Don't be an idiot like me. Learn from my mistake.

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

This sport is dangerous enough without us making it more so for ourselves and others. I've been kiting for about 7 years. On Friday, I shedded my drysuit for my 5/3 at the Event Site since it was 72 degrees out. Took off on my 12m and twintip from the ES at about 4:00pm and headed for Wells Island by myself. As you may remember, it was hero 12m wind. Blow drier steady and thick and fun. But also slowly waning. Was up playing at Wells Island by myself (no one upwind of me at all) and two guys, one of whom was Eric from Hood River, slowly playing their way back to the ES so they were quite far down wind of me. So I was virtually all alone. Blew a trick and my kite came down in the center of the river in between The Hatch and Wells. Normally I feel really safe and at home there but as I sank into the water, I suddenly realized how cold the river was, how oppressive it felt on my chest when I tried to breathe, how all alone I was, how strong the current was and how far the shores were. I am humbled to say that I panicked a bit and thought that I would be in the water much longer trying to self-rescue and swim with a wet 12m with no wind to pull me to shore than to just swim for Wells. Fortunately I had on a Type lll PFD, which is probably the only thing I did right that day. I was in a 5/3, had a Type lll PFD and am a strong swimmer but I was freaked as I macked up river in the cold current, watching fishing net buoys fly by me. All I can say is thank you to Eric. He was clearly way downwind of me on a 9m and surfboard heading home in the waning wind and decided to check on my stupid ass. He got me to Wells, I did the walk of shame down the railroad tracks, hitched a ride, spent two hours with my wife looking for my kite which was gently kissing the shores at Swell City, where I would have been safe and dry had I stayed with my kite in the first place. I cut through blackberry bushes, solicited the help of a lone female kayaker to help me free my lines from the rocks (thank you whoever you are). That is all moot compared to the grace I was given by someone looking out for me and by the kind and heroic efforts of Eric (who I saw drifting back to the sandbar with a downed kite because the wind was too light to get him home after helping me). What is to be learned: 1) Don’t be an idiot like me. My friend says some people are born that way. Maybe, but I would feel stupid to die that way. 2) Dress for the swim, not the air or the fashion (I met a guy yesterday who kites with small swim fins in a pack on solo cold water days and open ocean downwinders). 3) Remember that the mighty Columbia is COLD despite that it is “summer” on shore. 4) Don’t kite alone and if you do be very prepared for all contingencies. 5) Please check on downed kiters like Eric did. Please don’t assume that they are fine, they are a kook and deserve it or that someone else will check on them. Please do what Eric did. I’ve done it for others and the karma paid off. 6) Consider wearing a pfd or a floating impact vest and a helmet. Is there really any reason not to? 7) Remember that over-confidence can kill the kiter. We can go from hero to zero in an instant in this sport. One moment you are walking on water, next you can be under it. Thank you Eric. Paul

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

Thanks for stepping up and sharing your experience and thànks Eric for taking one for the team. Glad it all ended with a safe and happy ending:-)!!

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

pauls · Since 20 Jun 2005 564 Posts Northern Portugal Addicted

glad you are okay and thanks for not being too proud to post about what happened. So easy to go from hero to fucked by the river in just a few seconds

BeerKite · Since 29 Mar 2011 471 Posts Obsessed

Good on you for sharing. I have been extremely lucky to not have to share a similar story. I too wander up to the Hatch on solo missions but this time of year may not be the best time to tempt fate. I was out that day too and I don't recall seeing you. I would have certainly stopped and checked had I seen you. Glad to hear your safe and I'll be happy to wander up there with you if you need a buddy.

-Micah

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

I also kite in a 5/3 and a pfd which also adds significant warm. I consider this to be my cold water setup but be warned that even this might not be enough in the current temperatures.

Even with warning from other kiters I was still shocked by the cold of the water. Went out with 2mm neoprene socks, which is just fine for the coast, but apparently not for the current Columbia temperatures. By feet were ice cubes and every crash into the water took my breath away. Wind was waning so I kept my entire session close to the sand bar.

I am certainly seeing more drysuits out than in the past.....

jerp · Since 22 Feb 2013 453 Posts Obsessed

Thanks for the post. I’ve only been kiting over a year or so and made up to east of wells on Thursday only to get frecked out after 10mins and go back closer to the ES. This post tells me that this was a dumb move on my part and I had no business up there so thank you !!

moondog · Mon Apr 29, 13 11:54 am

My mantra after almost dieing from hypothermia in Minnesota windsurfing 27 years when a 40kt cold front went through is: Don't dress for the day on the beach, dress for the swim back!" I cringe when I see these young bucks worried about their image head out in the gorge with just swim trunks on in june. You have about 1 hour max in the water before you can't function because of hypothermia!

