Is it important to be a good swimmer?

broadbandito · Since 26 Apr 2005 342 Posts CSO headwaters WheatHead

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

can someone dig up the classic photo of the dude dragging his board with the leash with his cut-offs and gloves ready to kill it in the gorge.

for some reason that comes to mind from this post..

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Locke · Since 16 May 2012 19 Posts The State of Jefferson

No, seriously.

You've been bashed for many, many posts that exhibited more enthusiasm than reserve.

This one just makes me wonder if you get it: the difference between panic and cool action is the difference between your STUDENT living and dying.

Some of us went though many, many hard knocks (e.g. daily class V swims, 20' closeouts, the odd bare-knuckle brawl). While the standard for kiteboarding isn't that, what decades of experience tells me is that if you haven't had somebody injured yet, your cluelessness is leading you to exactly that or worse.

Wise up dude.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2622 Posts The 503 METAL

Bulae has just one goal...to draw attention to himself.

You all have made him very successful. Now I am helping too. Mad

LET THEM SINK! Thumb's Up

Procktor · Since 11 Apr 2013 46 Posts Hood River

Dan k · Since 31 Mar 2013 87 Posts

Sounds like he needs a slap.

Bargeslayer · Since 08 Jul 2012 100 Posts Stoked

Is this even a question? I've been swimming my entire life and I still get scared on those long tacks. I wouldn't even consider getting in the water unless I felt completely confident in my abilities to get back to shore without my gear. If you're asking this as a serous question, this is a bad accident waiting to happen.

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

thats the post sasquatch classic bulae now an instructor. Twisted Evil

http://nwkite.com/forums/t-9343.html&highlight=[url]

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

All Time!

MIXWELL · Fri May 24, 13 10:11 am

I think that guy might be on to something, seat harness with no leg straps seroius trend setting! Cool

HOw many of you can even say you have or even can ride a 2 line kite Exclamation

MIXWELL · Fri May 24, 13 10:24 am

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

broadbandito

That video seriously, not joking made me pee my pants and feel strangely doomed at the same time!? Do these morons vote? likely, kinda explains a lot. Id say shoot me know but rather just shoot them and do the world a favor.

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

swim?? ppffftt

nwkiterider · Since 15 May 2013 7 Posts Kook

It seems like there's all ways a class clown but in this case
a class dumb ass

Keep up the good work bulae99

nwkiterider · Since 15 May 2013 7 Posts Kook

Bulae99 I been reading your old post
I have to say you are the one and only
DUMB ASS

Keep up the good work

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

Source aside (I don't think I know Bulae99), I think that this post is worth a few minutes of my time. I think it is important to define a strong swimmer and more importantly know if you are one or not. A strong swimmer may not just be someone who is comfortable in the water and can swim miles of laps in a pool or along shore. I think a strong swimmer is someone who takes into account water temperature, water current, knowledge of fishing net hazards, barges, etc. and perhaps most importantly, the ability to truly swim to save one's own ass when it is sink or swim. How many of you/us can truly jump in the water at The Event Site and swim without issue to the WSB (or as is the case of this river's current, it will probably end up being The Hatch) without a support vessel along side? I could do it with a support vessel but remove that element and I admit that the what ifs would start creeping in and it would become a mental challenge as much as a physical one. Hopefully this will make me a "stronger swimmer" in the future as knowing your limitations is part of the strength. This sport can get us from shore to shit in seconds. And not only because of how fast our kite can move us along the water but because we kite to get spiritually, mentally and emotionally transported, so we do forget ourselves in a hurry, which is why we kite in the first place but is also one of our own worst enemies. At least it can be mine. How many of us have ended up a half mile past the breakers at the coast in under a minute? Do we all know if side onshore wind at Manzanita will most certainly and eventually bring us gently back to shore? In my opinion, I think knowing how to self-rescue (i.e. staying with your kite as it then becomes your life raft), kiting with a buddy system, wearing a pfd, wearing a helmet (how many of us can swim with a concussion?) and knowing your limitations are all tantamount to being a truly "strong swimmer". How do I know all of this? Because I am an idiot of course:

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-29375.html&highlight=idiot