mr moon wrote:Hi guys thank you so much for reading my post and for your support, glad you all interested in safety.
I think the safest set up would be:
1. Kite leash with double release (one on each end), it would be too expensive for the brands to make them so let's go custom.
2. Clip the leash on the front or side. Mike I agree with you, I guess the drag would be better sideways as opposed to front. I was dragged sideways as the leash came off from the side of the harness somehow and I was holding myself onto it to avoid being dragged backwards. I wanted to try and see where I was heading too, although with so much splashing was too hard. When I then try to turn backwards to drink less water it was too late.. it's the last thing I remember before drowning.
3. A custom knife like the one RobertoVillate showed and a couple of hook knifes in different locations.
4. The choice of safety system of course... and kite! Some kites like the RRD Obsessions don't really depower when released, some of them flag powerless like the North 5 lines for example, others loose power and drop in the water...
By the way, today I made my return to kiting, on my local beach!
It was psychologically hard, but I did very well. I've worn my helmet (and this time not for a GoPro video!), and went out to test a Cabrinha 9m Nomad with the IDS safety system, which due to the fact of not having a leash (there is instead a double release on the chicken loop) made me feel fairly safer. I feel alive and happy again, although for some reason doesn't feel the same as before, is that my second life or the Nomad???
Its not possible to eliminate all risk, but you can take away a lot of the risk. If you ever have a serious problem kiting in future, its probably going to be something different. There are many ways for things to go wrong, but you seem to have a good brain for staying calm and thinking of the best way out.
My way would be to ensure I had a good reliable quick release and used the same one for both the primary and secondary. ie. the release to kiteleash and the kiteleash release. Make sure you can operate them and that they work and you wont need a release on the other end of the kiteleash. (it could be very difficult to get to anyway).
Safety systems have a lot of pluses and minuses.
I chose the IDS and like it. Things that can go wrong are little bits of seaweed or algae jamming a pulley or the bridle is long enough that it can get wrapped round a wingtip. The Q/R is good though, so if there is a problem I can go to the leash or lose the kite easily.
To me, that is the key - making the right decision quickly and popping whatever Q/R you need - fast. Things like how many times can a kite loop before it renders the safety system inoperable and things like that can all be part of the decision making process.
Then you need to consider the other risks.
The biggest next one for me is line tangles, so reducing the likelyhood (eg. Ocean Rodeo and other companies are trying to reduce things on harnesses that lines can tangle around) and being able to cut free quickly.
The ankle tangle is rare, but if you are being pulled hard through the water, its very hard to reach. A looping kite hitting the water, or the kite being left behind by a wave that was pulling it would maybe give the opportunity to get a hook knife with a handle onto the line.
Thing to remember is that we are all going to die sometime and we have a life to live. Dont let the thought of dying stop you living.
There's only so much you can do to reduce risk. Some idiot in a car is more likely to kill any of us perhaps.
Once you have done everything within reason to reduce the risk, then make sure you enjoy life.