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Thanks again Paul ,
I understand how you can feel after that experience . I've had a close call myself and it took an effort to overcome the panic .
I find it difficult to relate to people the experience , other than we all know death is final but have no Idea of what it's like just before ! Especially knowing you were in full control of your fate prior to getting on the water then gave it up .
We have a law here in Alberta that requires all boaters to have a license . Too bad it's only theory and a written test . A practical lesson would be very helpful eliminating at least some of the many drowning deaths that occur each year . Many people have no true understanding of how far they can swim , especially in those conditions . Have them swim in a pool with clothes and shoes on . Wear a PFD !
Stories like yours read by the ones already in the sport , just starting or considering it should take a good moment to realize the benefit . Nice to see the replies , spread the word Very Happy

JackZ

MikeZ · Mon Apr 29, 13 5:23 pm

Sounds pretty intense!

I'm curious, though. Was the wind too light or fluky to relaunch, or was there some other issue with your kite? Between the wind and the current, which was "winning?" Were you being blown upriver by the wind, or being pulled downriver by the current?

Just trying to understand the situation a bit more. Glad it all turned out ok!

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Good Post!

The river is cold and the current is cranking this time of year - I'm still wearing the winter suit Patagonia R4, booties (gloves and hoodie if it's overcast or blowing 30+)

It was glorius 75 last week but body dragging around for a few minutes felt a bit like January

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

Thanks all for the positive feedback. I was a bit shaken by the experience and have been kicking my own ass and was prepared to have some backlash on my post. Thanks for the understanding and support and making yourselves and the sport safer. MikeZ to answer your question, there was simply not enough wind at all to relaunch my 12m and I am on Rebels with a 5th line, which can allow you to cheat by pulling in on the 5th line to roll the kite on its back in light wind. There was no wind. I didn't even try to relaunch it. I imagine that if there was some wind, the current would only help the situation since there would be counter forces but it's moot. Just no wind, which was why my mind went to ditching the kite because I couldn't envision swimming with a wet 12m in this situation and have never used a kite as a life raft, which in this situation could have worked. I didn't know the current would take my kite over to Swell or else I would have maybe ridden it out. Just thought if I stayed with the kite I would have kept going up river. In fact, when I was walking on the railroad tracks 40 minutes later a barge came through between my kite and Wells so if I was on the kite and saw that coming I would have shit the 5/3 altogether. When that guy at Rosie told me he has small swim fins in a small pack on his back for solo, cold water or open ocean downwinders, I thought it sounded a bit extreme but man having those so you could motor around could save your life and your expensive gear. You could just tool around on those babies and get away from a barge or rescue your gear.

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

Great ending, glad you are safe.

WindSki · Since 14 Dec 2012 411 Posts Portland Obsessed

SpaceRacer
These are all great stories and reminders; we all need to be reminded for complacency will kill. In fact I did not even think about a cold water setup and this week will purchase a PFD !!! Another good item you brought up was kiting along during this part of the year, A BIG THANK YOU for your post !

rePete · Since 18 Dec 2007 215 Posts Mosier, Oregon Stoked

Good post to advance the safety issue of kiting in cold water. Cold water hypothermia can be a real killer. It can sneak up on you before you know it and start clouding your judgement and then incapacitating you. Know the water temp and suit up accordingly. All wet suits are not the same. Different material, design and fit all change how long you can survive in cold water. If you feel a lot of cold water rush in when down in the water your suit will not keep you warm no matter how thick it is. Layering with a fleece shirt can really help keep your heat in. Wear good booties, I'm still in 5mm. I would much rather be barefoot but you loose a lot of heat out of your feet. Wear a hood!
It's easy to get lured out on a 75 degree day with 50 degree water in a 3mm, no booties or hood. You have to think water temp and consider being in the water for an hour, maybe longer. I hope these posts will help some of you to rethink your choices.
And a big thumbs up for Eric and those like him that are watching out for others and will help even at there own peril! I think we do a pretty good job of taking care of each other out there! Now let's go out and get some!

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

I think there is an ongoing debate too about dry vs wet suit. The newer drysuits are pretty darn spectacular and comfy but if they breach, it could be game over. With wetsuits, you know what you have for the most part before you leave shore. Wetsuits have come a long way since I was a surfer grom in NJ 30 years ago but even the best wetsuits can let water in at the zipper, etc, which you don't think about until you are bobbing or swimming for an hour. When that water seeped into my zipper, down my back it took my breath away. Of course my polypro thermals and hooded, pull over vest, which can seal the zippers nicely were in the van. Thanks for your posts.

Paul

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

One of the most important issues is cold hands.

Your hands are giving you the feedback from your kite and once you lose feeling in your fingers you will be unable to correctly trim your kite.
You will go back and forth between over sheeting and under sheeting your kite. Your kite will fade back or stall and then the kite will surge forward. Often this surging action gets worse until bad things happen.

If you return to shore and are unable to operate your zipper or unlock the car your hands were way too cold to properly control your kite. Next time stop kiting and come to shore sooner.