Fatality in Santa Cruz

[gideonlow]

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archiv ... eaking.htm

Another unfortunate tragedy. Another one that was preventable. We need more details for any definitive analysis, but winds yesterday (while I was on the water) quickly rose from high teens to close to 30. This beach is about the worst place you could ever use for beach practice--shadowed from the wind and thus very gusty/shifty:

http://www.visitusa.com/california/imag ... h-view.jpg

When is the commercial part of our sport going to get its act together to start promoting helmet use? Will we ever see pros setting an example? Will we ever see magazines setting an example? Do mountain biking magazines show pros flying down a mountain without a helmet? How many more have to die?

Gideon

[Toby]

sorry to hear this.

My condolences to the family, friends and fellow kiters.

Please let us know exact details once you know so we can learn from this.

Toby

[Greg7]

My condolences as well.

Regarding helmets, unfortunately they are "uncool" and you are never going to get a general consensus on them, but that aside, most fatalities wouldn't require a helmet if they hadn't been in a stupid spot to begin with.

Unfortunately, most fatal kiting accidents lack common sense.

IMO you shouldn't be practicing on a beach with a kite strong enough to lift or even strongly drag you.

If you want to practice, get out in the water, if you can't get out in the water, get a smaller kite.

My instructor had me 200 yards out, and it was a PITA walking back out after each time I practiced, but it really saved my ass.

One time I knew that noon was "neutral", however, being new, I didn't realize if you jam to noon it would loft you.

I was about to get in trouble with the kite, and since noon was "safe" and "neutral", i cranked it as hard as I could, a second later I was 12 feet in the air

On land it would have been a disaster, where we were it just startled me for a moment.

It isn't just a newbie issue either, I see veterans coming on shore fully hooked with almost onshore winds. It is a minor gamble, but a gamble nonetheless.

I will give anyone a hundred bucks if they can go to a beach with a bunch of regulars and strong wind and watch for a couple of hours without spotting several potentially fatal stupid moves.

It happens everywhere all the time...

[Morfin]

My sincere condolences to the family and friends. Take care of your beaches and fellow kiters!

[K2ripper]

So sad, and only 18 years old. What a tragedy and a waste of such a young life. My best wishes to all who knew him.

As far as helmets not being "cool", enough already! Why don't we all just stop saying "helmts are not cool" ( I wear one and I look like a total dork but I don' give a crap) and instead say "helmuts are cool (and smart) to wear", and maybe more people will start to wear them and perhaps a few people will avoid severe injury or death because of it. Five years ago only ski racers wore helmets, anyone else who did was a "kook", nowadays, almost all good skiers and boarders wear them, and there is a coolness factor about wearing them, i.e. I rip so I need protection.

[FredBGG]

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archiv ... eaking.htm

Another unfortunate tragedy. Another one that was preventable. We need more details for any definitive analysis, but winds yesterday (while I was on the water) quickly rose from high teens to close to 30. This beach is about the worst place you could ever use for beach practice--shadowed from the wind and thus very gusty/shifty:

http://www.visitusa.com/california/imag ... h-view.jpg

When is the commercial part of our sport going to get its act together to start promoting helmet use? Will we ever see pros setting an example? Will we ever see magazines setting an example? Do mountain biking magazines show pros flying down a mountain without a helmet? How many more have to die?

Gideon

Sorry to hear about the accident.

I also completely agree with you Gideon.

[ed257]

So sad, and only 18 years old. What a tragedy and a waste of such a young life. My best wishes to all who knew him.

As far as helmets not being "cool", enough already! Why don't we all just stop saying "helmts are not cool" ( I wear one and I look like a total dork but I don' give a crap) and instead say "helmuts are cool (and smart) to wear", and maybe more people will start to wear them and perhaps a few people will avoid severe injury or death because of it. Five years ago only ski racers wore helmets, anyone else who did was a "kook", nowadays, almost all good skiers and boarders wear them, and there is a coolness factor about wearing them, i.e. I rip so I need protection.

I agree. I used to feel like a complete dork being the only one on my beach with a helmet. Then a Dr friend who kites told me that he had a kiting accident (head injury) that took him out of action for a year and almost required brain surgery. So, now I don't feel like a dork - I feel bad for the kiters who put themselves at higher risk by not wearing one. That's my silver helmet I am wearing in my avatar - and glad to have it. Everyone should wear one - just like a seatbelt in a car.

Ed

[Klaus (c:E]

Hai,

Condolences to his friends and relatives.

I prefer to tell students about safety and seamenship because of what could happen though. Sad story.

Sea You: Klaus (c:E

[eldadgold]

sorry to hear this. condolences to the family and friends.

maybe if the companies will put an effort in it and make some cool helmets for decent prices we will all wear one. the ones that are out today are so uncomfortable and so ugly...

[vwsurftrip]

What a fu_king shame. 18 years old. I am a high school teacher and it breaks my heart to think when someone so young perishes (this applies to our wonderful war) I am a beginner myself, and I have to admit that it seems awkward to me when I tell people that you need to have respect for the kite. I always thought of kites nostalgically as something kids play with at the beach, not something that can hand as your ass to you on a platter before you can blink an eye. I will start wearing a helmet.