accident at secret spot

tpcramer · Since 26 Jul 2010 71 Posts

Just heard from a friend that there was a fairly serious kiting accident out at the 'secret spot' across from Dougs this weekend. Beginner drug through the rocks on the Oregon side of the river; dislocated hip, messed up shoulder, multiple other smaller problems. Kiter is a MD from The Dalles. Looking for more information about what went wrong from others that may have heard about the mishap.

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

Get well soon, that is nasty,
but sounds like he flew the kite over land hooked in, in the wrong place.
Hope he'll be ok.

tpcramer · Since 26 Jul 2010 71 Posts

Initial report was that he started out in the water but ended up on land.

ronb · Since 01 Jun 2012 1 Posts New Member

Hey guys,
Thanks for the concern. Im actually doing ok but will take a few months. I was practicing short body drags on water. My lines got tangled and I got dragged out of the water back ashore and then down the beach about 75 yards. I was hitting so much shit I couldnt get to my release. Im actually a surgical nurse and actually broke my hand in three places, dislocated my ribs,dislocated my pelvis which stirred up a fair bit of internal bleeding. Will make a full recovery. This was simply an accident but to calm the haters,
I had 20-30 hrs on the trainer
approx 5 hrs of kite lessons from a reputable company here in the gorge
Have been windsurfing since 1988

shit happens though Laughing

best regards,

Ron

tpcramer · Since 26 Jul 2010 71 Posts

Glad you are doing alright Ron.
If you have the time could you put out more information about what went wrong, we all learn from others mishaps and its not about placing blame. What kind of bar were you using and how quickly did the accident happen?

pollywog · Since 07 Aug 2009 291 Posts Obsessed

Happy to hear you are going to be okay. We look forward to seeing you on the water again! Best wishes for a speed recovery!

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 306 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

Hey Ron. Sorry to hear about your accident. Really sucks! Sounds like you have a good attitude about the whole thing.

Few questions if you don't mind:

What kite were you flying?
Did you let go of the bar?
Were you wearing a helmet?
How did you get out of there? Was there an ambulance called? Backboard?

Glad you're doing alright and in good spirits. Speedy recovery!

JHB

Bettyboarder · Sat Jun 02, 12 9:11 am

Sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

When I was first learning I had a similar accident at that spot got drug up shore there but somehow regained control and drug myself back to the water...didn't end up hurt though thank goodness. That shoreline there is very unforgiving.

Sella · Sat Jun 02, 12 11:22 am

Geez....that is 75 yard nightmare Ron! VERY glad to hear you will make a full recovery and you are soooo damn lucky!!

Shoreline wind can get really funky and an amazing Sandbar soul and mom, Christina Bockius, was not as lucky and passed away after sustaining a neck injury while be lofted/dragged into the shoreline in Mexico in 2008. She would always launch and land me sporting the biggest smile and truly loved being on the water. She was a very accomplished kiter but as you say, shit happens....and it happens fast.

Nobody new will be able to pull their release having tangled lines while inside the washing machine breaking limbs like twigs and an experienced kiter would probably not be able to do it either but did you take lessons from Secret Spot too?? Secret is great but I concur with Betty that shoreline is unforgiving and you have 5 lessons under your belt and are still body dragging so choosing that spot is questionable IMO. Not hating...just saying...I feel bad when a new guy trying to get their kite stoke on gets rocked (literally) because I don't think this should have happened. I bet when you went from "hmm tangled line" to "75 yards later" was about what.....5-6 seconds?

Heal up strong and see you back on the water.

hip in white salmon · Since 11 Jul 2007 149 Posts Stoked

Scary!! I got dragged once. I was too busy trying to keep myself alive then pulling that release. Luckily for me I didn't hit anything too hard. I don't lauch near land anymore. I think being well in the water with the kite on land works better.

I hope you get well and when you do give me a shout and I can come and spot for you body draggin. I suggest the west side of Wells Island....Its knee to waist deep and no hard stuff to hit if you screw up.

Blokt · Sun Jun 03, 12 2:08 pm

Newbenhiemers (and Oldentimers like me), take note:

ALWAYS practice reaching for your safety. At least practice, without looking, touching your safety, once per jibe.

Make it automatic, so when bad things BEGIN to happen, you can automatically LET GO OF EVERYTHING and push/pull your safety!

This can be done in a "washing machine" or bouncing over rocks(most painful), but can be impossible if you break both your arms.

Always keep a clear mind and practice, practice, practice, practice, so when a bad situation avails itself(and it will sometime or another), the ONLY thing that you think is reaching for and activating that safety.

Most sincerely,
Sauvie Channelmarker and NWKITE blocked one Wink

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Sella · Sun Jun 03, 12 11:36 pm **Re: accident**

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

Hi Ron ,
I hope you are recovering and will be out kiting again before too long.
Please accept the following comments knowing that I want your next kite experience to be positive and I hope other kiters can learn from your errors.

I support the idea of practicing with your safety but you should not need it except in the case of kite line failure, or a line cross with another kiter. The idea is to avoid the tangle.

I do not know what went wrong. However, I would like to emphasize the importance of keeping tension in your lines at all times. It may seem like allowing the kite to fly to the edge of the window where it stops pulling is not a big deal, but any time you have slack in your lines you are not in control and vulnerable to a rolling kite that may tangle and become a kitemare.

Whether the kite is in the air or on the water the pilot’s primary job is maintaining tension at all times. This means that the kiter must turn the kite into a clime or a dive as the kite is flying toward the slack line. Never park a kite between 11:15 and 12:45. 12:00 is not neutral in the gorge, it’s up. You might sheet out and avoid going up however your kite will overfly you and put you in danger.
If the kite is in the water at the edge or upwind, swim like your life depends on moving up wind where you can regain tension (your life does depend on it). Nothing should take priority over keeping the kite properly tensioned because once the lines are slack you have lost control of your kite.

Again, these comments are for the benefit of all and not intended to be harsh; I wish you a speedy and total recovery.

D-Krep It Kiter · Since 18 Jul 2011 417 Posts Obsessed

I think safety issues with kiting are well worth discussion... and reading through this it seems a little confusing or perhaps some contradiction...?

Mark, I totally agree with doing what it takes to keep tension in the lines, but it sounds like you're saying there isn't much reason to activate your safety, whereas I was taught that when you get into trouble, you can simply let go of the bar, and if needed, hit your primary release to depower the kite. That's what it is there for, and you shouldn't hesitate to use it. Better to use it, crash your kite, self rescue & re-sort out your lines than try to "save" the kite by trying to get it back under control if you're not sure you can. I think you said something about this at the Event Site one time, that you'd prefer to try and fly the kite out of trouble, and you'd hadn't used your safety in 15 years of kiting. I just seems like when it comes to this stuff, there are qualified instructors & experienced kiters saying completely different things... hit the safety without hesitation, you may only have a moment to use it, and then others saying you should almost never have to use your safety system... some guys using a shackle system that doesn't even release...

As someone who is just new to the sport (2nd season) its really confusing... start talking safety on the beach, and it seems like everyone has a different opinion, and would never do what others are advocating is the best course of action.... any way to clarify and sort it all out?

dcfordo · Since 19 May 2011 60 Posts The Dalles

This setup mistake would be hard for an experienced kiter to miss, but the results are so dangerous I wanted to let people know about it.

D-Krep It Kiter · Since 18 Jul 2011 417 Posts Obsessed