Kiter hit by a car in San Francisco

mogunn · Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 1307 Location: SF Bay

Sad news indeed!
I was out at 3rd that afternoon. The wind was volatile - huge gusts with sudden 40 degree wind shifts. The coast was even worse. Not the place for someone unfamiliar with or unprepared for the conditions.
Condolences to his family and friends.

summertime · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 89

Wow, so sad to hear the guy may not have made it.
I had to chime in that I learn a ton from isobars and zirtab so keep posting! We are lucky to have those 2 with so much knowledge and experiences to share. I love their input! Koogzah- if you have something interesting to say - chime in- if you are jealous of other's people for having something to share- work on that! Being jealous is wasted energy you could put toward enjoying your life and then having your own stories to share. Also- this discussion about the safety of kiting is a valuable discussion. I sometime think about taking up kiting just to have another option but discussions like these make me realize that it isn't really a good sport for me. Also, sometimes people that don't do either sport ask me about taking up WS ing and kiting. I have always suggested WSing over kiting primarily because of the safety issue. This sad incident and this discussion validate that point of view for me.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

nw30 · Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 6:30 pm Post subject:

Kinda late on this thread, really sorry that another kiter died, and sorry for his family.
While reading thru this thread, I saw this and couldn't get it out of my mind.

windfind · Joined: 18 Mar 1997 Posts: 1902

Hi Gang,

First sincere condolences to the family and friends of this visiting kiter. And to all of us windsurfers and kiters who lost a fellow waterman who died pursuing his passion for the wind.

Second, I know the Bay Area forecasts are far from perfect but there is one dangerous Bay Area wind pattern I unfortunately nail 100% of the time. It occurs when there is a rare perfect storm of powerful NW surface wind accompanied by wild gusts and shifts as WSW winds just aloft randomly crash to the surface. In this patten steady mid 20’s NW wind are punctuated by near instantaneous 30-40 degree wind shifts and 10-20 knot velocity changes. When there is a high probability of such a pattern I insert the words: “It may be dangerous to launch kites at times today at some sites”

I am not a chicken little. I have issued that phrase in the forecast 3 times in the last decade. Two of those times kiters died at Ocean Beach and the other time a kiter friend suffered serious injuries at 3rd. Ave. as they were lofted and crashed. It hits you hard when people read your words to help make a decision to hit the water and are hurt or die. Please, if you see that phrase in a forecast use extreme caution and mention it to others.

Lastly, in the winter my house overlooks one of the most popular kite launches in Baja. Watching from my deck and the beach since the advent of kiting I have probably seen more kitemares than almost anyone especially in the early days of the sport. And I could go on and on about the risks vs. the thrills of kiting.

But THIS particular forum is not the place for such a discussion. A fellow waterman was hurt and died. His family, friends and significant other are probably reading your words in this forum trying to understand what happened. Comments disparaging his chosen passion are simply not appropriate here.

I suggest you start a new thread to discuss your thoughts about your perception of the dangers of kiting. Or better yet, since this is a windsurfing forum, go to one of the many kiting forums and express your concerns. Leave this forum thread for condolences to a fallen comrade.

Thank you,

Mike Godsey

stonefly · Joined: 26 Nov 2008 Posts: 8

Thank you, Mike.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

mac · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 2:36 pm Post subject:

Like Ben said, it's got to be all about Mike.