Losing & Destroying Kites

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Hey, I was curious how often people lose or trash their kites, so how many kites do you lose or destroy or slightly damage Annually? Very Happy

How about boards?

What's the grand total count?

Navanod · Since 20 Feb 2007 207 Posts Beaverton Stoked

I have never destroyed a kite... I've sold them though and then replaced them. Boards are another story. I've destroyed one and trashed it and another just sold and replaced. I'm sure others have different stories though.

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

My only kite damage story involved me pumping up a new to me kite w/ a twisted main bladder. I decided I should stop because the wingtip wasn't properly inflating, but maybe one more pump would get it straightened out.

That last pump blew two holes in the main bladder, a one foot seam split and an 8" tear near the previous hole! Had to order some repair patches, installed them inside and out w/ factory bladder repair glue, melted the seam back together. I flew her just the other day and she (amazingly) still does great! Very Happy

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Lost 1 to the river... crashed big and totally exploded on the Washington side at secret spot. It was getting dark and I was in the shipping channel... all alone, so I figured easier to swim without the giant anchor... unhooked my bar and said good bye. Still took a half hour to swim in.

Better your gear than you I say!

EdG · Since 19 Dec 2005 425 Posts Just a Kook that's Obsessed

I lost my board the 2nd time ever out on the water:cry: Crying or Very sad

And yes, I had a board leash Question

I just could not get to it Evil or Very Mad

shannon · Since 15 Aug 2006 126 Posts Bolstad Clan

i know that i've sent 2 of my kites to air time this summer and one of my kites to rico down in la ventana this winter to get rips repaired. i learned how to fix my first bladder this winter (it didn't go well) and i've gone through 2 bladders. this summer i broke one board and there has been another broken this winter. this is just for me personally. my brother grom has had probably double the amount in both boards, bladders, and kites.
it isn't cheap and the sponsorship that i want is to air time!

Sol-flyer · Sat Mar 31, 07 9:58 pm

done a lot of small repairs with sail tape. had to patch a couple of bladders...
two days ago the center strut on my 17m exploded just moments after being landed! it ripped the seam completly and is gonna need some airtime love.
ripped friend's kites too,....just to show the love. Evil or Very Mad

here's a link to some of my carnage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfgMUrN9Vnw(look at the kite in the end credits)

-sol

Donny Baker · Since 13 Jul 2006 80 Posts

Bought a used Cabrina 16xbow and it ripped at the strut just like that. The amazing thing was that I was able to fly it back to the beach like that. Also blew the front edge out of it while pumping it up. Bought a waroo last summer and during a lull, it floated to the water landed and was floating around when a giant balloon popped out the leading edge.

mkiter · Since 01 Jan 2007 17 Posts

I know one who almost lost his camcorder last year http://www.youkiteboard.com/view_video.php?viewkey=72e42b59d74cff571fbb

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1736 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

A couple of years back, I bought a used jimmy lewis pickle fork while in Maui.
Brought it home and first time on the columbia, it got away from me and the river owned it after that. That was a pretty expensive session...

NateDogg · Sun Apr 01, 07 3:12 pm

Back in '04 I was doing a downwinder on PKH's 13m yarga and, since I had downed it in the river a few times, decided it would be good of me to hang it up on the I-205 bridge to dry.

It was working awesome until the kite started to power up and pull me towards the hanging point (red navigation light half way up on a pillar). No worries though...I just unhooked, let the kite pull the bar all the way up to the light, swam to the kite, disconnected the line that was caught, rolled up and swam in.

There were a few wounds to the kite, but nothing airtime couldn't handle Shocked

In the process of working with the kite I lost my board, but again, nothing some old dude down at Jantzen Beach couldn't take care of. He called me within the week. Pays to have your # and "REWARD" on the board.

No seriously though, stay away from bridges...way too many items to ruin your day. Evil or Very Mad

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Ya Nate I told you to hang it up under the OTHER SIDE of that pillar, dude! Wink

Kite damage, yeah thrashed a few on my own. Tree ate one, one blew up mid-loop, Hellfish exploded on the beach. All those were fixable (cept the Hellfish went back for a refund of course.)

Are we including boards? 1 lost, 1 broke.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Rico should post up about his boards... that guy's got some problems. haha kidding, kidding! Wink

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

Back in 06 (ya thats last year) did a major TOM-A-HAWK! with my 12m Waroo, exploided the leading edge, rolled up the kite and hitched a ride back in with Tony B.....thanks again Tony.

Just last October at Rooster, I decided to get one last day in for the year and lost my brand new 2006 Underground FLX 132.

jdk · Since 21 Dec 2005 333 Posts Obsessed

the sandbar could shred a few kites this year

Sol-flyer · Sun Apr 01, 07 8:39 pm

does anyone know if airtime can fix a ripped seam in the leading edge?
or a strut for that matter?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder