make much sense to me.

[loserdavies]

I agree completely the quick release had he used it would have saved him. I watched the whole thing he never attempted to pull it. He had a 5 second window to do it. It is very important for people not to be afraid or imbarrassed to use it.

[fearlu]

Bottom line: wear the protective gear, helmet at minimum, better to add the impact vest. Not just newbies though. I launched at SI on Friday (a place I've ridden hundreds of times) and on the first down stroke, broke a steering line/leader. No time to hit the QR believe me. I was told the kite looped 8 times before it landed in the bushes at the launch. Thank goodness no one was hurt by the kite and by the time I unhooked, the kite had been tackled by another kiter (thanks!) Did I have a helmet? Yup. Did it protect my head? No, but there is a huge log right there and I could have just as easily been pulled into it as not. Close-call this time with no injury.

I hope Art fully recovers and buys a helmet and impact vest. You should too 'cuz shit happens. Would you ride a motorcycle without a helmet knowing that the throttle might stick (while the steering locks full left?) Didn't think so.

Safety up.

[dt]

Yesterday Art's wife stopped by 3rd and said that her husband will fully recover from his injuries. She was curious to find out what happened because Art doen't remember. We talked mostly about that rather than the extent of his injuries but I got the impression he will be fine.

dt

[OliverG]

Yesterday Art's wife stopped by 3rd and said that her husband will fully recover from his injuries. She was curious to find out what happened because Art doen't remember. We talked mostly about that rather than the extent of his injuries but I got the impression he will be fine.

dt

This is very good news. Reading the account of the accident was unpleasant to say the least. I'm glad he wasn't more seriously or mortally hurt.

[Fly Safe]

If you have a mechanic failure like a line break, than the QR may not save you. This case like most emergencies was probably not gear failure. I have seen a few cases in Alameda where beginners used the QR and a few cases where they did not, and the outcome was almost always bad in the first case and negligible in the second.

[knyfe]

Really good to hear the he is fine at least. As he was laying in the stones I thought he is dead.

What a good news for the day. K

[loserdavies]

I am extremely happy to here he is ok. I have done a lot of thinking since the accident and haven't ridden since. I will ride tomarrow knowing he is ok.

[Kies]

I saw it. We held the shirt to his head, and calmed him. Someone got photo's of us sitting with him.
Was with him when parametics came.

If she wants to leave a number. leave it and I can talk via phone.

I have a few Q's as well.

PS. His equipment looked fine. He never attempted to release. nevr let go either. A Helmet would have been worth it's wieght in gold.

[sflinux]

Does the recon nitro even have a quick release? It is my understanding that the stock recon only completely releases the kite from rider and there is no leash. If this is true, this is a dumb safety system (run away kite). Maybe this is why Art was hesitant to pull his safety, he didn't want to lose his new kite.
I heard the sirens on Friday. I figured it had to be a beginner. I was on a 11M and underpowered. There was a 16M out, some 14M's, mostly 13Ms, etc. I would say it was an average day, not gusty. I was wondering why everyone seemed to disappear from the water.
I agree with the suggestions of: helmet, quick release.
The fact is launching and landing are where most accidents happen. A seasoned kiter is instinctly ready to release from his kite if the launch goes awry. Hopefully another beginner will learn from Art's mistake either by witnessing it or by reading about it on a forum like this. I respect the guy who tried to hold him down and ended up getting injured himself (finger). I hope this good samaritan has a speedy recovery too.
-bric