quote:Originally posted by bolgo


same issues stupid launching/landing practices especially 12 oclock kite parking in the gustiest area - launch land zone


And every other piece of safety information I have read, it seems like hanging around with your kite parked at 12 anywhere but in the water with lots of room downwind is a recipe for disaster, it appears that this is how most of the lofting accidents that have seriously hurt people have occurred.

On the other hand, I seem to constantly see it. I got interested staying at "Kims" between Christmas and New Years - a resort on Toowoon Bay in NSW - in between The Entrance and Shelley Beach.

It seemed like a prime place for kiteboarding, and the Southerly that was beating the crap out of the Syd-Hobart fleet meant great crossshore conditions for it, there were 4 or 5 people out most days.

At one point, I saw a guy walking his kite upwind at least 100 metres, with the kite parked at 12. I also saw repeatedly guys come in and tear up great looking carve gybes metres from the waters edge, possibly just for showing off.

I also noticed an image on Kite Forums (/images/misc/forum-image-missing.gif) with the caption:Nik and Louie walking back upwind during a KiteAntigua class.

From the angle of the strings it looks like the wind is tending onshore, and this is from a course?

So, basically I just want to clarify my understanding of this safety aspect, and basically ask if it is right, what are all these people doing?

Is there a lack of knowledge or care about this sort of thing? I am sure there are heaps of people who get their kite down as soon as possible, launch as close to the water as possible etc, stay out to sea once launched, but from the action I have seen there are plenty who haven't as well.

From reading all the reports on incidents, people who have died recently etc I was almost put off taking kiteboarding up, I guess familiarty breeds comtempt?

SB