Ruben Lenten - My most painful kiteboarding accident (broke my leg)

[longwhitecloud]

Makes you think hard about your QR and QR design.

Accidental release is a serious factor. My friend on a Naish QR a few years ago just knocked his QR very slightly in 10ft + (Hawaiian) in Fiji and was being washed through to another reef pass, was soooo dodgy . -life threatening . Another friend on the same kite did the same thing in the same session, but not in such a critical position.

Back on the beach we tested 3 bars - the 2 that fired by accident were soooooooo easily ejected compared to the other one (previous year) - seemed more highly polished. They ended up putting sand in them and scratching them up a bit so that they need more force to release.

Kevin L has a suicide metal ring under the centre of the release - I rigged up a ring lashed tight to the top of the chicken loop which worked but was not ideal, i was never into the leash attached to the chicken loop - it gets in the way sooo bad - but also if you ride suicide and accidentally release - your still f3$#cked in rubens situation.

I do not get the appeal of wake bindings in big air, but understand that there are pros and cons each way (less chance of teh once footstrap crash to snapped acl? that kind of thing) - IMO footstraps have less cons when you start to go big. 2 unconscious in KOTA, now a broken leg. I have splatted so hard kitelooping - blackout and unable to breath for a while but wearing footstraps board explodes off your feet - just don't get it in the face!

Ruben is a great entertainer (filming the hospital stuff - that is dedication to the art - many other riders go to ground during this period..) and rider. Good on you bro. Indulge yourself in Ableton LIve, makes time fly, no leg required.


This is going to be a rethink for QR design for sure when you have one of the best riders in the world accidentally activating the release and breaking their leg.

Maybe the giant non QR loops will make a comeback - very popular amongst Aaron, Marc, and other top riders of the world at one time. They were so much easier for unhooking and hooking back in! - then the tiny loops - a nightmare to hook back into quickly and easily.


I have driven my leg bones over my ankle and split it wide - broken bones, tendons snapped off and all. It f#W#4ing sucks so hard.. Does get better tho, v slowly....

[Toby]

I guess I need to mention the Core QR again.

Did anyone ever had an accidental release with this type of QR ?

For wakestyle boots have advantages for sure. The twisted knee with one foot out of the straps on hard landings is less likely to happen. But if a boot gets loose you have the same problem...and it happens quiet often as one thinks. Or at least used to...I guess they improved it.
For big air it’s just straps way better. Best example why Ruben just showed us. Plus...look at KOTA. Big Air at its best, the winner needs more diversity in tricks, this includes to take the board off...

[andylc]

Well done for getting that one in Toby!

[Faxie]

I guess I need to mention the Core QR again.

Did anyone ever had an accidental release with this type of QR ?

For wakestyle boots have advantages for sure. The twisted knee with one foot out of the straps on hard landings is less likely to happen. But if a boot gets loose you have the same problem...and it happens quiet often as one thinks. Or at least used to...I guess they improved it.
For big air it’s just straps way better. Best example why Ruben just showed us. Plus...look at KOTA. Big Air at its best, the winner needs more diversity in tricks, this includes to take the board off...

You don't need diversity. Just height and a smooth landing. You can take the board of 5 times during a jump and flip, twist and turn it 10 times, if someone else jumps 5m higher, he wins.

And remember this?



It was your own topic

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2395373

Btw, I'm aware the poster mentioned somewhere he didn't rig the QR properly... well for one, that shouldn't be possible, for second, more people replied on numerous places that theirs snapped open too.

[Toby]

can't remember all, that's why I am asking !

Do we know what happened there?

More diversity than just megaloops it needs...

[Faxie]

can't remember all, that's why I am asking !

Do we know what happened there?

More diversity than just megaloops it needs...

Well, then start your own competition, right?

[Toby]

can't remember all, that's why I am asking !

Do we know what happened there?

More diversity than just megaloops it needs...

Well, then start your own competition, right?

Why? KOTA already shows more than few years ago. Way more exciting now

[mgs]

Perhaps quick release systems should have an “are you sure” mechanism built in. A two stage release process should the quick release system be inadvertently activated.
I admire Ruben’s positivity and wishing him a speedy recovery.

[andylc]

A 2 stage QR would kill more than save I would suggest...

[Toby]

I agree. Situations leave you a part of a second to decide....

But...maybe a "pro" version would be an interesting idea. For those guys who know what they do...