big thanks

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

So was it the metal spring gate on the ends of the leash that got his hand? I read a safty thread on them a few years ago saying the old pinch kind were safer.

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Dude, leashes are dangerous!! Shocked

Sol-flyer · Tue Sep 23, 08 9:38 am

hip in white salmon · Since 11 Jul 2007 149 Posts Stoked

Is the caribeaner that Tucker got hooked on different then the one that comes with the Best bar? What are people doing? Is slipping a piece of tubing over the catch a good/best option?

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

The one Tucker got hooked by is the same most leashes have today... I really wouldn't be too worried about your leash though. This only happened because we were towing (and even then could probably have been avoided).

Sol-flyer · Tue Sep 23, 08 10:17 am

I used a Slingshot leash for awhile, Until a failed unhooked trick caused the "hook" to Filliet open my wetsuit and leave a nice long scratch across my back. I was stoked to see some companies (Eclipse ) at leash did some change. I'm not saying this is a 100% fix, but it is less of a point. (see pic)

I changed leashes, But for all you who ride with a harness that has a leash attachment for unhooking (like a rope across the back of the harness)
Make sure the leash DOES NOT run across your back, the leash should slide across the harness Wink

The red safety release is another issue.....

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Here is a thread from over a year ago discussing the side-gated carabiner…and its dangers

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-5960.html

Here is a thread from Kiteforum discussing the same subject:

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2347527&p=521184&hilit=carabiner#p521184

Here is a quote from one of the forums:

“When will the manufacturers stop selling us these line-trapping, skin-snagging open gated carabiners?

Warning: For those of you who faint at the sight of blood, don't look at the picture on page one of the first post below.

These "rare accidents", as the people selling this stuff would have us to believe, seem to be happening more commonly than expected. For this reason, I say:

LOCK THE GATE!”

Besides the dangers of skin-embedding, and accidental line entrapment, another danger is that of having the carabiner inadvertently hooking onto the chicken loop when the carabiner is hooked into the 5th line safety, right next to the chicken loop. Also, about 3 years ago a kiter was found dead, with one of these carabiners entrapping a line...it remains unproven that this line entrapment caused the death, but it looked suspecious. For all these reasons, I have always changed out this type of shackle for an end-opening-trigger snap shackle, on all my stuff.

So, with all the potential accidents theses side-gated carabiners can cause, why did most manufacturers switch to this type of snap, about 3 years ago?

(1) The Pros wanted a stronger shackle
(2) The classic “end opening trigger snap” would ratchet itself open as sand worked its way into the joint.
(3) The carabiner was more convenient and easier to move from ring to ring to OS handle, etc…when the new kites came in a few years ago.

So, in a word …”Convenience”.

I have noticed that both “convenience” and “performance” issues tend to trump “safety” issues in recent kiteboard developments. This is because a large group of kiters demand this, and manufacturers are responding to this demand. Not too shocking, really. I would expect more of the same, in the future.

JNETTE · Since 02 Feb 2006 149 Posts PORTLAND Stoked

Wishing you a speedy healthy recovery Tucker.....guess you should be thankful it wasn't your right hand so you can still complete your school work!!! Very Happy

G-dog · Since 04 Jan 2007 61 Posts Portland Â

kiteboard117 · Since 02 Mar 2005 450 Posts PDX McLovin

thanks Jennette!
as far as the accident itself basicaly what happened was in an attempt to ride downwind to catch my loose kite i held onto adams leash. i have ridden tandem to catch my kite before but normally i hold onto the harness line although adams was too thin to hold. i though i could hold the leash but it pulled through my hands a little bit while he was pulling me up and i guess the clip hooked my palm. it was deffinitly not the clip's fault i am positive any other type of clip would have tore up my hand if there was enough pressure for that one to break my skin. I dont think theres anything wrong with the clip, i think i just made a mistake. the eclipse totaly would have done the same thing i think even the old style dog leash clips would have tore up my hand pretty well. a carabiner with a locking gate would be sweet but nobody makes a leash with one yet... i will probably still use that same clip once my hand heals.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

Jeff said you had some psycho-pain the other night, eh? How's the Vicodin working? Surprised

Bettyboarder · Tue Sep 23, 08 9:21 pm

Oh man sorry to hear about your hand Tuck.....heal up fast!!!!

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

Sorry about your hand. That's gotta hurt. Tore my palm open on the head of a nail sticking out of a telephone pole as I was riding by on my skateboard. Ouchy!

Here's my leash. NSI makes a variety of lengths with loops at the end so you can add what ever clip you want. I use a Wichard T5 with ball to release it and a 316 stainless trigger snap (McMaster PN 3919T21) covered with a piece of 1/2" dia latex tubing.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

McMaster is awesome! Never thought about checking there for shackles. We normally use them for all of our stainless turbo manifold shit!

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Here is a picture of a modification to the end-opening trigger snap which someone suggested on another kite forum:

If, in your mind's eye, you picture the scenario, where the leash is grasped and then, slides through the kiter's hand...you can see that the last thing to pass through the kiter's clinched hand is the snap shackle...and you will note, that the modification on the little lever on the shackle, forms an inclined plane, which would tend to push the skin of the hand away from the shackle, rather than tend to snag and rip the skin.

On the other hand (no pun intended), the side-gated carabiner, under the same scenario, acts much the same way a fish-hook functions.

I used the hand as an example, but the side-gated carabiner can snag and become embded in any area of loose skin. I personally know of a case where the carabiner got embedded in the skin of the arm of a kiter.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Man if only Tucker knew some people at Slingshot who might be able to make some of these safety changes a reality... if only... Very Happy

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

heal up dude....
don't rely too much on the meds...but use em' while you can.