Kiter killed in New Zealand

[JakeFarley]

This is so sad to hear about another accident/fatality. My deepest sympathy for the family and friends.

Boosting on the beach or upwind of the beach or other obstruction is not safe in any conditions. Why test the wind this way? Is it only to show off?

I heard of the same type of incident here on the west coast of Florida about a month ago. The kiter had just launched, boosted and got caught by a gust which dragged him toward the road and power lines. Fortunately, he was able to release the kite which hit the power lines. The bar and lines got run over by passing cars. Complete destruction of his kit, but he escaped with some cuts and bruises.

[plummet]

plummet, agree with everything except the last sentence. The redirect only works well on water where you land with the board pointed downwind and with some speed. Speed is not what you want landing on land, instead, having let the bar out to reduce lift, as you come down, at the last moment, about 5-10 feet off the ground, pull the bar all the way in to give a little lift and stall the kite, just as you would landing a parachute.

How you fly the kite is very dependant on what type of kite you have. However, many kites need some sort of flying speed to get a soft landing. There either isnt enough canopy or aoa adjustment at the bar to get a paraglider soft landing with no flying speed. Holding the kite and the zenith with the bar in might not give you that soft landing you want. As an example my 8m ozone enduro needs a fast redirect above the head and bar in just before landing to be soft. If i just hold it near the zenith and pull the bar in I land hard. Typically the smaller the canopy the more you need actively fly for a soft landing.

Side note. I've been landing kiting and jumping kites on land for 14 years. So I have spent a lot of time figuring soft slow landings on various kite sizes and types.

[longwhitecloud]

f#$ that is so sad, a very small kiting community. Someone that really helped others too. RIP.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/bay-of-plenty/110 ... tness-says