Classic Idiot...

[edt]

It's very difficult to pull the QR in time after the kite starts to loop. The best time to pull the QR is immediately, before the kite loops, once you realize you have chosen a really terrible launch option. Realize that sewing together a kite is way cheaper than sewing up a broken body. If you pull the QR right when you feel the kite start to loop you can still end up high in the air and land hard.

There was a very high chance that this guy ended up with fatality or broken body. I find it difficult to laugh at this to be honest. That's the difference between a non-kiter and a kiter. A kiter looks at it and thinks "Almost a Darwin award" a non-kiter looks at it and laughs out loud at the silly kiteboarder.

[fokiten]

One either sees it coming, or one takes the hit.
I'm ( who gives a shite) a supporter of deep water tuition, one with kite big enough to supply a good old fashion ass kicking.
Why? See my first sentence.
Kites teach, humans? Not so much
Cheers!
fo

[PullStrings]

It's all fine and well to say "punch out" but keep in mind, in that era, on that bar, the kite did not flag onto one line. It just depowered. Yes, it's a true thing to say in most of our cases now, but for him with that gear, he would have to release the CL and the leash. Although at least if he did release he would be dangling from a leash a few feet lower!

Very well said

It was definitely an o-shit moment !!!

His 2007 bar had o-shit handles !!!

[RickI]

There were at least two of the cases we discussed on here over the years in which the Kite likely looping out of control and guided by the branches yanked the guys right up through the top of the trees and dropped them with force on the ground. In both of those cases paralysis resulted. Of course there of been other incidents and accidents involving tangles with tree limbs but those were particularly memorable and similar in respect to this case. Avoid the tree and if you screw that up punch out very early. This guy didn’t seem to know what to do so thinking things over in advance and physically practicing releasing are key. If you sell used gear to a guy you have some responsibility to direct him towards training. Whether he does it or not is up to him.

[Chicken-loop]

It's the nature of humans to pass judgment on each other.... If it all goes wrong, you are an "idiot"... If you pull it off, you are a "legend".

Put your hand up if you never have made a bad judgment when kitesurfing. Most of us have, we lived to tell the tail and we learned from it..

[Beardytello]

I was definitely quicker to release when I was a beginner, I saved myself a few times by releasing just before something happened due to being hyper sensitive.

I've found since I feel I know what I'm doing more I hesitate sometimes...my launch site is a safe as can be fortunately, but a couple of times now I've been dragged and had my hand on the release but not actually pulled it. Need to get out of that habit.

[Lmrutledge]

This still amazes me that someone even tried this.

[Bille]

BTW, I had a more or less similar situation (palm tree caught my kite)

I call myself an idiot too !

YEA --- Me also !
But i don't learn , if i blow-off a bad strategy, to just having a bad day, or bad
luck ; when i screw-Up i get down on myself , worst than anyone.

YEA -- the guy was an idiot that day ; if he was a friend , i;d tell
him the same , (as i handed him a Cold one) !!

Bille

[fokiten]

Of course it's not funny...
You have to assume more than one kiter has successfully launched from there, and had a great session.
All the things you mentioned, the stoke being the main driver etc.
If like I've said before "it takes a village" say he went out in the water and a friend launched him from land, he kept his kite low and body dragged out a bit more...then went. Most likely no problem.
What I saw is he was waiting for shit to get steadier ....not a good choice as we can see.
So hesitation and lack of experience did not help...
Bet they kite there every time it blows..
Speaking of blows....
Kiting blows, not for fun factor but for the uncaring nature of the wind and the shit for brains nature of us all, at times
Cheers
fo

A repost, mostly because my last line says volumes...
Carry on!

[Big Wally]

AND THE BEAT GOES ON