safety no matter how hard you shred

charlie12 · Joined: 06 Apr 2001 Posts: 254

this should be good...

i feel kiters should be able to self luanch and land ..
before thay hit pt emery
also selfrescue
and safty the kite.

and i also feel windsurfers should follow the water right aways
i.e. stop porting kiters.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

Without a doubt, I'm not going to launch kiter's rigs, even old friends. Frankly, I'm not into kiting, and I don't want to involve myself as a facilitator of any kind in their game. I fully understand what Kevinkan is saying here.

Does that mean that I wouldn't try to be helpful in need? If things are relatively simple, I will assist in limited situations, but I'm not stupid enough to leverage out foolishly if things are over my head. My helpful spirit has to be reasonable. It's like saving someone that's drowning, as you might be a fatal casuality of the situation, despite the noblest of intentions.

dperzinski · Joined: 04 Aug 2001 Posts: 156

I've heard that a saftey lease is a dangerous thing because when you fall the lease can sling-shot the board right at the kiter's head. That's why experienced riders do away with leases as soon as they are able.

charlie12 · Joined: 06 Apr 2001 Posts: 254

dperzinski
we were talking about the safty leash that go's to the kite
so you can cut loose from the kite when your getting rolled in the waves

and ya the board leash can be dangerous

DariusWiles · Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Posts: 1

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

jordanwd · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 158

on a side note on kiter safety; regardless of how good you are, the unthinkable can happen.. case and point- the sad passing of kiter and founder of zero gravity kite boards Pete Norby in the early 2000's....he got dragged ashore in onshore winds- I'lll spare the gorry details but he is sadly missed- I'm not sure but it sounds like he may not have had a safety release for his kite (do they even have safety releases anymore? the kind that will totally depower the kite?)

joewindsurf · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 133

I've windsurfed for 14 years and been kiting for 5.

Most kites now-a-days are much safer than the original kites. They (most) have more range than windsurfing sails and have really good safety releases. You shouldn't have to help a kiter land his kite unless its a sketchy launch, and that really has more to do with limiting damage to the kite. I almost never ask a non-kiter for assistance, the exception is a friend of mine that knows how to do it.

Regarding kite leashes, they should always be used! With one exception, monstor surf, in which case there won't be that many people around to get hurt by a wayward kite. Kite leashes have an additional last resort release incase a wave grabs the kite and starts dragging the kiter underwater.

A board leash should NEVER be used '.' A kiter should risk loosing his board over getting brained. If you see a kiter with a board leash, he's a cook!

Also, kiters should be curteous and say thanks when someone helps them out. I always do Very Happy