Can you practice a response to a Kitemare?

hiker1 · Since 01 Jul 2007 125 Posts Portland Stoked

I'm not talking about a self rescue - took a lesson on that - I am talking about the shit hits the fan and you have 1 to 1.5 seconds to pull the release on the chicken loop or get yarded into something very uncomfortable.

The poor fellow on the now well circulated Hurricane Fay video seems to be holding on to the bar with a death grip. I'm a newb kiter just up riding semi-consistently last week, and even on my minor yanks off the board - as I'm flying a big 3-4 feet *unintentionally* I try to always remember PUSH the bar away. Most of the time I come up and my kite is still flying.

To you experienced riders, what about those rare hot launches where there is no time to think "oh shit!" - rather either you intuitively pop a red handle or you get your ass kicked. When in those hot launch situations, have you been good at using an emergency release system, or did your brain forget cause your actually in A KITEMARE? Shocked

Just wondering how you reacted under a real emergency and if practicing some mental imagery (i.e see my right hand pull the red switch) for those oh shit scenarios helps?

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 205 Posts Stoked

I use the Slingshot Surefire release and practice hitting the release every time I land the kite. I have used it twice to get out of a jam (inverted kite in 40kt gust at launch) and I think all the practice helped.
But I think the best advice is to avoid crazy conditions (i.e. gusty strong wind with lots of downwind obstacles).

NateDogg · Wed Aug 20, 08 11:37 am

The first thing I try to do is be proactive, not reactive. Rig like your life depends on it. Check shit twice when the consequences are higher in gusty, high and or sketchy wind/launch situations.

I actually caught myself one time rigging BOTH my left front line and left back line to the same front pigtail on the kite because i was carrying on a conversation while I rigged. Luckily I found the error before i launched and promptly assigned myself three stiff shots of the cheapest bath tub grade liquor we had.

Regardless, when the shit does hit the fan know instinctively what to do. I always rig my leash to the same spot in the same manner so that when I'm getting drug through hell I always know where to go to make it all stop. Riding and crashing unhooked probably helps my muscle memory here as I'm always reaching back to the leash to pull in my bar.

Dry land practice probably helps a little, but if you want the real deal just hook your leash up to the wake handle of a boat and have your best friend (or worst enemy) pop the throttle. Practice instantly pulling the leash as soon as you feel the pull, and practice counting to ten while the boat pulls you and then popping the leash. Exercise 1 gives you reflexes, exercise 2 teaches you to stay calm in chaotic situations.

I don't endorse the above practice, but if you're crazy enough to try it at least get some photos...or let me drive the boat.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Yeah, what Nate said is good advice to improve your odds.

It's also good to keep in mind that situations can still arise when shit hits the fan in a split instant and you might be getting yarded backwards/upside down or something weird like that. If you're getting yanked hard enough in a weird position (especially combined with crashes) your arms might not even be able to reach the QR. Anyway, just good to remember that nature can always figure out a way to mess with you no matter how prepared you are. It'll help you make smarter decisions.

hiker1 · Since 01 Jul 2007 125 Posts Portland Stoked

Good tips - thanks NattDogg (tho I'll pass on the throttle practice). I do hope for an instinctive reaction.

It seems kitemares are not just reserved for Newb's, but can happen to any experienced rider who under estimates conditions or gets a little complacent. And too, sometimes shit just happens. Yep, being proactive enough to know if your rigging wrong for potentially dangerous conditions or a sketchy launch is a good strategy.

At my middle age, I just ask questions if I have any doubts. No ego on the line here. Appreciate the kite-wisdom this forum offers as well! Thumb's Up

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Aug 20, 08 1:52 pm

Practice makes perfect. Back in the day I practiced and ended up pulling the chicken loop QR quite a few times. I think what happens is that people think they can "save it" and don't want to punch out. You have to have some kind of muscle memory or "instinct" built up so when the shit hits the fan you don't think you just act. It's kind of like martial arts, you practice so much that when some tries to kick you...your just sanding the floor.

NateDogg · Wed Aug 20, 08 2:25 pm

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

practice deploying your release will help you learn how to use it.
When coming in from a session, practice by deploying it instead of unhooking from the spreader bar.
Also, if you use different kites/control bars in your quiver, consider changing out the chicken loop assembly so they all have the same release system.
My quiver varies with different brands.
I do this so I know exactly where the release is regardless of the kite I ride.
If you don't intend to change out your CL, then consider the SS surefire spreader bar. this is a great safety system.

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

yes rig like your life depended on it, because it does.

Also, I think if you train your muscle memory to actually release, you'll do a better job of actually releasing when the shit really hits. In addition to that, decide way in advance in what situations you will release. I use my gut feel. I have some spots where the wind goes from 0 to 40 mph in 2 sec. with an extreme wind direction change can be upto 180 degrees. The wind can even change direction while you're airborn. I mean in the water, although there isn't more than a few inches of water, I feel more comfortable, but landing when it is really bad, I land one handed, with the other hand on the release. I've even selflanded in those conditions, and the worst that has ever happened was a puncture hole in the canopy from some bushes my kite ended up in after I had to use the safety. I mean that was a $10 fix, and it could have ended the same way as the video.

Just decide you getting injured isn't worth trying to save your kite for.

a.

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Aug 20, 08 3:17 pm

Basically, whenever your kiting or launching/landing whatever and your like "WTF" your first instinct should be to grab your release.

lks · Since 06 Nov 2007 117 Posts Anchorage, Alaska Stoked

The other problems I see with the safety devices are that 1) you have to be conscious to deploy them, which is difficult if you're knocked unconscious and 2) normal reaction time is about 1.5 seconds, meaning that it takes that long for a normal person (i.e. not someone in panic mode who's being flung around by a kite) to apprehend the danger and [i]begin[/i] to react...so if you hit the brick wall within 1.5 seconds of the mishap, you're basically screwed.

But none of that would ever happen to me because I'm careful and it's always the other guy who gets hurt because he wasn't being careful.

LKS

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

I think Mike be on to something...
http://www.kiterelease.com/

I've witnessed a few situations in which just letting go of the bar could have helped.
With one of those fancy spreader bars, letting go of the bar could be all you need to do.

Just think about the cost to fix a bone vs fix a kite.

This sucks, only a few days of gorge garbage and we already sound like the other forum

hiker1 · Since 01 Jul 2007 125 Posts Portland Stoked

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 902 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

The thing to practice is the first cardinal rule of kiteboarding:

DON'T PUT A KITE IN THE AIR IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS

The Fay hurricane incident should have never had happened if good judgement was used.

Windian