Bad accident today at Stevenson

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1781 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

Devil winds took their toll today when a kiter was lifted off his feet after a sucessful launch and flew into the rocks . Sustained head injury from violent impact with rocks, his helmet undoubtedly saved his life. He was conscious and responsive on scene, and paramedics transported to hospital.

We recovered his kite, it flagged after impact and I assume Stringer, first guy to him released his leash. His chicked loop wasnt released, I'm guessing, but I think what happened(I was kiting towards shore and it happened right in front of me) His kite, at zenith, luffed a bit, his lines slacked and he came unhooked, caught a gust, really gusty day, and lofted. If thats the case simply letting go would have saved him a thrashing, but I think your natural reaction is to hold on and control the kite,

Hope to hear about his condition, wishing him well, injuries suck!!

One other incident of scary coincident, I lauched a differnt guy who accidentally unhooked, was lifted off his feet and missed the big rock by inches, he let go and wasnt injured. Wacky weird wind day

Anyone knowing about Ryans condition, pleasse pm me. I have some info about his gear as well.

Nak · Sat May 23, 09 7:35 pm

That totally sucks. I hope he makes a full recovery soon. Best wishes to Ryan & his family.

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Totally sucks. Lucky that he had a helmet. Hopefully he makes a full recovery and is back on the water soon.

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

I rolled by the launch at around 3:30-4:00 and saw:
Dangler
Stringer
Stevenson Mike Cool

Ron
Some dude named Tucker and a "Supper Hottie" Laughing

and one other Kat that I have not met yet.
Only two guys on the water, looked like it was blowen 7M.

I alway do as the locals do: If they arent on the water then neither am I.
Be aware of whats up! There's a reason thier not out Killen it and chillen on the beach.

Sorry to hear about the accident but, Ya Shit happens to everyone, even you!
The exact same thing happened to me 2yrs ago. Devil winds, helmet, and a bad launch, I got yanked really F'en HARD and ran accross the boulder field before launching super man style into 2" of water. All I heard from the bank was " Should I call an ambulance?" and then, "Good thing he was wearing a helmet" I got really lucky, I limped away with a massive accute hematoma to the bottom of both of my feet, just one week before Dangler broke his heals in similar wind conditions. Ya this launch if for real!

These are the lessons that we all learn weather through personal experience or through information exchange.

If your not so sure of the area and are still in your early stages of progression then sit back and take notice of whats really happing out thier..........Be more aware of who you are riding with.......if the wind get funky and you see the local Kats come in........it might be to your best interest to get in while the getten is good, if you know what I mean.

I wish Ryan the best of luck and a speedy recovery.

fredf · Since 10 Jan 2009 80 Posts Eugene. Or

I don't want to seem morbid but is there anything I (or anybody else interested) cculd learn about the conditions at the time, in which one can get inadvertently lofted, such as wind speed and kite size?
I am just starting to learn this sport and I'd like to stay away from situations that could be so violent, knowing of course that there is always risk and that it does take enuf wind to make things fun and assuming a proper lesson base. If that meant not sailing in winds above a certain speed with a size X kite or larger it would be worth knowing at my level and age or are there too many other factors to say?

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

Let's hope for a safer summer, but shit happens quick. Sorry Ryan.
I hope you're feeling ok now and that you get better soon.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

carolb · Sun May 24, 09 8:43 am **stevie launch**

Here's a few things about Stevie launch.

It's not a beginner launch.There are dangers around the launch both wind directions. The wind is shadowed so unpredictable at the launch site but good once you are on the water.

You will need assistance to go out as someone has to launch you and both the rider and launcher should be experienced at launching at Stevenson. Holding onto the kite and not releasing it in a gust is as important as controlling it once it is out of the launchers hands.

Stand in the water away from the rocks even in low water conditions and even if the launcher has to come down from the hilltop.

Do not fly you kite at noon where it can loft. You must bring it from 9 oclock to 2 oclock (over the river) relatively quickly, controlled, and safely as possible so if you are lofted, which happens all the time, you are pulled to the river not onto the rocks. Be ready to release the kite if the launch goes bad.

Once on the river, move upwind or downwind of the launch area as the freestyle circle is in the shadow of the rock.

Launcher has right of way over landers unless the wind and kites are droping like flies. If that's the case, be ready to land and stack kites quickly.

If it is busy at the launch, wind your lines up quickly since tangles happen quick.

And most importantly, bring beers for yourself and the locals. Very Happy

We carry a kayak on our rig for borrowing to rescue boards or friends and we do watch out for each other when on the water. Common thanks for a rescue anywhere is a 6 pack.

This is a great spot to kite if you have respect for the launch. We don't want to see it get closed or anyone else hurt so be cautious this summer.

