Kiteboarder rescue in HR

4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

This post makes me think if there'd be any interest in starting a season opener type safety meeting every year. No...not that type of safety meeting. Thinking something along the lines of an informal get together where we simply go through a number of scenarios and discuss equipment updates (better knives), and what to do when presented with any number of scenarios. I have to admit that I likely still have some muscle memory clanking-around in my body from the shackle days which needs to be rooted-out and updated for 2010-2011 bars. The main point is that no matter how long you've been kiting, or how new, discussion of safety is always a good idea.

windmtnpete · Since 13 Sep 2009 46 Posts Home Valley

Plenty of gawkers for this "ah-ha" moment. Just to give you some background, that reporter (Bob Heye) is an ex-windsurfer. If you ever get a chance to chat with him, he'll be honest and tell you he didn't sail for long before he realized windsurfing wasn't his cup of tea. Long time ago, and that's just fine..... to each their own.

Glad you learned a few lessons here and will be better equipped next time around. Glad you're still with us.

daveS · Since 23 Jul 2007 103 Posts Stoked

I don't want to sound preachy but I'm with Sasquatch here. I was out Saturday and saw you drop your kite up towards the bridge with a barge coming. I hung around to make sure you were up and out of the way then left. I quit right after that so didn't see you drop your kite again. My point is that it was pretty cold that day and my impression was that you are a relatively new kiter. I think that you and many other kiters see people out and figure you will go too. IMO Saturday and many spring days are not safe for inexperienced riders and those riders often venture too far from the beach. Any kiter who isn't confident they can keep their kite in the sky in early spring is increasing there risk for trouble. I'm sorry if I've misjudged your skill level and glad to hear you are fine. Might want to get a dry suit.

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

Kyle..wow. I admire your fortitude. And thank you for your "blow by blow" account... probably good for you to talk about..good for future discussion in rescue. Good for all of us to know & think about. So glad you are alright. Really happy the "A Team" was out there to assist. Luvs to Chooch and Owen. I don't know the other helpful people , but way to go! So proud of you all.

Knife..I use to river raft in Idaho..the guides had a serrated knife that is attached to their vest. Easy to get to (quick release). Seemed to be quality. Anyone have any experience with these? Think it would be better? make a difference?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1861 Posts XTreme Poster

Anyone know of a really good knife, hook or standard, that can be carried while kiting?

Chooch · Tue May 03, 11 8:04 pm

$ociopath · Since 28 Nov 2007 523 Posts Twilight Zone Addicted

Most times I carry two knives, one double edge kite knife and one small schrade serrated flip knife. The later in case I want to cut my leash. If you carry two you should always be able to get to one. Glad it turned out ok!

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

Glad to hear your ok Kyle!
Here are a few points on staying safe next time.

Keep the kite in the sky by keeping it downwind of you at all times. Kites do not hindenburg if you turn them away from the area where the lines go slack. Parking a kite at 12:00 is not a good idea in the gorge and will lead to hindenburging. Sending a kite to 12:00 as you fall of the board will often make the kite "fall on your head". Instead fly the kite to the edge of the window just above the water at 9:00 or 3:00 as you come off the board. The moment that you are falling off the board is the most important time to control the kite. Hindenburging is extremely dangerous and can lead directly to entanglement.

If you decide to self rescue, you need to keep the lines away from your legs.
Always swim to one side or the other side so that you move away from the slack line in the water. As you wind up the lines, moving to the side will keep the slack lines on the surface of the water where you can see them and away from your legs. If you need to let go of the bar, the kite should blow away without the lines caching you. Your description suggests that your lines were already on your legs or in the water on the upwind side of you when you released the bar.

All the experienced kiters in the gorge have had bad days. We have all hindenburged our kites. And we all have had line issues when self rescuing. I am glad you came out unharmed and thanks for allowing others to learn from your mistakes.

Nak · Wed May 04, 11 9:42 am

Kyle, really glad to hear everything turned out OK. That´s the most important part of this story. We all learn from our mistakes, given the chance. Not a one of us on this planet haven´t made a mistake. Learn the lessons of history, your own as well s others.

