Brainstorming neck protection

harriet · Since 10 Jun 2007 64 Posts

I have been thinking about this for some time, and now more than ever I see the urgent need to address this issue. Cervical damage can happen AMAZINGLY EASY. It doesen't take an extreme blow as one may think.
In 07 while snowkiting I was riding toeside & I caught an edge and fell backwards, leaving me with pins and needles in my fingers for several days. No biggie, right? Fast forward to Roosevelt in august and a simple fall while looking up left me almost unable to walk. Just a ruptured disc pressing on the spinal cord, but that's all it takes. No serious wipeouts, kiteloops, rails or anything. In my case, I had cervical fusion, (for the underinsured, it's not cheap) and am healing but a long way from who I was. As we all know, this sport is horribly addicting. I want to and dream of returning, but just keep thinking the what if's. So innovation for me is a must.
Now with news of someone with Christina's future, my heart aches that I've wanted this topic discussed publicly, and see more than ever that this should be everyones concern, not just my own.
So if we can help eachother and bring water to a village, surely a community effort to come up with some type of neck protection is within our grasp. My first thought is something like what football players wear, which still gives plenty of freedom of movement and reduces hyper-extending the neck backwards,( I THINK this is the primary concern, but I'm no doctor) but I also see the possible need to restrict side to side whiplash. I'm not sure this is possible while keeping the freedom we all need/ enjoy but it may be a bonus.
I've checked out some mt. biking neck braces, and they seem insufficient. The football brace is where I'm heading, yet I think a built in brace on an impact vest seems ideal.( I'm no seamstress, either)
Any ideas, pics, links would be welcomed. And again discussions at least with your buddies is a must.
Fly safe,
Scott

Mark · Fri Dec 12, 08 8:47 am

After tons of research, Racing ended up with this. Don't believe the sport has had a neck injury since.

Hans Device.

http://hansdevice.com/site/index.html

The device could be hooked to any helmit. The problem with any of this is would people wear it?

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

The problem with that is I don't think it would allow you to turn your head fully.

Bettyboarder · Fri Dec 12, 08 9:30 am

I like the idea over all but not sure how it could work unless it was somehow worn under a wet suit. My concern with alot of braces out there right now is that lines could get caught on it and really mess you up.

Sella · Fri Dec 12, 08 9:43 am

Some sort of protection is needed but the Hans looks like it would drag you further under water when being dragged backwards. As Hein said...every kite should be printed with "Kiting is a dangerous sport. Ride at your own risk."

Everything can happen so quickly it makes you wonder what can be designed to help protect the rider. Kristina Bockius was a very experienced rider who lived in the Gusty Gorge so she knew how to deal with lofting and sudden wind change.

Quote; "No one saw her fall, but it seems like she was lofted in the air and came down on her face."

Possibly a tangled bridal or maybe a second lofting when she was disoriented from a first fall...ala..Kevin Kearney etc. Was it on the beach? Near shore? Dan Bergin was another great Seattle kiter who experienced sudden huge gusts, lofted, most likely was knocked unconscious and drowned in Lake Washington a little over a year ago. Another huge loss for the kiting community and these great people are being lost from a sudden impact nobody can help minimize regardless of skill set. Kodiak even had a huge scare this past year doing a KL when a gust hit as well so it's not a newbie issue.

Mother Nature can be a real bitch sometimes and we will never control her so Hans might look Go-Joe Toby on the water but as time moves forward I would totally ride a lightweight, flotation assist, carbon-fiber, impact harness / chest / neck harness all-in-one concept. Hey Dakine.......or you smart nwkite engineers....just a thought.

NorthStar · Since 02 Sep 2008 55 Posts

http://www.evs-sports.com/store/?category_id=4

I used some EVS gear when I was riding DirtBikes alot mostly for my shoulders but they make really nice safety gear.
this gear might be more benificial for snowkiting , just thought Id share.

