jeremy
Since 18 Aug 2006
276 Posts
Manzo & HR
Obsessed
Sat May 14, 11 9:57 pm
Bummer on the kite and glad you made it in safe !!
Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
Sun May 15, 11 7:41 am
Reaper356 wrote:
I think I'd be afraid to eject in big break b/c the kite can pull me in and it's easier for the CG to spot! but it's probably the right thing to do in order to avoid being hog tied if you're going thru the rinse repeatly.
if the waves are big the kite usually blows a panel if you hold on and it takes a direct hit - usually (in OR) ends back up on the beach - once you release the kite can take all worlds of spectacular abuse - a couple of overhead waves and the kite is generally bowtied and not going to relaunch and kill anyone on the beach
if you do hold on be prepared to disconnect - have been drug underwater backwards a long long way - unable to reach behind and release the safety leash _________________ Go Deep!
jeremy
Since 18 Aug 2006
276 Posts
Manzo & HR
Obsessed
Sun May 15, 11 9:08 am
How is that a quick safety release if you cannot reach it ? Getting dragged out-of-control by your kite and being able to release is key.
That's almost as bad as hooking the leash backwards with the release mechnism out of reach. After I read someone died in SPI due to this mistake, I have noticed even expert kiters occassionally make this error. Is it too much to ask the kiting companies to put a release on both ends of the leash to save a life !#?
Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
Sun May 15, 11 10:12 am
jeremy wrote:
How is that a quick safety release if you cannot reach it ? Getting dragged out-of-control by your kite and being able to release is key.
can happen pretty quick and your hands can get pinned in the rushing water - at least your body folds nicely as you squid along backwards - if you clip to the front and cant get it in time might break your back... _________________ Go Deep!
. Last edited by foghater on Sun May 15, 11 5:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
foghater
Since 31 Aug 2008
135 Posts
Stoked
Sun May 15, 11 5:05 pm
Gman wrote:
a couple of overhead waves and the kite is generally bowtied and not going to relaunch and kill anyone on the beach
Generally is the key word here...ive also had em get to the beach and go cartwheeling down the beach with beachgoers running after em.. trying to help you out.
All we need is one tourist getting wrapped in our lines and their hand mangled and its all over.
DROCK999
Since 31 May 2007
852 Posts
Left Coast
Opinionated
Sun May 15, 11 5:45 pm
Wind Slither wrote:
DROCK999 wrote:
ditch your kite and paddle in with your board
I don't wear a board leash Drock, so in these situations, my board is usually long gone. I am considering one though...I think they may have their place in some scenarios...
nor do I, if you can get your board though ditch your kite and ride the waves into the beach. and retrieve your kite when it comes in _________________ BIP- "YOUR GIRLFRIENDS FAVORITE"
TheKerrKid
Since 02 Jul 2009
226 Posts
Stoked
Mon May 16, 11 10:02 am
Wind Slither wrote:
DROCK999 wrote:
ditch your kite and paddle in with your board
I don't wear a board leash Drock, so in these situations, my board is usually long gone. I am considering one though...I think they may have their place in some scenarios...
Well I hope you at least have a gojoe then, becuase it would be mighty dissapointing to loose a board _________________ Less fighting more kiting
R.I.P. Jeff Young
DROCK999
Since 31 May 2007
852 Posts
Left Coast
Opinionated
Mon May 16, 11 3:01 pm
TheKerrKid wrote:
Wind Slither wrote:
DROCK999 wrote:
ditch your kite and paddle in with your board
I don't wear a board leash Drock, so in these situations, my board is usually long gone. I am considering one though...I think they may have their place in some scenarios...
Well I hope you at least have a gojoe then, becuase it would be mighty dissapointing to loose a board
No I just go beast mode and will my board back to me with mind power _________________ BIP- "YOUR GIRLFRIENDS FAVORITE"
Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2619 Posts
The 503
METAL
Mon May 16, 11 4:00 pm
Boards will usually find their way back to the beach and the nice thing here is we don't have a lot of rocks to worry about on our open beaches.
I think we want to be careful sending a message that separating from your kite is always the right thing to do when you fail to relaunch it in the break. I was out with a friend last year...everytime his kite would go down, I would immediately see his kite floating off by itself. I thought it was an accident the first time, but by the third time I was like WTF are you doing!? He read somewhere that that was just what you were supposed to do! Well, we were next to a river mouth with a good outgoing 6kt current. Not only did his kite not float into shore as he was expecting, but he had a hell of a time paddling himself in...even with his board! And this was a small day!
You let that kite go and you are not only giving up a potental life-line, but you may be putting others at risk. I have had good success anticipating when the wave is about to hit the kite and pointing my body as I get yanked forward ("superman" position). This reduces the drag against the kite and you can even kick your feet a bit to help. The side benefit is you keep tension in your lines (slack lines being another big danger in these situations) and you have repeated chances for relaunch after each wave. I also stay hooked in which gives me 2 free hands for swimming and re-launch attempts.
