thank you all

[splatto]

Well it's me Matt Splatt\splatto. No joke my nick names for over 10 years! I'm the one who got the helicopter ride from Sherman. So first off I would like to thank those who helped after this happened. I really appreciate everything that was done to help NO MATTER HOW SMALL. Again kiters prove how they are great people. If there is anything I can do to help with anything in the future please don't hesitate to ask. I'm sure you know what I look like minus the blood. Also I would like to apologize for endangering anyone or to those whom I could have caused any phisical harm to. I did not mean to do any of that. So again I'm sorry. And thanks to those who sent me cards in the hospital. Some I got but don't have anymore. Some of which brought a smile to a face that hadn't smiled in some time. Thanks.

So unfortunatley I don't remeber any part of the accident because of the major brain injury I suffered. I can't offer any explanation of why it happened or what I did wrong, Thanks to those who were around, atleast I have some explanations, and tips to avoid this in the future.

I do plan on kiting again, but I have to have the rod removed from my leg before I can ride anything again though, or so I'm told. I actually went out to Sherman the day I was discharged from the hospital to hang out with my fellow kiters and Nat. I would love to attend any events that are held though. You can call me at 209-456-2695 or email at mttparker@hotmail.com to advise me of upcoming events or chew me out for my mistakes! Also there are some pictures on my myspace same as the begining of the email but @myspace.com of me in the emergency room, tubes coming from everywhere if you would like to check them out. Thanks to my cousin for the pictures. In fact she may have posted on this site when I was in a comma. So any updates you all have gotten comes from her. Thanks again Jen.

So the injuries. I have a compound fracture in my left leg that has a titanium rod with acrews in the length of my femer. a dislocated right ahoulder that may or may not heal completely, my facial bones and nose was broken but have been put back in place and seem to be healing. I have major brain trama which caused my brain to Swell and bleed, plus my eyes to blur/distort much of my vision so I now have to wear glasses and am told the eyes may or may not get any better. I am walker\wheelchair bound until the leg heals enough to bear weight. Either this month or in December supposedly. And major head aches that may take up to 2 years to heal the problems that cause the headaches. And the mental issues from the brain trama, including memory and emotional issues. All in all I'm doing well and miss my many sports, and being able to walk/ride! Some day I will get those back eh!!!! ok enough, I know blah blah blah. If you havre any questions feel free to vontact me. Sorry this took me so long to post. I had to hook my computer up to a 32 inch lcd to see what I was doing.

[reyrivera]

Good that you are recovering from your accident.
Hopefully see you in Alameda this coming Spring?

[splatto]

I will try to make it out. I will have to find out where the kiters are geographically as I have only been to Sherman and the gorge. So what are the best days and times to check alameda out? i.e when are all the kiters there this season?

[OliverG]

Matt,

Thanks so much for the visit and update. So many of us were there that day and it affected us all. We were all pretty upset about it all, but for the sole reason that *you* got hurt pretty badly. It's such a fun sport, but with so many variables, sometimes it doesn't take too much for things to go badly wrong. I was kiting at the buoy line and saw the whole thing happen, it was pretty scary to see and given that it was a pretty windy day, I for one, was shaken up by it.

No apologies for anything are needed! It was a very unfortunate accident. I guess it's been a while now, but you're moving along well with some major healing with more to come. Jen did keep us updated which we appreciated as many of us were concerned. You were in the minds of many of the people there that day and those who weren't but were present here and concerned.

Hopefully you will be able to start the new year walking and your recovery goes speedily!

Best wishes and recovery,
Ollie
Bay Area Kiteboarding

[vant20]

I wasn't there but read the scary story. I am really, really happy to hear about your recovery.

[GracieMarie]

Wow. Matt, I don't know you, but I saw the tail-end of your accident. You were the talk of the beach for a LONG time. Everyone wanted to know how you were doing, so thank you for updating us.

You did us all a great service. After your accident, we were all humbled by the possibilities. We all started being more aware of our fellow kiters (and the possibility that they might need help). Some started wearing helmets, and we all got more careful/helpful. A bunch of us actually got nicer, hard to imagine for those of you that know, um, a bunch of us.

Speed-heal. I'm glad you're alive and getting weller. See you on the water when it's time. GM :)

[Greg]

Matt,
Brother- good to hear from you!! Thank you for sharing with us!!! We've never meet, I drove in as they took you out. EVERYONE was bummed, I was stunned..

