accident at secret spot

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

dcfordo,

That was an excellent explaination of a "not-to-unusual" scenario.

I am a big advocate of very big "floaties" (bar end floats), to help prevent the scenario (and the variations on that theme), you have described... they stabilize a free-floating bar and help keep it from flipping through the leader lines.

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 306 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

Wowza.

That's really unfortunate. Glad you are healing well Ron. Always a good reminder to check and recheck your setup at launch time before giving the thumbs up. This could happen at any spot, but like previously stated, some are less forgiving than others. Same mistake made on the sandbar in Hood River wouldn't have done nearly as much damage for sure, although still could result in some major carnage.

I've been noticing a lot of inexperienced folks at the SS lately and its really concerning. Its like people don't get it. If you don't know how to launch a kite, go somewhere where you won't get drug accross a rocky beach/ near train tracks/ near the highway when you screw it up. If someone needs to tell you where you need to stand to safely launch a kite, YOU ARE A BEGINNER and need more practice before you go kite places where a bad launch could kill you. Don't kite Stevenson. Don't kite Rowena. Don't kite Secret Spot. Don't go places where your inexperience could land you in the hospital.

As far as the when to pull the release question: lots of people have differing opinions on this because it has everything to do with your individual setup/ experience/ ability/ knowledge/ situation. Example:

Kook A has their kite at 12:00 at the event site. It falls out of the sky because they are choking the bar, inverts, and then powers up as it hits the water directly downwind. It is now slowly dragging them towards tree/ rock garden. They should probably pull their release because there is very little chance they know what they are doing well enough to get their kite in the air again before it is shredded on the rocks.

Same situation with a better rider, they would just relaunch and ride away. Maybe take a tack or two, land, fix their crossed lines and go back out.

If your kite is reasonably new, setup correctly and the right size for the conditions, most modern kites just need the bar let go of to take care of situations where you are out of control/ overpowered. The emergency release should only be for emergencies. BUT if you don't have the experience to know how to deal with the emergency, pulling the release might not be such a bad idea. It all depends on the situation. How's that for a non-answer?

Again, best wishes for a speedy return to kiting Ron.

Sella · Mon Jun 04, 12 12:21 pm

DeKrep, it is confusing but it comes down to personal preference and time on the water. You need to figure out what works best for your riding style. That is why some guys ride shackled or suicide. (leashed to your chicken loop) Pro's and con's to everything so it's a trade off and there is no right way or wrong way. When I was a newbie I would throw my safety more often...but watching your bar spring load half way up your lines while spinning around loose lines is not a pretty sight and seems to cause more harm because I don't like spending the next 30 minutes in the water keeping tabs on my board while trying to figure out which line is which in the middle of the river as the kite drifts the lines tight, or worse, have the current bring your kite and the rats nest of lines back to you.

Dcfordo's solid recap details even if try to throw the release, it's not always available or going to work properly while Blokt's advice to touch your safety, once per jibe, seems extreme to me and just asking for more problems IMO. To each his own so long story short take Mark Worth's advice and learn to fly your kite like a champ to reduce slack lines and it will become more clear to you exactly when you should pull that release.

Fluke accident regarding Ron so everyone take a breath and check your bar again before you give that thumbs up.

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

Sorry for the confusion.
There are undoubtedly times you don’t want the kite to have any tension in the back lines and your primary safety is designed to give your kite 20 feet or more slack. This has certainly saved many kiteboarders from disaster. However the dangers of swimming around with a kite that is not under tension has not disappeared because you released your safety. I was suggesting that if some line tension is maintained on a kite that is flying or has crashed in the water it will not tangle.

The point I was making was in fact not relevant to Ron’s experience and I extend my apologies to Ron.

A more appropriate suggestion would have been to use three steps when launching:
1) Check the lines by standing strait across the wind or slightly down wind.
2) Move up wind until the canopy fills with the bar in, check that the wing tips move with the bar and that the steering feels symmetrical.
3) Sheet out and move up wind 10 to 15 feet more and give the thumbs up(or the person with the kite can move downwind when you give the thumbs up)
The three step process allows you to check lines, bar depower action, and identify the edge of the wind before giving the thumbs up and only takes a few seconds.

J_Matic · Since 14 Oct 2011 158 Posts InDaHo Stoked

Whether you've got 5 sessions or 500 under your harness!

I just had a recent close call in fluky on-shore wind where my kite was too low during a transition when a gust hit & I was lofted 40+ feet straight into a mini-van.

I narrowly avoided being knocked out by absorbing the impact by lifting my knees (was wearing boots so the board stayed on) and turning to my side. As soon as I hit the ground, instinct took over and I pulled my release. If I hadn't: the next 8 cars parked downwind would have met my face & helmeted head. I walked away with mild bruising and some spine misalignment when it could have been much worse.

Lesson learned: NEVER, EVER lose FOCUS on the kite & its position relative to your tack, the wind direction, gusts, downwind objects, distance to shore and all other factors that cause Kitemares. Like zilla said, practice and practice using your safety so it's 2nd nature when it all goes wrong.

Condolensces to Ron, hope you make a speedy recovery! Thumb's Up

A.K. · Since 01 Jul 2006 190 Posts Stoked

WISHING RON A 100% RECOVERY

Age of the internet - ones busted up in the hospital and the world demands a play by play incident report before they are even discharged!

LEARNING PROGRESSION
Unfortunate accident especially in light of the fact the rider took a cautious route to learning.

