papasmerf wrote: ↑Thu Feb 18, 2021 2:45 pm
I’m sure a lot of folks on here have watched the rise and fall of all the wind sports. Has anyone noticed a higher incidence of injuries with hydrofoils? A friend just got some stitches and he is one of the best Kiter’s I know. He never got hurt in 15 years of kiting like a maniac on a twin tip. Had a helmet but the foil got him just under it.
Does anyone else look at their super sharp wings and then look at the much more rounded wings and wonder which one will hurt less in a jackknife? Maybe I am being a big baby. I know that thin will go a lot faster and glide better but how to find a balance of injury risk to performance?
Absolutely.
I've been wearing shin guards, and even bought one for use on my right fore arm. Helmets are a good idea. Impact vest can help.
I prefer more rounded edge foils. Thin foils don't have to have knife edges. But even a rounded edge will hurt and leave a mark. I've got a few on my shin, hence shin guards.
If you are really pushing it, I think you are going to get hurt on a twin tip eventually. Ribs and knees mostly.
And to really go high you have to have wind and as much kite as you can hold onto. So I believe that is generally more dangerous than a dinky kite for foiling and has less long term impact on your body from repetitive stress.
I simply gave up big air twin tip riding and kite loops as it was just too hard on me. Sucks getting old.
So yes, i think there is a greater chance of getting cut with a foil but less of a chance of some other types of injuries.
so yes, I would get a more rounded edge wing and get on with it