There have been 2 kitesurfing deaths in the last 3 days- 1st in Holland (Thursday) and the 2nd in NZ (saturday). Both guys were 31 yrs old.

Some of you may have met Doug Wisor (from Hawkes Bay/N'th Island) at the Cairns kite comp ~3 months ago. A really decent guy & amazing kiter. No one witnessed the accident but looking at the scene it seems like he was launched ~50m horizontally by a gust, taking out the best part of a tree and then crashed into a caravan. His safety was still in tact, which Im sure he had no time to pull! No one is sure what he was doing when the gust hit, but he was very experienced and I don't think he was a big risk taker- so I doubt he was looping close to shore with strong/gusty NW winds! Im not sure if we will ever know exactly what happened.

Fortunately, and surprisingly, this is NZ's 1st fatality. I have seen many crazy accidents, the latest was Gavin Broadbent breaking his neck. 2 weeks ago a 15yr old kid (again an excellent kiter) crashed head first onto a sand bar, was knocked on conscious and ended up spending 3 days in hospital.

I don't want to put you off visiting NZ, but If you are coming here to kite (and especially snow kiting)- take care! NZ wind is not as predictable and steady as in oz!

The Holland incident sounds crazy- apparently the guy broke his neck on impact on water!

Check out www.kiteforum.com for more details.

Many people think at least these guys died doing what they loved, but I know they had so much more to offer and they will be greatly missed.

Take it easy!

Here is the report from th NZ Herald.

Kite-surfer Douglas Wisor had just landed on the beach when a strong gust of wind caught his kite and flung him to his death.
The 31-year-old was dragged through a row of trees at speed then dumped into the side of a caravan at the Te Awanga Motor Lodge, just east of Hastings.
Suffering head and chest injuries Mr Wisor died soon after, the first kite-surfing fatality in New Zealand.
The accident happened just before 2pm on Saturday as the American, who worked as a winemaker in the Hawkes Bay, was finishing a kite surf at Te Awanga beach.
He was on his own and about to undo his harness when the strong northwesterly caught his kite.
Motor camp manager Joy Mildenhall said campers heard a loud bang as Mr Wiser, who was not wearing a helmet, hit the vacant caravan moments later. He died on the way to hospital.
The accident came as a shock yesterday to those who have taken up the relatively new adventure sport.

"Doug was a real nice guy. This is a real loss for the kite-boarding community, his family and his friends," said one person on a surfing internet chatroom. "A shock like this sure makes you take a moment to reflect on all the near-misses we have all experienced."

Mr Wisor, an experienced kite surfer, may not have had time to use a safety button which releases the kite in critical situations.

Kitesports owner Tim Stockman said from Christchurch that the sport could be dangerous in gusty conditions, especially if the surfer was on their own.

Landing can be particularly dangerous because if something does go wrong there are more chances of hitting an object than out at sea.

Last December a kite-surfer was badly injured in Golden Bay after a gust of wind carried him 50m and dropped him into a house.

Craggy Range Wines managing director Steve Smith said Mr Wisor was a talented winemaker who came to New Zealand about four years ago.

Mr Smith said Mr Wisor loved all adventure sports. "The world is a poorer place without him. He was an unbelievable young man."



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