My First Bad Kiting Accident

[jstjohn3]

Glad you're okay. See ya' on the water.

John

[adamrod]

It's still possible with kook proof connectors to cross your lines . . .if you hooked up the wrong side of the bar to the wrong side of the kite, the kite would fly perfectly, but all your control inputs would be backwards, which means that a minor correction during launch will do the opposite. (how many of us have accidently grabbed the wrong side of the bar, only to have the kite spiral into a crash?)

In some ways, this seems likely, because, like you said, you were using a kite you were not familiar with. I seem to remember that some of the older fuels even actually had the port/starboard colors different than other companies?

[jjm]

Slingshot used to have the red on the right (side), right (correct)? Was that changed in 05?

Al, glad you made it out ok for the most part. Get well soon!

[Big Al]

[quote="adamrod"]It's still possible with kook proof connectors to cross your lines . . .if you hooked up the wrong side of the bar to the wrong side of the kite, the kite would fly perfectly, but all your control inputs would be backwards, which means that a minor correction during launch will do the opposite. (how many of us have accidently grabbed the wrong side of the bar, only to have the kite spiral into a crash?)quote]

If you connect the wrong side of the bar with the wrong side of the kite, your steering inputs are unaffected (just turn the bar upside down when launching so your lines are untwisted and aligned properly). The main issue with this is that your sheeting strap is facing the wrong way, making it difficult to adjust your back line tension. I've rigged my the red knots (on the bar) to the white knots (on the kite) several times over the years and no issues. Some of the first kites out there didn't even have color coded lines/pigtails so there was no way to know which side was which.

[Sander]

Al, glad you're ok.

I looked at the photos and wondered if a helmet would've protected you because it looks like you took your hits on eye and chin.

Anyway, hope it's also your last bad kiting accident.

[jono]

"wondered if a helmet would've protected you because it looks like you took your hits on eye and chin. "

Yeah, it's possible he missed the helmet protected part by an inch or two -- probably not enough reason to not wear one right? ;) An inch the other way and it would have been stitches to the scalp...I think the point is he took impact to the head.

We should all start kiting around in these to protect the eye and chin areas:



(That helmet isn't looking so uncool now is it ;).

[sflinux]

I think your accident is an example of the benefits of launching unhooked.
I used to have a 11M SS fuel. I know there are those out there ungainst launching unhooked...
But I rig all my bars so I can sheet in (long depower rope) and be just as depowered as if hooked in and bar all the way out.
The benefit of launching unhooked is you can let go of the bar in a millisec if things go wrong. If launching hooked, it would take you the time to reach down and pull your quick release (assuming you can find it right away and fast enough).
I've been lofted on a bad launch. I rode out the gust and let go as soon as it dropped me back down (kept the kite near zenith), then ditched the bar. The kite picked me up a good 20-30 ft and brought me down wind a good 50 ft in a matter of seconds. If I would have been hooked in, I'm not sure I could have pulled the safety fast enough by the time the second lofting would have occured (it's usually the second that causes the most damage as the kite has just picked up a bunch of speed).
Launching unhooked. Just something to think about.
[Yeah I know 5th line depowerable c-kites and bow kites can safely be launched while hooked in, I'm talking about the old school 4 line kites...]

p.s. Glad you are all right. I'm impressed that your wife still let's you kite. I'm not sure mine would, can't say I could blame her though...
p.p.s. If you don't have a long depower strap/rope and have good dexterity, you can launch unhooked and steer the bar with one hand and hold the chicken loop (depowered) in the other hand.

[average_male]

Wow, thanks for sharing. Nice to see you are okay and taking a postive attitude on a not-so-good situation.

On another note, NZ looks very pretty.

[Greg]

painting the town red are-ya!
Glade you got out alive! Like Zeev said take care of the CPU..muy-importantie!
As far as the Sling bars go, you diffently need to take a good look since the bars are mostly black..and having the stopper ball set wrong... I can see it!
NZ is awesome and Oz ante too bad neither. Man, I'm really glade you got a second chance to see them! Take care,
L.M.G.

[bobbyboom]

Ollie, you say to "fully sheet in when you launch and then once the kite is released to sheet out to adjust to the pull from the wind/kite." At least I think that's what you meant. I agree, but would like to point out that at Alameda everyone always yells "Sheet out" to new kiters when they are launching (forget that the launch is not towards the water???). Is this ill advice as it seems to be the mantra around there?

Also, I was in La Ventana last week and Jane and Rebecca from Boardsports were there and we were discussing kite saftey at Crown Beach. It seems like they would like to offer clinics on kite saftey as it seems to be the #1 spot for new kiters to learn with so many folks making mistakes. I think this, and a set of posted "guidelines for kite saftey" would be a step in the right direction.

I used to ride with a helmet, then when I started jumping I removed my leash and with the removal of the leash I removed my helmet. It feels so much more free to ride without one. After hearing about the accident I think I'll add it back to my gear... or at least put it back in my car.


-Bobby