What would you have done?

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

I am looking for some input on a situation I had today so that I can learn more about this crazy sport. I learned to kite out at Jones beach last July. I have kited as much as possible since then - all over the gorge, Hawaii, Florida. But I have kited at Jones the most - so I know the area fairly well.

I was out today at Jones. It was a great day on my 9M crossbow. I was the first kiter out. I stayed on the Oregon side until some more kiters started to gather on the beach. Then I moved to the Wash side heading up nuclear alley. The wind was great over there. I had a dinky little fall where I lost my board with the straps down. I knew the currents were strong in this area so I immediately tried to get to my board that was only 5 feet away. After several tacks - I saw that I wasn't going to catch it. The current was too strong. I had gotten my board earlier in the day on the Oregon side - but the current over here seemed much faster. I decided to leave the board since I knew I had a long way to go to get back to the Oregon side.

I dragged myself to the island and some kiters started to show up on that side. One guy was kind enough to try to catch up to my board - but no luck. I decided that I was going to walk my kite around the point of the island to the Oregon side and body drag accross the channel. I knew there was going to be a wind shadow at the point of the island - but I thought I could handle it. I couldn't. The wind got all weird and the kite died and looped and twisted - so I pulled the release and gathered my lines and carried the kite the rest of the way around the point. the wind was dying and the current was still strong - but I decided to self rescue the rest of the way. So I looked both ways for big ships - all clear - and I got on my kite and pulled up the edge to catch the wind. the wind was NW so I figured I would make it back to the Oregon side eventually. I kicked and rode and made it across - but I was about 2 miles down river cause the current was much stronger than the wind. All of this took about 2 hours.

There were some VERY NICE kiters that drove down the road to make sure I was OK. And they gave me a ride back to my car. The kiting community is great! Thank you so much to all those who helped me. The guys looking for my board and the guy that gave me a ride.

Anyway - how would you guys have handled this? What would you have done differently? I have been looking at the GoJoe online and was thinking it might come in handy with the river currents being so strong with all the run off - but I never see anyone using them. So I wasn't sure.

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

Yo whats up BLAZE.
Everybody looses a board, wads a kite, and has an epic swim. Both beginers and expersts alike. Sounds like you took care of that in one failed swoop. Thats how you learn what NOT TO DO. As long as you can walk away from it safe, consider it a lesson learned. With high water and uber strong currents you were pushing your luck with your skill level. You should consider yourself lucky that nothing else went wrong.

Even as a seasoned kiter you will come to realize that you are always vonerable to TOTAL DISTER at any time. Just keep that in mind next time you are way out to sea. Think to your self........Do I really want to try and swim that far back to shore....NO WAY.

Keep the stoke alive.

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

Good points. That is one of the things that was taught to me in my lessons. "Never kite out farther than you are willing to swim to get back." I suppose that is one thing that gets me into trouble. I am a much stronger swimmer than a kiter. I used to lifeguard, swim team, etc. I could easily swim a few miles if I had to. If I ditched my kite today and just swam back - I could have made it back in half the time. I figured it was a good chance to work on self rescue for real, and maybe save the kite while I was at it. When I first went down - I was only about 100 yards away from the Washington highway. I thought for a moment if I landed my kite in the water and wrapped up my kite - I could try to hitch a ride. But I figured the odds were low that someone would want to drive that far..........

Blokt · Fri May 20, 11 8:39 pm

Blaze,

In answer to your question:

You bet yer flippity doo dah day, you did the right thing!!!

Whenever you make it back, and able to kite another day, you did the correct thing.

I say, "klippity klappenhiemer", you knew how far you could push it, or you wouldn't have made it back as you did.

Good job, and don't forget the next guy that will need your assistance in the future.

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

Thanks for the advice! I hope to be a strong enough kiter someday to be able to help someone in need. I think it is awesome how kiters look out for each other!

Blokt · Fri May 20, 11 9:05 pm

specialk · Guest

Sorry I missed you Blaze! Showed up at about 4p - pumped my 6m - and thought for sure i'd be swimming back in from the WA side, but saved by the water/wind gods this time!!! So so much debris in the water it's like an obstacle course out there - kinda adds to the fun!!!

Glad your OK, thank goodness for swimming skills and strength of mind huh!!! C u on the water soon :-)

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

No worries Special! I am sure I will see you out there again soon! I hope to see a few kiters at the swap meet. I am definately going to be there Sunday. I am in the market for a board since that was my only board - LOL.

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

Bill sorry I missed you. I parked by what I though was your car today and was lookin all over for ya cause I figured you would be out there. Don't know how I missed you.

I was riding from 3:30-6:30 on both sides of the river. It was definitely a wierd current today. The current on the Washington side is always stronger and it tends to take your stuff straight down the middle of the river. Unlike the Oregon side which leans toward shore. I'd say you did the right thing. I have spent an hour body dragging up river for over a mile before only to get in arms reach of the board every time. If you have a strong feeling that your board is history, follow your instinct and ditch it. Can save you a ton of further head ache and possibly being stuck on the washington side.

With more practice self rescueing, it will become faster for you. 1st couple times are always slow. I had to self rescue just last Sat at Stevenson, just barely missed you there too. Big thanks to the kiters that helped you out.

I have had a couple times in the alley where it has been very difficult for me to catch my board. I have found that the wind is like a funnel down that channel. Blows straight down the middle but on the sides it angles on both sides. I can go up wind near the road and near the island. So if my board really gets away from me I will drag as far as I can to one side and then same on the other hoping to get up wind of my board. I usually lose site of it so there is a good chance it is a gonner. I know the current usually takes my board straight down the middle of the river so I get upwind as far as I can and drift back downwind praying I can see it bobbing in the swell. Not the best of odds but has worked both times I've done it when I've wiped out 30ft downwind of my board. Also can take a good 20-30 min for me to get far enough upwind also leaving me open possibilites of further disaster. I now just avoid doing tricks that will leave me that far away from my board on wipeouts in the alley.

Maybe your board will still turn up. There are alot of fisherman running around and I know a guy that beach hunts every morning, he has found several boards last summer for people including mine. Its a horrible feeling to loose a board, but it won't be the last one you ever loose.

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

Because of what you taught me Nate - I felt confident that I would be able to self rescue successfully. I started kiting about 2 PM. I lost my board at about 4 PM.
Got back to my car at about 6PM. I am pretty sure that I saw you out there. You were flying the red Airush - right? It looked like you were gettin some air.

I thought about trying what you were talking about Nate. I don't normally give up on my board that fast. But considering the water temp - and thinking about how long I was probably going to have to be in the water to get back - I didn't want to risk hypothermia. One thing I have learned from reading this message board - "don't risk personal safety for gear."

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

pdxmonkeyboy · Sat May 21, 11 3:43 am

Sounds like you kept your wits about you. The only thing I would have done would be to untangle your lines, warm up a bit, and then relaunch the kite to get back across tr channel. It's always way faster than riding a self rescued kite

Glad to hear it worked out for you!

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

No one has mentioned the "L" word.

There are some conditions and places where a good case can be made for a "safer leash"...just don't use a 'reel leash' or a traditional 'surfboard leash'.

If you decide to use a leash, fasten it to the board in a way that will minimize the risk of the board "fish luring" or "tombstoning".

Make the leash about one meter long with a safety release on both ends.

Don't do tricks, if you are using a leash.

Lots more can be said, so if you are interested in this subject, just say so and I will post some more links for you to read.

Here is a picture of this kind of leash, and a way to fasten it to a twintip.

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2363763

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2620 Posts The 503 METAL

Here are some tips have have kept me from losing my boards in strong opposing currents...these may or may not apply to your situation, but may have value for others.

1. Dress warm enough so that you can last for an extended body drag. This is just good saftey anyway. Right now at least a good 5/4 with a hood.

2. When you know board retrieval is hard, kite a little more conservative in order to avoid long distance separations. Just keeping a toe hooked in your footstrap as you go down can make the difference.

3. Most important: When you do separate, don't hesitate at all to commence body dragging up wind. If you fly your kite high and try to spot your board first, the game is lost. Make some mental notes where approimately you think the board should be as you start hauling ass upwind.

4. The board can only go as fast as the current, but with good technique, you can go faster than the current. Keep your body horizontal, deep arm wedged, your whole body one big keel knifing upwind. This means keeping your head and face down in the water which is a show-stopper for a lot of newbies. Kite low-ish, powered and forward in the window. Take long tacks and make your transitions fast and efficient. A constant flutter kick helps too.

5. At certain points, you're going to have to try and spot your board, but try not to lose your upwind progress as you raise up to look.

Good job making it back...Jones can be super sketchy! Thumb's Up

scottman · Since 08 Jun 2007 150 Posts hillsboro Stoked

heel straps reduce the probability that your board will fall off on smaller wipe outs

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

If you are going to fall off the board, dive the kite to the edge of the window just above the water.
If the kite is low and pulling when you hit the water you can skip once on your chest then set your hip and shoulder on the second bounce. This is identical with bodysurfing a large wave. When bodysurfing( or bogy boarding) that second bounce is your opportunity to cut out on the wave shoulder and out of the impact zone. The same trick can be used to body surf (not body drag) up wind of the board during the crash. Continue body surfing across the wind until the kite is under control. Then bring it across the sky and you will find the board waiting for you. It worked every time for the last 9 years. DO NOT bring the kite to 12:00 when you crash.
When you body surf up wind to get your board keep your kite under control and low. If the kite will park put the other hand on your hip, palm forward, control the roll of your body by deflecting the bar left and right and balance above it. The large flat surface created by your arm and chest give you an edge to carve upwind. The Outrigger idea with your hand on the surface does not allow you to carve up wind.
If you take a barring along the boards drift line you can take bigger tacks and get further up wind and keep track of the board. If the board is out of sight use the barring line to center your search pattern.

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

PDX - I did actually try that because I thought the same thing. It would have been much easier to body drag across. So after I safety released my kite - I used the small island beach - detached my lines - walked em out again - hooked em back up and wrapped the lines around my bar. The problem is that I have never drift launched before - I have only read about it. From what I gathered to drift launch set the kite back into the water face down like you do on the beach with the leading edge into the wind - let the wind push it as you unwind the lines then when it gets to the end - pull the correct ouside line to get the kite back up on edge and water launch.

So I get to the Oregon side of the island all ready to go. I put the kite in the water with the leading edge to the wind, and immediately the current was so strong right there that it grabbed the outer back edges of the kite rolled the back of the kite under the leading edge. I was like - WTF? I tried one more time - the kite did the same thing. So I just said - "screw this! self rescue!" Smile