Be aware in the shallow water flats!! Sandbar/Lyle

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

I was there the day Jessie Richmond cased his ankle at the sandbar. I felt bad, because he didn't know any better, to really know where it was too shallow to huck it and where it was ok.

Yesterday at Lyle my ankle was on the menu. After an hour or so of throwing down over 2-6" of water I came up a little short on a simple backroll and came in with the nose into the sand... all 230lbs of my body crumpling into it and twisting it outward.

Luckily, my binding saved me from the break, but it is severely sprained. Doc says I should be able to walk on it next week sometime, but it is 2+ months before it will be solid enough to kite on.

That said... everyone knows I've got a van full of LF gear. Every size Havoc, Assault and Mig, Recoil, Mission and Surf boards.. that I won't be riding for a while. At least I can drive down to the sandbar and hang out in the van while other people ride them. PM me if you want to demo any of it.

Playing in the shallow flats is fun. I have probably exploited it the most, riding many sessions without fins and riding right over the sand... play with fire... eventually you get burned. Bummer is... I know better.. but the risk:reward is worth it sometimes... until you're sitting around watching everyone else kite.

Mark · Tue Jun 12, 07 7:51 pm

Sorry to hear you are down for a while. Generous offer on the gear.
Hope to see you soon on the water.

trevorsmith · Since 25 Apr 2005 501 Posts PDX Addicted

bummer! I busted my ankle a few years ago rolling over the front edge of my board coming down from a jump..snap.
once I could put pressure on it, I just taped the shit out of it just so I could cruise around..but jumping was out of the question.

hope you heal up soon!

Portland Pete · Since 08 Mar 2005 145 Posts HR Stoked

Tekko
bummer news, heal quick

I was out last night at about 6:30PM on a skim at Lyle
riding the ankle to knee deep butter smoothness just downwind.

And yes I know better too

no tricks, just cruising nice and easy working on transitions
and when the sun went behind a cloud the water turned dark gray
and I couldnt see the hazards under the surface ahead of time.

and wouldnt you know it I would find every stick, log, tire, broken bottle
out there when I fell off my board.

couple times the gusts took me for a butt slide in minimal water
and the slippery mucky mud and I hoped I wouldnt take a log up the cornhole.

Luckily no injury to report, but reminded me that I could have been impaled

I don't think I will ride such shallow water again for a while.

Pete

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

That sucks Greg, hope you get better quick. I've had some dummy moments in the shallows for sure, hope I never have to pay the price of off the water time, will have to be more careful.

Garret · Since 07 Sep 2006 254 Posts Portland Obsessed

Gregg-- Sorry to hear about the ankle. Hope you heal faster than the Doctor thinks.

Just think you will be riding sooner than Paris Hilton will be out of jail-- could be worse Laughing

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Heal up Greg - need your inspiration on the skim - ankle injuries totally suck - crunched mine on the sandbar in March (trying to mow over pepe - standing on dry land) a week before my trip to mexico - still gimpy but some of the new braces - corsett plus velcro straps may get you back in business sooner than you think - they sort of bolt your foot to your leg and limit your ankle to up and down, no side to side.

Get better.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

2007 = year of the crips Crying or Very sad

Mark · Wed Jun 13, 07 7:26 am

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

haha, Mark! Get well soon Tekko!!!

Lyle's fuckin' everyone up this year. Granted mine wasn't kiting, I did manage to come down hard on my "middle-front" in the puddle (was like 6" that day), which had paralyzed me for a few mins. Apparently I shouldn't try anything unhooked when it's blowing 25-30 and I'm on the 13m. lol That flat water just gives you so much confidence! Laughing

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated

You know, maybe this wouldn't be such a big deal...If only you could figure out how to install one of 'em depth/fish finder deals on your board.
So instead of Lamiglas "fishing with confidence" you could be like "kiting with confidence..."
Yeah I know, stupid idea - save it for the Dee-d-dee's....
But seriously, how many times do you find yourself lit, just wanting to boost - but get to wondering "how fu** deep is it...?"
I guess common sense is probably the best approach...

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Tekko - I hope you heal up and get to spend a lot of time on the water towards the later part of the season.

kss · Since 24 Apr 2006 613 Posts pdx Addicted

sorry to hear that gregg!!

man, this is "year of the crips". i also sprained my ankle, not kiting but playing bball in the gloomy winter months when some of you guys were still drysuiting it.

ankle never really healed up, and now i have to tape the fricken thing every time go out b/c kiting 3 days a week doesn't allow it to heal. plus, i bruised my heel couple weeks ago in the shallow water at stevensberg while trying to compensate for my lame ankle. feeling really old to say the least!

best of luck gregg. tape that ankle up good when you're back in the water. i'm thinking i'll have to wait til next winter for mine to ultimately heal up.

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1726 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

it's been a tough week for you and tonia. I know it sucks being off the water but it sounds like you are going to make the best of it by still representing the LF crew and providing demos. I know you take dam nice photos so go at it brothah! I can't wait to see what you can do with a little time on your side. I do hope eveything heals fast and fine.
see you on the beach,
stringy

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

Thanks for all the words of support everyone. Be careful out there!

Yesterday was tough F$%@ing hurt all day, but hey.. at least it's not a knee or surgery type injury.

Stringy- Was planning on some lens time anyways. I've got the Liquid Force Team coming through in the next couple weeks. Julie arrives tonight, Davey Blair Tommorrow and Slezak and Moe later next week.

Planning to do some video (from the tripod) and would love a second angle. Let me know if you might be in the Gorge, or willing to shoot a few frames when we make it up to the Jetty next week.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1313 Posts Possessed

Someone should do some Matrix style videography.
That would be sick.

Guess you need some serious equipment for that.
I just think that's the next level of extreme sports video.

forrest · Thu Jun 14, 07 8:54 am

That or helicopter based UAVs that can follow a subject without getting in the way.