I have not incurred any damage since my Naish AR-5 days, but more important, I got back in on some days that may have been questionable under my own swimming power.
apctjb
Since 19 Aug 2007
438 Posts
Obsessed
Mon May 16, 11 4:37 pm
What I heard at a recent Ben Wilson intro to riding surf class.
Ditch your kite if it goes down in the break zone and you can't relauch instantly . Do not get pulled by the kite.
Use a board leash; better to have a board and ditch the kite....
Just repeating; I am no expert...
Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
Mon May 16, 11 6:43 pm
Wind Slither wrote:
I think we want to be careful sending a message that separating from your kite is always the right thing to do when you fail to relaunch it in the break. I was out with a friend last year...every time his kite would go down, I would immediately see his kite floating off by itself. I thought it was an accident the first time, but by the third time I was like WTF are you doing!? He read somewhere that that was just what you were supposed to do! Well, we were next to a river mouth with a good outgoing 6kt current. Not only did his kite not float into shore as he was expecting, but he had a hell of a time paddling himself in...even with his board! And this was a small day!
yeah...
rivermouths all bets are off - what do you do when you drop your kite and it begins to overtake you in the current heading out to sea (a blown panel/destroyed kite is the least of my worries) - no stress about breaking the Prime Directive and taking out the family picnic tho
Funny my experience is different than Slither's - having destroyed waroos, revs, rpms by hanging on pretending to be aquaman. In making the decision I am gauging the size and position of wave that is going to near miss or decimate the kite (in head high and smaller stuff the kite usually survives and occasionally relaunches even after taking a few hard hits)
- and of course whats going on the beach (in Florida there are million people on the beach, the waves are smaller and i'm more conservative as the break can be close to shore) - but most of my issues in OR are taking place more than a quarter mile out in bigger - head and half plus size in uncrowded spots - the times i've held on it didnt really shorten my swim much but i am swimming hard to catch and body surf my way back to the beach once i let go (all spots are different) _________________ Go Deep!
registered
Since 12 Jul 2005
1319 Posts
tsunami
Sandbagger
Mon May 16, 11 8:11 pm
I must add that foghater is one of the best wave riders I know(maybe better than wilson- I have never seen live unedited wilson ), so the overall episode did not arise from lack of experience,skill or lack of a good kite(slingy rules little dickie or not).
Water is a fickle bitch as is the wind. You best know how to swim if your going to kite.
Your mom and I are glad your alright.
I unhook from the kite if its in the drink but I don't let it go of the bar unless it is pulling me out to sea or under water or feels like it may explode.
Even if it does explode it usually helps pull you in through/with the waves.
Its the rip inside where I get scared of lines and getting it to the beach.
This is a annual deal for most ocean wave riders isn't it.
DROCK999
Since 31 May 2007
852 Posts
Left Coast
Opinionated
Mon May 16, 11 8:59 pm
Wind Slither wrote:
I think we want to be careful sending a message that separating from your kite is always the right thing to do when you fail to relaunch it in the break.
It definitely depends where you're at and the conditions you're in what to do in these situations. _________________ BIP- "YOUR GIRLFRIENDS FAVORITE"
Aeolus
Since 20 Apr 2010
354 Posts
Gold Beach, OR
OR-SoCo-Aficionado
Tue May 17, 11 8:49 am
Gman wrote:
yeah... rivermouths all bets are off -
all bets are off-SHORE.
ldhr
Since 21 Jul 2009
1489 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
Tue May 17, 11 2:34 pm
I've been thru the rinse cyle a few times while attached to my kite.
The first time it happend I was proud of my newbie skills as I used the kite to pull me towards shore.., thinking 'this ain't so bad'.... Until a wave crashed over my kite and dragged me under... arms flailing and no way to reach my quick release. Super scary. Came up coughing and sputtering...Ripped my kite to shreads and then I released. Get me the heck away from those lines!!
Oregon is user-friendly...sandy beaches and side-on wind.
The next time it happened I stayed attached but was ready to eject as soon as I felt the waves pull me under. Using this method I've made it in while attached and I've also had times when I felt the need to release.
Every time I've ejected the kite - it's drifted into shore with no damage and was waiting for me when I swam in.
Summary - if possible, body drag in.... but have your hand on the quick release ready to eject when your kite gets swamped and pulls you under.
Oh yeah - just pushing the quick release won't do anything. You'll still get dragged under because you're attached to your leash. You must eject both your kite and leash to avoid the big drag.
DROCK999
Since 31 May 2007
852 Posts
Left Coast
Opinionated
Tue May 17, 11 2:37 pm
^ I just attach my leash to my chicken loop. Probably not reccomended but one pull and I'm released _________________ BIP- "YOUR GIRLFRIENDS FAVORITE"
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
