It came to my attention yesterday that local kiter Lloyd Wakewood rescued a fellow kiter in distress recently (onya lloyd) . It is something that most of us would do anyway .My point here is that as we were chatting a few things came up .the guy rescued was an experienced kiter .Lloyd went by and checked that he was OK and the guy wasn't . So take a leaf out of Lloyds book and don't assume that if the kiter down is experienced or even the most experienced that they are OK .Swing by and check

Also this might explain drownings of experienced water people .if you get into strife and aren't getting anywhere take stock of the situation .you only have so much energy and it WILL run out .Use your brain and take the action that will best preserve your life .

Life vests also came up .there was general agreement that perhaps life vests aren't such a bad idea (i know that this is controversial but i thought worth mentioning.)

Life vests are a great idea. I use one every session. After crashing my kite and not being able to relaunch (didn't pump kite enough) and lines inverting, I would have had a seriously hard time getting the kite in the air if it were not for my PFD.

I'm not saying everyone should use one but if you're beginning and don't have the most experience in the world, a PFD can make you much more confident on the water.

After kiting for hours you do get tired and it does impact on your ability to stay above water if something goes bad.

Not all PFD's look dicky either. You can find some pretty slim buoyancy vests, if you're concerned about your 'look'. lol.

Mr float said...

It came to my attention yesterday that local kiter Lloyd Wakewood rescued a fellow kiter in distress recently . It is something that most of us would do anyway .My point here is that as we were chatting a few things came up .the guy rescued was an experienced kiter .Lloyd went by and checked that he was OK and the guy wasn't . So take a leaf out of Lloyds book and don't assume that if the kiter down is experienced or even the most experienced that they are OK .Swing by and check

Also this might explain drownings of experienced water people .if you get into strife and aren't getting anywhere take stock of the situation .you only have so much energy and it WILL run out .Use your brain and take the action that will best preserve your life .

Life vests also came up .there was general agreement that perhaps life vests aren't such a bad idea (i know that this is controversial but i thought worth mentioning.)

I don't think that really matters or is the point of my post .the point is that this can happen anywhere and anytime and the lessons that can be learnt from this ,particularly the one of looking out for your mates (and maybe mates that are not your mates yet, one of the things that has made kitesurfing such a great sport thus far)

Spacemonkey! said...

2 thoughts:

If you can't swim you shouldn't be kiteboarding.

Don't go out further than you're willing to swim in.

Excellent thoughts .However good swimmers can drown ,which is another of my points.

Spacemonkey! said...

Totally agree, especially if injured. Just thought I would add something different.

4 sure .

any half experienced kiter should know how to self rescue, when self rescuing you have a big assd kite for flotation so a pfd is almost irrelevant... even when the kite is in the drink floating down wind of you it still gives enough pull to give you some form of floatation, enough to get yourself sorted and get a self rescue going.


not saying pfds are a bad idea at all, i am just saying that when you are a experienced kiter, well actually as soon as you have finished all the relevant lessons you should have enough knowledge to rescue yourself.

if you do not know how to self rescue or create a pontoon from your kite i suggest you get yourself down to your local kiteschool so you can learn how.

i had a kitemare a couple of seasons ago and was getting sucked out to sea on a ever darkening late session. wind was a very slight sou'wester but im pretty sure a strong current got hold of my downed kite?? I only had the waist harness on, kite was down, lines twisted, fairly new to the game, getting pulled under water every so often! anyways had to release the kite completely and swim a fair distance back to shore. kite was never to be seen again and i reported it to the water police that night.

Lesson learnt

next day bought a Dakine impact vest which gives me enough buoyancy to stay above water without restricting movement when all goes to ****e. now i don't kite without it

How about, just don't kite in any thing that won't eventually blow you back to land

Isn't that one of the first principals taught?

I've never lost a kite, board or anything else in the 4+ years I've been kiting and I think this has a pretty big part to play in that fact.

D

Mr float said...

D_Meredith79 said...

How about, just don't kite in any thing that won't eventually blow you back to land

Isn't that one of the first principals taught?

I've never lost a kite, board or anything else in the 4+ years I've been kiting and I think this has a pretty big part to play in that fact.

D

Living in the hunter valley we are cursed by a valley westerly wind in summer that can push through and destroy the NE in a flash .Has caught out a few over the years

Fair enough Float, guess we're pretty spoiled here in WA