It's Kitemare O'clock

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Well I had an adventurous day at the Marina today. I was trying out a LF Session 9m that my GF picked up off craigslist for the first time. Lost my board and couldn't see it in the swell so I body dragged around for a few minutes before deciding to just head in.

About that time someone brought me a board (that wasn't mine) and the straps were too small to get my feet into. When I tried to get up I dropped my kite. All the body dragging and whatnot put me near the mouth of the river and I got to experience my kite floating upwind of me. That was interesting. I decided it was self rescue time at that point and started winding the line. Somehow while that was happening the kite circled me a couple times and must have ate the slack that I took on one of the lead lines because the kite got powered up and the lines were in such a mess from the river spinning the kite all around that it just stayed powered up.

So I fought the kite for a while to wind it up while it was somewhat powered. I would have loved to have just cut the line that was keeping me powered but when I was at the kite store last weekend they had the less than optimal kite knife so I decided to pass for now. I finally got it reeled in and managed to not lose the loaner board in the process. By the time I got to my kite I was about 100 meters from the buoy between the Marina and Event site.

Even with the kite I couldn't get it to push me in towards the land past the current. Fortunately I was slowly drifting downriver so I figured even though I launched at the marina I could get in at the event site once I got past the worst of the current. About that time a manly kiter dude came by and offered to drag me in which I was grateful for. Then shortly after that a yellow wave runner showed up and took me to the Marina. Whoever owns the runner has my gratitude.

Take aways from this experience:

Stay safe out there people!

Also the bars for the sessions suck. The donkey dick came off twice in the 5 minutes I was boarding before I lost my board.

Finally, The board that was brought to me was also a lost board apparently so if you lost a blue twin tip at the marina today and can describe the various emblems on it PM me and we will get it back to you.

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

I thought I saw you kiting with a board leash on Friday at Jones? You decided not to use it today at HR? Sorry to hear about your kitemare........that really sucks Sad

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Leash broke free. The mesh webbing attached to the screw ripped out. I think part of the problem was that I had it attached at the one of the foot strap screws so it would drag badly in the right conditinos. I got some washers so I'm going to attach it to a fin mounting hole since I'm not using the fins anymore. Hopefully having it attached at the end of the board instead of more or less in the middle will solve the issue.

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

Ahhh - I see. There are some good tips on diffferent ways to attach the leash on various threads. Check out Kitezilla's post on this thread here...............

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2363763&start=30

BBQ Jim · Since 02 Sep 2009 14 Posts

Don't use a board leash!!!!

If you choose to use a leash then only attach it to the end of the board using a fin screw.

Attaching a leash to a foot-strap screw or handle can create a situation that causes the board to dive which will pull you down. Not good!!!

Learn to ride without a board leash!!

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

harriet · Since 10 Jun 2007 64 Posts

Ditto on ditching the leash. You can't out think this one. It'll give you another kitemare another day. Its like russian rulette. Doesn't matter how safe your practices are. Its coming for you some day...

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

When self rescuing, I believe you are supposed to take a couple wraps with just the leading edge lines first, then keep winding with all lines, so that the kite won't relaunch accidentally. I'm sure someone will chime in if that's wrong.

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

For sure Dunes, I did that even. Unfortunately the current was busy mangling my lines and undid that work which is why it ended up filling with air when it shouldn't have. If the self rescue had gone according to plan it probably wouldn't have been a Kitemare Smile

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

if you are already practicing tricks lose the leash!

unless you want a board shaped hole in your face.

it will launch back at you sooner or later and helmets do not protect your face, neck shoulders. A helmet is a must but its still no excuse for a leash to be okay. If you get knocked out by your board you'll have much bigger problems then doing some body dragging.

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

a good alternative to a board leash is heel straps. still dangerous in the sense that you can't kick your board off as easily on a botched landing but at least you don't have to worry about your board coming off as easily.

I threw a set of dakine heel straps on my board last weekend for my trip down to the gorge. only had 1 foot come out once in 2 days of riding. I was doing a lot of crashing too since I've been practicing S-bends and surface handle passes.

I know 2nd wind carries the dakine heel straps. IMHO they hold up better then the liquid force ones. If you're too cheap to buy some you can cut pieces of bicycle innertube and use that too.

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor

You can get free heel straps at any bike shop. Inner tubes are cheep and when they break you won't complain about how much you spent on them. I've ridden with them since I ditched the least 6 years ago. How tight should they be? The tighter the better. They WILL come off when you need them to (ie skipping across the water during a kite loop). Don't buy all of those horror stories about leashes. They're just propoganda, but seriously ditch it while riding if you are doing tricks. The leash is serious kook alert.

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

Thanks for the alternatives Johnson and hoarhey. I'll look into it.

Now can we get the thread back to its original intent. A reminder that the currents are dangerous right now and that you should be extra cautious around the mouth of the river.

Sauve · Since 19 Mar 2009 97 Posts Hood River

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

my opinion, leashes are not a good solution to your problem.
I'd say you might be a good candidate for a gojoe.
take a trip over to windance and get you one of these son!
http://www.windance.com/ocean-rodeo-go-joe-c-1459-p-1-pr-2726.html
not sure what "tricks" you are working on but maybe save those for better conditions.
on sunday at the marina, I watched a gal go out with a reel leash and no helmet. not sure how to feel about that one. just kind of eats at your gut knowing what could happen to someone especially in those conditions once you start getting west of the marina.
best to just kite with your friends and have their backs and vice versa.

Nak · Mon Jun 20, 11 9:37 am

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Jun 20, 11 9:40 am

Keep using your leash, I'm sure you can rationalize it somehow even though you can body drag "exceptionally well".

The big reason you should keep using is so that when your board eventually hits you in the head puts a huge gash in your noggin we can all say "I told you so". I'm sure your flimsy water helmet will prevent any injury from a 7lb board traveling 30 mph.