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

Kruse · Since 21 Oct 2005 63 Posts

Melokitegirl- I think what Mark Worth was referring to was how Kyle wrote that he let go of the bar halfway through his self rescue, meaning he had wound up his lines part of the way then let it go again, which of course would be dangerous if you are wrapped up in your lines in any way.

Glad everything worked out in the end.

There is a lot of good info contained in this thread.

97031 · Wed May 04, 11 4:05 pm

I'm surprised nobody has said anything about "the guy who knows more than you about kiteboarding" who launched your kite into the air for you in mid-self rescue.
Seriously, what a bone-head move!
I saw that done to similar results twice last season. A guy trying to help his wife relaunch gottangled in her lines and both kites ended up spiraling out of control to Washington. Another day I saw someone ride by and flip up a guy's kite that was directly down wind. The kite hot launced, lofted the guy and took him for a nice teabag into the shipping channel.

Helping people in distress: Good
Making matters worse: Bonehead

PinkyBoarder · Since 04 May 2011 45 Posts Seattle, WA

Kyle: Im so glad my chocolates helped you!! i've never seen someone with a blood sugar of 20 still conscious and talking. anyways, I always have chocolate around for Man for post kiting replenishment (we are addicts!) so feel free to hit us up if you are feeling low.

btw, funny story: I was at the dentist today and told him I was kiting this past weekend and he said "did you see that guy that almost died?" and i was like, "yeah, i think that was my buddy, did that make the news?" so my dentist says, "yeah, it was on the news and i guess there was some nurse there who gave the guy easter candy." so i laughed, "hehehe, yes that was me." OMG, everyone in the office came over and said something to me, i got to be a celebrity while getting my root canal this morning Smile

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

Thanks for taking the time to post Kyle.

Everybody is going to have a kitemare of some sorts at some point, the idea is to learn from it and everyone else can learn too.

This sport has so many variables and things that can go wrong it is really hard to say there is one right way to do anything, but certainly having experience doing self rescues is huge.

Also being properly dressed is huge... dress for the swim not for the riding. This is a dangerous time of year when we can get warm days in the mid 70's but the water is still deadly cold.

Its great that everyone came together on the water to help you out there, shows what a good community we have. Though remember that's not always going to be the case, so for others out there you must be ready to handle it all yourself.

A good way to sum it up for the newbs that might be reading this:

If you can't come to the beach, look at the water, and be willing to go for a swim across the whole friggin river... go home.

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

yes, I was saying that if you need to let go of the bar when the lines are half wrapped (or it gets ripped out of your hands when it's blowing hard as you are rapping the line) You should be off one side or the other of the slack lines allowing the kite to leave without dragging you feet first.
It's a real good idea to take a pass by the rider before flipping someone's kite to check if they want help.
Also the swimming kiter needs to be participating in relaunching the kite if another rider helps. They should hold the bar in the same way they hold it when rolling the kite on their own. I have struggled to help several riders who were holding the bar strait. It was extremely frustrating because they were flying the kite into a face down position and it would not roll over.

Old Yeller · Since 08 Jun 2009 33 Posts Mosier

Just wanted to thank you for your quick thinking. The chocolate might of kept him from going into a coma or seizures.

That was my camera footage on the news. I was hoping to bring awareness to diabetes. Many people are not aware of the symptoms of Diabetic shock. People experiencing low blood sugar may act like they are drunk or on drugs. If you see someone incoherent make sure they are not a diabetic first.

I remember one time my grandma was going into shock (she was diabetic). She couldn't walk or talk. She wouldn't have been able to ask anyone for sugar. Luckily we showed up and my mom knew what to do. She gave her some orange juice and a candy bar. Within minutes she was back to normal. The average person would have thought she was drunk or possibly mentally ill.

Everyone needs to realize that even with the lines wrapped around Kyle's legs he still would have made it in. But if he were to have gone into a diabetic coma, nothing could have saved him...

Thanks to everyone that helped Kyle in. It's the people that make The Gorge what it is, paradise!

Nak · Fri May 06, 11 6:55 am