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

That Hans thing looks cool but I do see the potential for damaging drag and snagged lines. I too suffered a bit of whiplash this summer at Roosevelt. Gusting over 40, fell forward, kite shot up to zenith and the impact shot my head up. Then went out and beat on it some more falling on my back during failed 720s and 1080s. Not fun. Hey Scott.

harriet · Since 10 Jun 2007 64 Posts

Thanks for the replies so far. The evs protection I've checked out, but I dont think it has us in mind since we dont wear fullfaced helmets in the water. Snowkiting with a fullfaced helmet may be a different issue, especially for the icekiting crowd at Georgetown...
I agree the Hanz seems bulky and adds more potential problems than it may solve, and is similar to what football players wear. I'm now trying to figure how I can fix a "collar" to a vest using those little foam floatation tubes that kids use these days, possibly inserted into a pocket made of dacron, stitched to a vest. As I mentioned, I'm no seamstress so it may take a bit of time to fabricate. If I have any success, I'll be sure to post some pics later.
Thanks again everyone.
Scott

Diggy · Since 25 Nov 2006 342 Posts Gorge to Coast Obsessed

Who was it on NW Kite that had a prototype self releasing spreader bar?

Could someone direct me to the thread. I've tried to find it with the search function but no luck.

Bettyboarder · Sat Dec 13, 08 10:22 pm

gorge geezer · Since 11 Jan 2008 17 Posts Vancouver

http://shop.thumpertalk.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=APP%5FEVS%5FRCEVO

This is a site that shows several models and brands of neck braces for motocross racers. It would seem that being able to fully look around would be a neccessary feature for motocross racing.

gorge geezer · Since 11 Jan 2008 17 Posts Vancouver

Sorry, I did not realize North Star already showed the neck braces.

I wear a helmet because I use a leash. I always wore a helmet for windsurfing, mainly so others could see me in the water. I also wear an impact vest. I guess I do look out of fashsion on the sandbar. A neck brace would even be more strange.

solkiter · Since 07 Jan 2008 251 Posts ROGUE VALLEY Obsessed

the circular dirtbike neck gear ? looks and feals good for snowkiting and water!!
all foam light weight and comfortable .i tryed a friends on and they seam like you have no restrictions. but it still seams to have alot of neck snap protection!!!!!!
& there onley like 35 -40$
Laughing

light weight tooo!!

solkiter · Since 07 Jan 2008 251 Posts ROGUE VALLEY Obsessed

the circular dirtbike neck gear ? looks and feals good for snowkiting and water!!
all foam light weight and comfortable .i tryed a friends on and they seam like you have no restrictions. but it still seams to have alot of neck snap protection!!!!!!
& there onley like 35 -40$
Laughing

light weight tooo!!

KitesofFury · Since 25 Jun 2007 23 Posts Seattle

"I'm now trying to figure how I can fix a "collar" to a vest using those little foam floatation tubes that kids use these days, possibly inserted into a pocket made of dacron, stitched to a vest. As I mentioned, I'm no seamstress so it may take a bit of time to fabricate. If I have any success, I'll be sure to post some pics later. "

An impact vest with a bit of integrated neck protection would be sweet. I'd buy one if if they looked like the new wakeboarding impact vests. Great ideas. Hopefully, this tragedy doesn't have to be repeated.

This thread really makes me re-consider attempting freestyle in maneuvers in 3 feet deep (or less) water, like we sometimes get at Jetty, DB and Locust here in WA.

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

The motocross neck braces are only ment to be used with full face helmets. Too big of a helmet may actully cause neck injuries if the helmet grabs the water when you hit. I remeber a story of a windsurfer who bailed out of a high jump and his helmet caught the water as he hit breaking his neck. I think this was a freak thing but the bigger the helmet the more likly.

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

also football players wear several different kinds of foam neck rolls that may offer some protection and could probablly be hooked to an impact vest.