Kitesurf Fatality in Germany

[onein5]

Sort of relevant - > http://www.kitesurfguernsey.com/rants/t ... e-to-make/

[Westozzy]

To be honest the real killer is peoples lack of understanding of the weather and how that can affect the wind speed. Usually people see light conditions and put up a big kite and then are killed in an "unexpected" gust.

I have never seen conditions when wind speeds unexpectidly increase. Never. With proper research of forecasts and live weather readings you can predict what may happen pretty accurately.

Before heading out you know if its a gusty day or clean day what the approximate gusts will be. Usually I know what kite I will be using before i leave home.

Exactly...and no instructor ever will tell that!

Good point. But I did watch a instructor in Bali just recently showing just that. He said the the student, just let go of the bar, the student wouldn't and he said go on just let it go...he eventually did and the kite harmlessly fell to the ground and the instructor said see now there is no problem, no power, remember this. That really stuck with me, even after all these years

[Toby]

I am sure it was a not dangerous situation...

Letting go is not natural and I think cannot be trained as good as activating the quick release!

Again, some scientist could have an answer which would be better to train.

[edt]

I've

To be honest the real killer is peoples lack of understanding of the weather and how that can affect the wind speed. Usually people see light conditions and put up a big kite and then are killed in an "unexpected" gust.

I have never seen conditions when wind speeds unexpectidly increase. Never. With proper research of forecasts and live weather readings you can predict what may happen pretty accurately.

Before heading out you know if its a gusty day or clean day what the approximate gusts will be. Usually I know what kite I will be using before i leave home.

I have been caught in a gust front a few times the storm can be 100 miles away or even not exist aany more gust fronts can pop up with very little warning and not be on the radar. you might feel the wind increase from 20 to 30 in 3 seconds that's all the warning you get then it can blast up to 70.

it's an interesting experience I think the great lakes might have them more often but they can happen anywhere

But I agree most of the time people don't read the weather report close enough and kite into a squall you can see coming all day

[Toby]

true, sudden gusts can not be anticipated!
But I do see many people riding in dark clouds...some even hurricanes. We know how that can end up...

anyway, it is an extreme sport after all.

[DrLightWind]

When I get home I will take a pick of my harness and leash how it was hooked up.

pls do, thx!

Here is my set-up and the secondary bypass leash behind the harness.
The red release what I had to pull under the water which was easy to find.
But surprisingly didn't release the kite as I mentioned because the other end was hooked in
to the R. outside line coming through at the center of CL which line got loose,
and since it was loose tangled up to my ankle and tightened when the kite took off.

DrLW

[Toby]

Thx for that. You have been lucky being able to release that.

In my Airstyle DVD I explain exactly that this is a no go for all people who don't do handle passes.
Put the leash on a fixed point on the side or front.

People doing handle passes must have a release on the side for the line on the back.

[eree]

Thx for that. You have been lucky being able to release that.

In my Airstyle DVD I explain exactly that this is a no go for all people who don't do handle passes.
Put the leash on a fixed point on the side or front.

People doing handle passes must have a release on the side for the line on the back.

todays usual safety leashes are too long for side or front point fixing. i use front point at winter snowkiting with ozone seat harness and i had leash wrapped around my knee, snowboard tip and even around bar end several times. and i'm not a short guy.
it is not safe either.

last time i have seen the leash with appropriate length for the front point connection was when it came with the Gaastra Jekyll 2008!

[foxzone]

You are right about leash length.
Liquid Force leash is shortest I found.

[Toby]

easy:

connect it to the right side of the harness, and attach it to the 5th line or whatever ring on the left side!
So the leash goes around your back.

I normally then do one knot in the soft part of the leash, and it will be perfect!