what went wrong? It was pretty gusty today

Whaaaaa???

Sh1t the bed!!

I'm pretty sure everyone was pretty shook up by the accident at schoolies and truly hope the guy is going to be ok and back out on the water.

For the rest of the summer... Could everyone please be safe.... The following are basic rules of the road for new kiters. This is not being posted in relation to today, just a general reminder for all the new kiters joining the sport.

Kiting is mostly a safe sport BUT it is still an extreme sport so:

Always get lessons, the first few days are all about safety. Cannot emphasise this enough.

If its too windy, or you don't have a small enough kite, give it a miss.

If the conditions are bigger than your ability, just watch the others and learn.

If you are not sure what kite size is appropriate, check the web site of the manufacturer for safe wind ranges and if you are not sure how windy it is get a wind meter, also available for most smart phones. P.s. cool Tassie air is very dense so you generally use smaller kites down here.

Practice your safety release and use it if you're in trouble. Especially if getting overpowered or pulled up.

Don't kite in onshore winds if you can avoid it, cross shore away from trees and people.

Always kite with a friend. That's what this forum is for!

Always double check your lines before launch.

Tassie winds can be unpredictable. Kite with a local if you can.

Otherwise, the weekend looks good for some sea breezes so let's get ou there... Radically but safely.

Hi All

The guy who had the accident is in hospital with a broken collar bone, broken ribs and a punctured lung. I spoke to his wife tonite and she said he is ok. His name is Alan and is on holidays with his family.

On behalf of Alan and family, i would like to thank everyone who helped today with recovering his gear and helping Alan.

Cheers
George

Totally agree Ando! Time And Place!

I hope this does not put the rider off kitesurfing and wish him the best for his recovery...

I have been exploring around the south Arm and peninsular area during the SW or WSW winds and found the wind at Carlton Beach to be much more consistent and you can see any major change in the wind coming on the water a long way off.. being a little further from hills and mountains . For beginners worried about the waves and room to launch as the tide goes out there is enough room to launch safely especially if the wind is a little side shore... Just walk out into the water:-) and as the tide drops and rises there is a 20-30m gutter causing flatter water with small whitewash rolling through:-) My Wife is a novice (just riding upwind) and feels very safe there. However I have spent a lot of time with her teaching her to...

1... Know how to release both emergency release systems as a reflex.. rather than fumbling around trying to release...

2... understand the size of her kite and it limitations

3... If over powered sit the kite at the edge of the wind window until another kiter comes to catch it, if still being pulled release the chicken loop safety causing the kite to invert and wait for help if the kite is not dragging her around.

4... if all else fails release the kite.

5... observe the spot for 20 or 30 mins see if the wind is coming through in gusts if its a new spot or she has experienced gusty conditions there in the past:-)

6... always launch as close to the edge of the wind window as will allow your kite to fly....

Hope it helps a few beginners out in making some decisions... as a kite instructor I teach these guide lines to all my students along with teaching them to read storm clouds and the water on the horizon that can indicate strong or gusty winds...

Ride within your limitations just because someone else is out with the same size kite does not mean you can... we had a few serious injuries on our side of the pond from people getting smashed into building or blowing their knee out trying to learn to jump in shallow water... It takes years to be confident or skilled enough to do a lot of even the simple tricks anywhere but open water:-)

Safe riding all see you on the water!

A pic or two from Carlton Beach Great to be riding back home here in Tassie:-)

Good info Leigh. I saw it all first hand and it could have been avoided with a bit more basic safety knowledge...

On another note, good to see that some people actually use this forum for what it is intended (not just s#!t stirring).

Hi all

Thanks for all your best wishes.

I'll try and explain what happened although I'm doing this on my phone in hospital.

Basically, I'd come back in on my 12m as it was way too strong. I have a 9m, but was unsure whether to pump it up. My friend Georges kite 10m Ozone Catalyst had tangled lines, which we sorted out so I went for a quick run.

