nearly got caught up in lines...
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:17 pm
Hi, I dont post much but read the forum a lot.
Iv been up and running for about a year and a half now, pretty much
a beginner/intermediate weekend warrier, outwith work hours if theres wind im out.
I was out friday (a mate and another kiter were on the water) and found myself in a strange
situation that iv never expereinced before.
Conditions were pretty gnarly, around about 22kts with strong sudden gusts to 30's cross on,
im 80 kgs, vegas 9m (5 lines).
basically I cocked up a back rotation ,landed uncontrollably
with way too much horizontal momentum, skimmed directly downwind passed my now ditched kite (narrowly avoided running straight into it), eventually sank just in front and to the left side, only about
10 feet from the kite (felt bizarre to be looking at the outside of the canopy on the water ).
So the lines are now in a big U shape under no tension, i know the waves and incoming tide
will be drifting the lines towards me under the water, and the kite is
already showing signs of auto re-launching (its gusty). Im starting to worry about
possibly getting wrapped up in all those loose lines when the kite re-launches.
Fortunately the kite took off to the right side of the window , and i avoided getting caught
up in any lines, but took one hell of a dunt and superman'd out the water when tension was regained.
So , after post session analysis i came to the conclusion that this is a very easy situation for a
beginner or even intermediate kiter (taking there first steps into jumps/rotations etc) to get in to,
and one that should be avoided at all costs. Im sure there are many kiters out there who havent
even considered this situation (as I didnt).
I know every situation is unique, but anyone have some good advice as to what would be the safest way out of this predicament?
whilst bobing alongside the kite (the calm before the storm) would you :
1. have pulled the safety?
not sure that wouldv prevented me getting tangled in lines,
2. pull safety and release kite completely?
still possability of getting tangled not to mention a flailing bar, however was reasonably
close to shore, or atleast to shallow water. Could'v thrown the bar as far away from me
as possible (towards kite) for good measure,
3. swim towards the kite, hoping to reach it before it re-launches and then self rescue?
given i was so close to it,
4. swim directly away from the kite (and lines)?
to maximise distance as quickly as possible,
5. other ?
If the kite had launched to the left of the window I couldv easily got caught up in the lines, i dread to think of the mayhem that could'v ensued. i just cannot
imagine finding (let alone operating successfully) that little knife in my harness whilst getting dragged through the surf.
ps - incidently, i had a quick look around for help , and neither of the other 2 kiters even realised
i had a problem, (not having a go at them, it happend so fast), it just goes to show that regardless
of how many others are out, the speed that a dangerous situation can arise means you really are on your own out there most of the time, self proficiancy is pretty important.
keith
Iv been up and running for about a year and a half now, pretty much
a beginner/intermediate weekend warrier, outwith work hours if theres wind im out.
I was out friday (a mate and another kiter were on the water) and found myself in a strange
situation that iv never expereinced before.
Conditions were pretty gnarly, around about 22kts with strong sudden gusts to 30's cross on,
im 80 kgs, vegas 9m (5 lines).
basically I cocked up a back rotation ,landed uncontrollably
with way too much horizontal momentum, skimmed directly downwind passed my now ditched kite (narrowly avoided running straight into it), eventually sank just in front and to the left side, only about
10 feet from the kite (felt bizarre to be looking at the outside of the canopy on the water ).
So the lines are now in a big U shape under no tension, i know the waves and incoming tide
will be drifting the lines towards me under the water, and the kite is
already showing signs of auto re-launching (its gusty). Im starting to worry about
possibly getting wrapped up in all those loose lines when the kite re-launches.
Fortunately the kite took off to the right side of the window , and i avoided getting caught
up in any lines, but took one hell of a dunt and superman'd out the water when tension was regained.
So , after post session analysis i came to the conclusion that this is a very easy situation for a
beginner or even intermediate kiter (taking there first steps into jumps/rotations etc) to get in to,
and one that should be avoided at all costs. Im sure there are many kiters out there who havent
even considered this situation (as I didnt).
I know every situation is unique, but anyone have some good advice as to what would be the safest way out of this predicament?
whilst bobing alongside the kite (the calm before the storm) would you :
1. have pulled the safety?
not sure that wouldv prevented me getting tangled in lines,
2. pull safety and release kite completely?
still possability of getting tangled not to mention a flailing bar, however was reasonably
close to shore, or atleast to shallow water. Could'v thrown the bar as far away from me
as possible (towards kite) for good measure,
3. swim towards the kite, hoping to reach it before it re-launches and then self rescue?
given i was so close to it,
4. swim directly away from the kite (and lines)?
to maximise distance as quickly as possible,
5. other ?
If the kite had launched to the left of the window I couldv easily got caught up in the lines, i dread to think of the mayhem that could'v ensued. i just cannot
imagine finding (let alone operating successfully) that little knife in my harness whilst getting dragged through the surf.
ps - incidently, i had a quick look around for help , and neither of the other 2 kiters even realised
i had a problem, (not having a go at them, it happend so fast), it just goes to show that regardless
of how many others are out, the speed that a dangerous situation can arise means you really are on your own out there most of the time, self proficiancy is pretty important.
keith