Self Rescues

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

haha, yeah. Tucker's a HERO! Laughing

P.S. - Why am I just standing down there?

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

Thinking about it, if you're going to rescue with or without wrapping, stay on the up-current side of lines, then they'd drift down river & out of the way.

In the bay I wrapped the safety several times but then had slack from the other lines floating everywhere around me, which my board, then I got tangled in. Maybe swimming sideways while winding would have helped, but I'm going w/ the one line next time.

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1744 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

pdxmonkeyboy wrote "Also: Someone may want to explain "the vortex of despair" that exists where the hood river empties into the columbia. I've seen people going around and around and around over there.
_________________ I got caught in the 'vortex of despair'{what an apt description}in Feb. Light wind kept going downwind,[BIG sandbar] passed right by the Northeast tip thinking ;with my bum foot, I dont want to walk, so I'll keep going into the boat ramp or Rhondas so I can hitch back.
My kite falls, and I'm thirty yards east of the bar and 60 yards from shore. I do the one line to the kite thing, and climb up on the kite to assess, and because its freekin cold. Deciding the sandbar is closest, I start swimming , sidesttroke pulling my gear, kite facedown. after about 10 or 15 minutes I climb back up on the kite, and I'm farther from the bar AND the shore.

To make a long story longer, I wrapped up my lines{requiring removal of gloves} got into self rescue w/the kite, at which time a boat turned around from entering the marina and saved my ass.

I feel I wouldve made it in myself eventually, there was still some wind, but where to swim? Weird swirly current that would be tough even without trying to haul gear.

Newbies and Kooks {the latter of which I find myself all too frequently]
BEWARE THE VORTEX OF DESPAIR!!!

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Mike Hawk · Tue Apr 08, 08 1:20 pm

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http://www.ecodivecenter.com/gallery/recommended_scuba_diving+signals/get_on_your_knees.html?g2_navId=x86a8b6a1 Shocked

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pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Apr 08, 08 5:28 pm

The vortex of despair is indeed an unfriendly place. I was caught in said place about four years ago. Around and around and around. I finally got my kite in the air and was able to BD through the hood river current to the marina.

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Nice tip Spike Thumb's Up

- unless you cut off your Donkey wang.

Adam why are giving the swimmers the finger in that pic - you should be more like Tuk Tuk.

Nak · Wed Apr 09, 08 9:26 am

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2025 Posts Windward

the universal signal for help is both hands waving over-head
that way maybe a boat will stop for you.

My self rescue is to come in before wind dies
or ditch my shit and swim
and never go farther out than I can swim.
I never fuck around with kites and lines ,once broken
ditch em

Finding out your pal is tied up in his lines and sinking
while he is waving only one arm
is a bit distressing.

so know your nautical hand signals

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

KNow where you are and what you exit options are.

If you a newbie, or not solid, where is your downwind area where you will end up when you get in.

the current and the winds will help influence your travels. When swimming its better to go with the flow rather than fight it up stream.

Relaunching your kite is the most important self resque action.

after exhausting above option then consider how your going to get to your kite.

this is also the time to consider your board , where the hell is it .. Wink

if you wind up the lines make sure the kite can sheet out , it will relaunch if you really don't want it to, and its tempting to wind it up L.e. down quick.

take your time and manage the lines , it is really easy to wind them up and bind up the flippers in the mess. Its easier to get tangled than not, for sure.

if you feel desperate and can't manage your lines then you may consider leaving you rig before you drown yourself unless you can't swim in without it.

I unhook my leash when winding lines so I can let the rig go if I need to.

It is pretty damn easy to swim to shore usually/ easier than swimming bound in lines or pulling a downed kite.

now wheres your board.

we flip buddies kites for them if they can't gettem over... not recommended but very useful.

I have only had to self resque a few times...

twice I have considered the fact that I may drown if I didn't pull my act together while kiteboarding.... not times I will forget .

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

Also when winding up the bar secure it with a half hitch on each end of the bar . two on each end even better. Rolling Eyes

keep your donkeys member out of my lines.. Twisted Evil

scartch · Since 10 Feb 2008 29 Posts

i would stongly recomend not wrapping your lines. I had an instructor last year at KHK say he had to rescue two people trying to self rescue. they had wrapped their lines part way when their kite relaunched and started spinning. ended up basically tyind their hands together and dragging them. pull yourself to your kite on one line and let it fall in the water. when you get to the kite it will be laying down wind with you holding it by the upwind tip. you can then flip it on its back (think landing your buddies kite.) climb onto it and use it like a sail. you can even put your board next to you of under you. worry about your lines later. if you are self rescuing you probably have more things to worry about than you lines. with that being said, there are circumstances where you may need to wrap your lines, one such reason, before reaching shallow water/rocks. wraping your lines can all be done while siling on top of you kite.

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

When actually reach your kite, what's the best way to get a hold of the tips - It was REALLY hard when I tried it w/ my 13 meter pumped hard. PDXMB mentioned letting some air out to help. Any other tips?

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Apr 09, 08 10:55 pm

besides being very difficult to do without letting some air out, it has to be really hard on your kite bending in it half fully inflated. My kite had handles so I stuck my foot in one and stretched to get the other.

At that point it was just a matter of pointing the "ship wreck" to shore.