At that point the wind picked up. I could hardly keep it at 9 o'clock. I shouted over to people on the beach. One guy started running over. At that point, there was a gust and I tried pulling the safety but nothing happened. The kite crossed the wind window, and lifted me 3 m and I landed in ankle deep water. Next thing it lifted me again and I landed on the road.
Don't remember much else...

Alan111S said...
Hi all

Thanks for all your best wishes.

I'll try and explain what happened although I'm doing this on my phone in hospital.

Basically, I'd come back in on my 12m as it was way too strong. I have a 9m, but was unsure whether to pump it up. My friend Georges kite 10m Ozone Catalyst had tangled lines, which we sorted out so I went for a quick run.

At that point the wind picked up. I could hardly keep it at 9 o'clock. I shouted over to people on the beach. One guy started running over. At that point, there was a gust and I tried pulling the safety but nothing happened. The kite crossed the wind window, and lifted me 3 m and I landed in ankle deep water. Next thing it lifted me again and I landed on the road.
Don't remember much else...

Sounds you got flogged old mate, no good.
A kite would never jump across the window in a gust. It has to be sent.
Get someone to check the lines you were using as it sounds like a line might've broken?
If it has it explains everything. I've been spanked by that old chestnut myself.
If it hasn't then you've been owned by strong winds and a massive mind fart.
Some say sh1t just happens. Glad your ok.
Cheers

leighkite said...
true .... the kite has to have rapidly across the wind window to launch you that high no matter how strong the wind is.....

I tried to keep it down, about 9-10 oclock. It may be that one of the lines wrapped round something, even the end of the bar. When I got launched it was definitely because the kite moved across the wind window. I was trying to keep the kite in one place, but the gust was so strong.

I'll get the kite owner to get it checked out.

I am incredibly lucky as it could have been a lot worse. The Royal Hobart Hospital is great. I have undergone a small procedure to get my lung reinflated. My ribs hardly hurt and my clavicle is sore, but doesn't need an operation. I have some road rash, but not too much.

Far from stopping me kite boarding, I intend to do something about safety in the sport. Watch this space....

funkyllama said...

Alan111S said...
My friend Georges kite 10m Ozone Catalyst had tangled lines, which we sorted out so I went for a quick run.

^^Alan does this mean that you were on an Ozone at the time?
The Contact bar that Ozone use has a pull release on the chicken loop. I think most other brands bars have a push release?

Sorry to hear about your injuries and big thanks for posting the incident up, we can all learn from others here.

My Wainman has a push release and
I know it sounds completely stupid, but yes I was probably pushing when I should have been pulling. I really don't mind going over what happened, if it helps anybody at all.

Yes a line wrapped around the bar, or even a wingtip, will do that if it happened at launch. Done all of those myself during various brain farty type episodes.

Did the kite hit the power lines? If so what happens there, do they just flip their breakers or something? Always freaks me a bit, kites and power lines.

Glad to hear your looking at this openly and happy to talk about it.

leighkite said...
I think it goes to show knowing the equipment you are using is really important!

You feeling better mate?

It's a bit like most car accidents happen within a few kms of home or work. Because I was only going a short distance, I thought it would be Ok.

I am much better. Punctured lung has been reinflated, cracked ribs much better. Sitting up in a chair.

So sorry to read this thread! Wowa! Schoolies was one spot I have always respected due to the down wind dangers. I had a solo sess there once and after years telling people to walk out at least 50ms to launch, self launched with not much beach at high tide, the rock snot seaweed bound around three of my control lines. The kite started looping and when I pulled my safety there was no depower. Ended up on the road under the power lines- very lucky no car came round the bend. Schoolies can be an awesome spot in the right wind but the setup doesnt forgive mistakes so take it easy there. I've seen several near misses by people at all levels.

Hope the guy who had the accident recovers well and gets back into kiting. Best wishes

Thanks for update, Good to see your getting back on the horse! If your up the north end of state give me a hoy! cheers

great news, welcome back (-: