mind if i ask how - so i can try to avoid doing the same?

Well it started when i caught an edge and hit the water no big deal. I was what happened after- next thing i new i was lifting out of the water and and bang ripped back down. I stopped thinking about kite. Had a world of stars and no wind and really sore guts. It all happened so fast. Looking back on it, maybe i could have let go of the bar but man it was real quick. Winds about 20 gusting to 26 knots, my upper limit on a 12m (i weigh about 97)so i really should have been on the beach and resting. Same bloody thing always when i am getting tired.

A good friend of ming (very experience rider) had the same thing happen when a landing went wrong and he hit face down really hard. There is another one i know of, same sort of thing, really good rider and landing going wrong. It looks like this sort of thing might be hard to avoid

A cheaper and more flexible option is the Airush Impact vest $120 to $145.

Any Airush shop should have them, I know Airborne Kitesurfing do have them.

Ian.

What about a PFD jacket designed for wakeboarding? Wouldnt that also do the same or similar job as a vest design specifically for kiting.

«·´`·.·´`·.·´`·.·´`·.(*·.¸(`·.¸ ¸.·´)¸.·*).·´`··´`·.·´`·.·´`·.»
_______«·«·^^~.........-|Sea Dog|-........~^^·»·»________
«·´`·.·´`·.·´`·.·´`·.(¸.·´(¸.·* *·.¸)`·.¸).·´`··´`·.·´`·.·´`·.»

After a broken rib and then a neck injury I got myself a bump n jump vest. The built-in camelback is great for a dry throat or washing out that salty mouth feeling. The bottom half at the front is designed to sit perfectly under a waist harness, stops it riding up and gives another layer of protection.

I brought the vest thinking that I would mainly only use it with my little kite (the one that did the damage both times!) but I grab it every time now.

Forgot mine - for the first time since I bought it - on my 1st run today Never Ever Ever Again
I have wondered since wearing it about just how much impact they absorb. Now I know
They definately ease the pain - no doubt bout that at all.
Dont know about other brands but for the record mines a Carbrinha @ about $125 (from memory?)
BIG plus is they do keep you afloat even though they cant be sold as life jackets.
Worth every cent IMHO.

"He who enjoys most - WINS"