Whilst giving a lesson today there were a bunch of kids boogy boarding on a sand bar at stocton .One washed of the edge into the rip and was struggling and scared .I dragged him back in ,all good and happy new year for all .Another story to add to file of kiters rescuing public to put the naysayers and banners back in their place

flano said...

A new public hero has emerged " Kiter Man"

Nah just kidding always good to help people out good work

KiterMan to the rescue, just like when I had to rescue Stabber from way out the back.
He was almost crying and thought he was going to die. Never seen a grown man so terrified.

sorry i forgot ,poor kid,opportunity lost.Doomed to a life of ridicule

I have been chatting with my family about rips (they like many Ausssies love the beach and have heard all the stories of people drowning in rips but are a bit clueless about them ) I was explaining how quickly it can all go to crap .the dads of the kids were surfing on the same bar and the little guy was paddling hard and getting tired and scared pretty quickly .They didn't even notice what had happened and they were not being irresponsible it can just happen so quickly and they were only metres away.
A few years ago we went to an unpatrolled beach with our friends and the kids ran on ahead to our friends who were about 2 mins ahead of us and straight into the surf and into a rip right in front of our friends.By the time we got there there our/their kids were dripping wet and all crying.We thought WTF and some local surfers had just hauled them all in (just as well surfing wasn't banned in the 70's as some wanted eh).it happens that fast .

Mr float said...

I don't understand the red thumbs

Don't lose any sleep over it, well done mate

From 2007
a few years ago, I believe there was a good thread on the events and how the guys would do things different. (cant find it now)




www.kiteboarder.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Swimmers-saved-at-Nobbys-today/

firiebob said...

Mr float said...

I don't understand the red thumbs

Don't lose any sleep over it, well done mate

Thanks but the idea of the post was not for accolades .The point is that kiters that are seen by a nuicance by a small but vocal part of the community have been saving lives and helping people in trouble at the beach particularly in unpatrolled sections or when the flags have gone .2 local guys rescued some Saudi students a couple of summers back , who would now be dead if it wasn't for the kiters saing them , and the kiters were treated like rockstars by the local muslim community who were obviously very grateful .Since that time any concerns from the lifeguards plus really excellent behaviour on the whole by local kiters has made for happy and harmonious beaches here

kitegirl21 said...

great stuff lach!!

ta Holly .(why were you trolling page 4 ,this thread dies a few days ago)
PS there is a fiji hookup getting momentum for around 18th =28th Aug cols trip to cols point ( .Tides good dunno about the wind yet

been pretty busy with lessons so haven't made it to some of the hookups .Have had some wicked sessions .two good down the line southerly sessions with the waves pretty much to myself at dicko and nobbies .unfortunately missed this mornings session due to work.working on new kite .lookin good

AKSonline said...

Nice one Lach,

I usually take my safety leash off the kite, and let them hold on to it. That gives me two free hands to concentrate on flying the kite.

I use the same technique when rescuing kites. I attach the safety clip to the pump leash attach point and just kite in normally dragging a kite in my wake. Keeps it behind me out of the way and although it flies and flutters around rolling and twisting, it doesn't slow me down and I'm at the beach within a minute.

I've also towed surfers with the leash and kiters too. Even towed a SCUBA diver in full gear 2km downwind to his boat after it pulled it's anchor. That was a toughy!

DM

nice .Simple ideas that get results and are handy to know about