When your ready- whenever that may be, will you call me and allow me to help you start over? I once had a terrible ski accident and my dad's friends took me back out to help me get over my trama..
I have a jet-ski and lots of kiting experance, I promise I will take VERY good care of you- NO money involved! I'd just like to see you smile and introduce you to my friends at Alameda (or where ever you want to go).

Take care- with love,
Gregory Boyington (510) 882-9389

[manplesvanuatu]

Matt,

I was not there nor I kite at Sherman. But the news went out to 3rd Av and it sounded scary!
I good to hear that you are recovering and already have the will to give it another go one day. That is very positive in itself. I saw some picture of a Kite race in Florida where this one gentleman participate..He had only one leg (the other being a prosthesis). It tells me if you have the will anything is possible. Any accident is never good. We should avoid at all cost..but you may have done us a big favor in reminding us that no matter how good we are...when things go bad..it can happen very quickly! So that we shall always stay humble. (there are sure some cocky people out that as in anything)
Anyway I wish you recover fast and then you can retake the steps to enjoy this beautiful sports.

peace bro!

paul thai

[splatto]

Well to be completely honost the kiters I have been around including thosse I recently visited via walker at the gorge seem to be completely helpfull to those around including my broken ass! Always willing to help and offer suggestions. So it's hard to imagine improving that from what I have seen in my short kiting past. Sometimes a little roughly but the intent was to protect me and other people. not be to be rude.
Eh LMG WE do know each other. unfortunately for you. remember the ups? Well that was me. I appreciate the offer of help. And will most likely take advantage of the offer in the future. I am thinking of buying my lessons all over again to be sure I am doing things right. That's not to say in any way that I was taught wrong. just that I want to make sure I didn't lose anything from the massive head injury, And even get some suggestions on my rdidng style considering the accident. Things sre changing I hear.
And from what I am reading I am endangering people because Sherman I just found out is for advanced riders only!. Sorry everyone I didn't know that. So in the future I will start riding elsewhere. Any suggestions for beginners?
I just started driving again so I am going to try to make it out to meet everyone at the other spots I haven't met yet. Many I have met already. Before the accident I thought I would like to ride the other areas assuming that I was rding more skillfully(wrong!). Hope to see you all soon.
Again I really appreciate the supportive and good thoughts, words, and well wishes from all of you wonderfull people.

Matt Splat

[GracieMarie]

Hi Matt,

In your last post, you said, "And from what I am reading I am endangering people because Sherman I just found out is for advanced riders only!. Sorry everyone I didn't know that. So in the future I will start riding elsewhere."

You were not endangering anyone. I learned to kite at Sherman Island on (now) antique gear with zero safety vs. what is available now.

SOMETIMES SI is for advanced riders only: when it's maxed out conditions all around, i.e., super gusty HellWinds, super crowded with extra stupid or drunk kiters flailing about, boaters/jetskis/windesufers/kiters all in a bad/demanding mood.....What Sherman Island IS is a gnarly launch that leaves, as you found out, almost no room for error or accident. I was out the day you got hurt, and I saw what I always see from Nat's students: they come into the launch in clusters, and almost without exception, they're all Rio-Ready. Meaning: polite, mindfull, many wearing impact vests and, like you, helmets. VERY safety minded.

For a dude with (or WITHOUT) a brain injury, you are HELLA aware, amigo. There are so many spatially numb, totally unconscious kiters rolling around, and you're not one of them....Plus, they can't blame their ignorance and lack of consideration on heavy metal poisoning OR a head injury. They're just drawn that way...So PLEASE. Don't tell us you're not going to kite there anymore, because you're already more awake than 80% of the kids that roll onto the island on any given weekend. Maybe you could give them consciousness lessons

"Any suggestions for beginners? "

Come to La Ventana. Edge Kiteboarding/Nat is there in the winter, and you'll probably see people there that you know from the Bay Area. It's a great place to learn, or re-learn, or just dig kiting and beer and fish tacos afterward.

Also, there is an amazing woman kiter/windsurfer/waterwoman named Jan Schwartz that had a dramatic brain injury some years ago. I saw her out at Scott's Creek last Sunday, on a fairly respectable day for muscly waves. She was rockin' it.

Speed-Heal, GM