1. 20-30 hours on a trainer. This means rider has flown a kite in high, light, and gusty wind.
2. 5-6 hours of professional lessons
3. Don't worry about the board and buying a 10m. Instead buy a 6M or 7M like one used in class and body drag for another 20 hours in 20 knots.
4. Head out with experienced kiters

I feel this is appropriately cautious and measured approach to learning in the Gorge. I still advocate the first purchase be a 6M or 7M for body dragging in about 10-20 knots.

Mark hits it on the head with his STEP 3. Besides many other "flight" checks that you make prior to launch - one should fully sheet in and sheet out the bar at least once. I usually make this motion several times to visually confirm that the back lines are going slack and tense as appropriate and I observe the affect on the canopy.

Stay safe out there guys - its still the early season....

-A.K.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

S.S. is a great spot to kite and is always at risk of being closed down. S.S. is a limited parking kiting spot. There are signs that say, "No Parking." If you park between the arrows you are probably not going to get a ticket, but you might. Right now I think that the local leader in tickets awarded is 5 for the 2012 season.

It's illegal to park outside of the arrows. If you do it on a regular basis ODOT will shut this place down completely. ODOT will do it if a clear dangerous situation is happening on a regular basis. Then, we will all lose access.

As a local I can tell you that we don't want this to happen. S.S. is an awesome spot for kiting, but has limited access. There are some creative solutions for parking at S.S. You can drop your gear and then park across the "street." You can walk from the Discovery Center parking lot. You can launch at Rowena and kite down to S.S. You can get there earlier to get a spot.

When parking at S.S. make sure to park as close to the guy in front of you as possible. Pack it in as everyone wants to be between the arrows. Park as close to the rail as possible! Pull as far forward as you can so that the next guy can park without backing in. Don't back up on the shoulder to get a spot!!!!

The powers that be ,ODOT, don't want people to park outside of the arrows. This, as I'm told, is a safety issue. It makes sense that officials are concerned about the safety of drivers etc. on I-84.

**Here is my request to locals, I'm one, and visitors alike. Please don't park outside of the arrows. If you do it we could lose access to this spot, S.S.

wylieflyote · Tue Jun 05, 12 7:35 am

As a former (28 years) employee with WSDOT, I can tell you all that walking across 4 lanes of freeway was always grounds for immediate pink slip. No Human Resource, No Union... Just clean out your locker and go home.
Over the years we had deaths doing this, and it's just plain stupid for any kiter to park on the south shoulder of I-84 and cross 4 lanes AND a jersey barrier.
I thought there was a way to park at the Discovery Center and hike?

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

A few years ago I was off botanizing (looking for particular plants) and left my car parked along I 84 at Rooster Rock, and when I got back to the car, there was a state trooper, about to write a ticket. I asked him why, and he said that it was illegal to leave a car parked along an interstate highway. He said that the shoulders of the road are designed for emergency stopping only. The parked vehicles pose a threat to motorists when they re-enter or exit the road and can be a hazard to motorists stopping for emergencies. He said that police constantly patrol this highway, and will ticket individuals violating the no stopping, standing, or parking rules along the roadway. He said it didn't make any difference that the car was parked on the grass, and therefore off the shoulder... I guess because the car is still on the highway easement, and the law covers this whole area.

I didn't know this was the law concerning interstate highways. It must be the most violated law in existance. Does anyone know the federal basis or authority for this law?

In my experience, I find that it is best to make your vehicle look as much like that of a FISHERMAN, as possible... if you choose to violate this law.

Here is all I could find, in the Oregon Statutes.

http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/819.120

§ 819.120¹ "Immediate custody and towing of vehicle constituting hazard or obstruction"

dancingwind · Since 18 Jul 2007 321 Posts Obsessed

Ron, wishing you full speedy recovery. Shit happens weather you're a beginner or advanced. You can only pick yourself back up, learn the lessons and kite on. See you on the water.

undertow · Since 15 Feb 2008 371 Posts BeaversBurg Obsessed

Google Earth spotted a trail from the Discovery Center to SS about 0.5 miles. Ill be parking there from now on. Cool

flipper · Since 17 Oct 2011 320 Posts Obsessed

On memorial day, the 4 spots were full with 7-8 cars, so I parked at the discovery center and longboarded to end of the fence, and bushwhacked down to secret just to see what it was like. Jumped the fence at Discovery, and hiked faint trail to and through sketchy deep trail-less foliage with everything jammed or strapped to my kite pack. Got poison oak on my leg, probably rattlers in the area and you can't see your feet for much of the hike. Walked along railroad tracks for a time to ease my hike. Luckily no trains were running, but dangerous spot with limited visibility of trains. Herded 3 baby ducks off the tracks. Finally got to that nice beach just east of SS and found that my 10m was too big for the wind conditions...by the time I hiked back to my car I was too tired to return with my 8m so I went home. lol.

Props to the hurt kiter who didn't die. I consider any release a timely release as long as you do it before you die or become a broccoli. I don't like strangers launching my kite, as I feel like I need to launch more quickly than I want. I had a self proclaimed "really experienced guy" get mad at me down there because I just wanted to launch off the fixed line. I think I was crowding him a bit, for which that I am sorry, and now I'll just bring my own fixed line so I can launch from wherever I want.

Sella · Wed Jun 06, 12 7:12 am

Hang one of these from your rear view mirror and you can park anywhere you want on the highway.

undertow · Since 15 Feb 2008 371 Posts BeaversBurg Obsessed

On Google Earth there seems to be a trail that lead from the discovery center and intersects on the trail from the road. Ill do some recon next week and see if I can find it.

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 306 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

My wife wears those around, now I can find a real use for one!!!

wylieflyote · Wed Jun 06, 12 5:05 pm