Florida Fay Lofting: Interview with Rider Kevin

[Toby]

Kite Surfer's Miracle Story of Survival

After a horrific accident, Kevin Kearney says he's lucky to be alive.

http://abcnews.go.com/gma

[afflatus]

If you close your eyes,

It's like Marge Simpson picked up Homer's script by mistake.

[CaptainArgh]

If you close your eyes,

It's like Marge Simpson picked up Homer's script by mistake.

I was thinking it sounded like one of the characters from "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer," but you nailed it...Marge Simpson it is!

I think Kevin could have been a tad more humble in that interview.
More time thanking everyone for their concern and aid, and less time talking out going out there and hitting it again.
(but its cool, he'll have his snowboard helmet next time)

[Toby]

not sure if he really learned from this...well, future will tell!

But I'm sure others learned from it and will be more cautious!

Just happy, that he is ok, for this time though...

[PaulMcD]

I posted on the earlier thread but will post here as well given my surprisingly strong feelings. The interview was nearly as amazing as the video of the guy getting lofted. Kevin seems to lack any insight whatsoever into what happened to him, how it could have been avoided, and the message he is sending to the wider world about the types of people that kiteboard. He could not have done a better job of making himself look like a complete and utter buffoon.

His perscription for avoiding the disaster: come in a little earlier. His perscription for avoiding them in the future: wear a snowboarding helmet. Why he was out there: summer winds usually aren't great and hey, it was blowin. Why he loves kiteboarding: he can see turtles in the gulfstream two miles from the beach in open ocean.

I'm not kidding...he is a one man wrecking crew for this sport. Let's hope his 15 minutes are up.

[Morfin]

Well, after reading your posts, I better not listen to the interview.

Cheers to all!

Beto M.

[ronnie]

People who are 'accident-prone', are mostly not having accidents, just outcomes of their actions.
He said that his first year self-teaching was a bit like his accident.
Medical insurance would be a good idea for next time.

[Gibby]

I posted on the earlier thread but will post here as well given my surprisingly strong feelings. The interview was nearly as amazing as the video of the guy getting lofted. Kevin seems to lack any insight whatsoever into what happened to him, how it could have been avoided, and the message he is sending to the wider world about the types of people that kiteboard. He could not have done a better job of making himself look like a complete and utter buffoon.

His perscription for avoiding the disaster: come in a little earlier. His perscription for avoiding them in the future: wear a snowboarding helmet. Why he was out there: summer winds usually aren't great and hey, it was blowin. Why he loves kiteboarding: he can see turtles in the gulfstream two miles from the beach in open ocean.

I'm not kidding...he is a one man wrecking crew for this sport. Let's hope his 15 minutes are up.

Could not agree more....that piece had me furious. This guy is King Kook in my book after listening to him in that interview and he's making (lame) jokes at the end (he's sorry to the rest of GMA's viewers who aren't lucky enough to be on the beach like him). I'd only wished GMA had someone from a kite school or the kite industry on to send the message that this guy made a bad decision. Still, as others have said, the GMA people were just as astounded by his mentality.

The utter lack of insight is astounding. Again, you can't blame that much cluelessness on meds alone. I hope the area riders in Ft. Lauderdale can talk some sense into this foolish person and keep him off the water, not just in hurricanes, but for good, considering his profound lack of judgment. If not, keep him there at least, I wouldn't want him near any of my launches.

I'm sick of getting emails from people who have just watched the video saying "That's what you do?!?" or "That's what kiteboarding is?!?!"

[cometa]

Well, it was inevitable. Do you think that someone that would be intelligent enough to give a good interview would have been out there in the first place? Doh!!!!

[RickI]

All this media attention is unfortunate and there will likely be more. It would be good for kiteboarders to speak up when and where they can to the media for how our sport should be conducted. Going into squalls is not the way to do it.