If we're around, we'll be glad to launch you. Not trying to be preachy. Things seem to go smoothly when we take care of each other.

Get well soon or get a good camera, Ryan.

carol

forrest · Sun May 24, 09 8:45 am

Very helpful blowhard. Smile

Actually, he points out the golden rule.

fokiten · Since 04 Mar 2005 188 Posts Stoked

you got-a know words ain't going to do it:

"...You must bring it from 9 oclock to 2 oclock (over the river) as quickly as possible so if you are lofted, which happens all the time..."

see what I mean? from 9 to 2 "quickly?" don't do quickly you won't like it.

Hey, it's tough I'm not throwing stones just pointing out words are tricky.

I'll throw this out see if you like it.

If your lines go slack while on land pull the plug--period.

It's (the kite) either going hook up again with gusto, or it's not.

Either way, your better off to just start over.
fo

PS, ain't the gorge made exclusivity out of hard objects?

I mean you got your not so soft water ,and yous got your hard objects...

Save the odd lesbo , oops they're hard too, save the odd patch of poison oak, and pile of plaid shirts all yous got is hard objects

right?

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

not only what's said
but what's heard

what a nice kitty Cool

carolb · Sun May 24, 09 9:33 am **edited**

Yea - its tough to write all the precautions on handling the kite without being wordy and this is why it's not a beginner friendly area. Thanks for clarifying. I edited it above.

I also didn't add the part about depowering some but not too much, wind window, or sheeting out. Obviously pulling in the bar, powering up the kite, and sending it across the window like you're throwing a kite loop in an uncontrolled fashion is a recipe for disaster. But if you're to that skill level that you can't bring the kite from 9 to 2 controlled, you might consider kiting and/or more lessons at safer spots.

Really, you should get away from our launch as quickly and safely as possible and adjust your gear further out in the water where it is safe. Putting your kite overhead in any gusty spot or where there are updrafts is dangerous.

And I forgot to mention the current coming off of the rock / eddie that shoots your board across the river to Oregon so bodydragging is a good skill to know too.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

I was at the spit the other day and coming in on my 10. It was gusty north obstructed wind and my kite began to led zepplin..as I came in from a nice slightly rip and tug session..

If I didn't know to quickly run back and steer kite slightly up it would have fallen down on top of people. I remember being new to this and thinking, "shit my kites falling.."

A good idea to examine your options at each site. What if your kite zepps here? Options?

Stevenson launch gives you no other option if your kite falls..no run back..no room for error..

Here's to a quick recovery and a "there but for the grace of God go....____________"

Fast healing and good health,

don't fill in the blank

ronp · Since 05 Jul 2007 79 Posts west linn

It was a really unfortunate situation and I really hope that it isn't as bad as it seemed. From what I heard, the kite was in a lull right away. It was bad luck and not much could have been done without unhooking during the lull. In that case, anyone with hazards around needs to be ready to bail immediately which is unhook or pull the safety and hold the bar loose in case it powers up so you can drop the bar. You can't rely on releasing once it powers up because there isn't time.

Often in a little lull the kite starts to fall back. In this case yanking the center lines usually recovers it but if it doesn't work immediately you need to unhook. Running back with the bar out would have a similar effect but not an option at Stevenson. I see many people that are new to kiting pull the bar back in the lull but this actually has the opposite effect and makes the kite drop back more. Once it catches the wind their bar has them powered up.

Best wishes for Ryan. I appreciate all the people that got to him and helped. I was caught on the water with a few others not wanting to get in the way until the emergency vehicles left.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Has anyone looked into the possibility of building a little ramp and platform, covered with outdoor carpet, so that the launching kiter could have a stable place to stand, with nothing but part of the ramp and then, water downwind of him?

This platform could have a bulls eye painted on it to indicate the safest place for the kiter to stand. Then, if a lofting occurred the kiter would just land in the water.

Maybe, you could have one central platform and then one ramp going East and one going West.

In past times in the Gorge, there has been precedence set for rug covered ramps at the Hatchery, the Event center, and maybe some other places. The stuff always got destroyed by wind and fluctuating water levels, so there would need to be a maintenance crew on duty during the kiting seasons...but if anyone can deal with a "high maintenance" launch...it is the Stevenson crew of kiters.

Of course, there would be the temptation to use it as a kicker...

And then, there is the question of filling out and submitting the required government forms.

What is the history of doing something like this at Stevenson?

Mark · Sun May 24, 09 4:00 pm

Please remember Stevenson is an Advanced launch site. Everyone did a great job with the cleanup but that doesn't make it safer. Not much can be done to improve the safety factor. It is what it is. An Advanced site.

Please be careful and have fun!

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1781 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

Really happy to report that Ryan is OK and the worst of his injuries is a broken elbow. Good on ya, Ryan, someone up there likes yau.