In the surf KNOW YOUR SAFETY RELEASES!!!!! Before I go out EVERYTIME I do three checks to see how quick I can get to my safety. You must do this 6000 times before it becomes a reflex.

What a terrible thing - we never think that our sport can result in death until it happens again.
Macassar Beach is in False Bay in South Africa - not Europe.
Sounds like the kite went into a looping spiral which I've seen happen a few times.

Given the content of the initial post, I think the attempted humour in the title might be a tad inappropriate. J

Whilst quick releases are vital for your chicken loop I really think they mainly have their place for begginers. I always tell begginers that the quick release is their and they can let go to complete safety BUT I also tell them that by flying the kite at all times even whilst being dragged under water is by far a better option. Lets face it, It would have to be pretty freakin windy for you to have a kiting accident if you didn't do anything stupid with your kite.

When someone is in trouble they have two options, quick release or fly the kite. In a panic situation no one would be controlling the kite when they were looking for the QR. They take their hands off the bar, eyes off the kite and try and ditch the kite. If they kept their hands on the bar and concentrated on the kite they could control it to stop them getting dragged.

In essence I'm with kite crazy, know your QR but concentrate on that kite. Also that stuff echostorm is saying aout checking your QR three times each session sounds like over kill to me, what happened to rigging up and just going out to have fun. Having a routine like that makes kiting sound like a chore or a drill.

What both kitecrazy and spacey are saying makes a heap of sense.

You must keep your cool and know how to fly a kite..........duh, and those skills come with practice. So folks, if you want to kite safe, practice and more practice. There will always be close calls, learn from them and hopefully we can all stay around a little longer.

Random deaths happen every friggen day.

Just use a Bow and let go of the bar.

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Originally posted by user

Just use a Bow and let go of the bar.

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Yeah thats a great idea, and let it smash into people, kiters, powerlines, dunes etc....

User before calling me ignorant about bows perhaps try and understand what I am refering to initially. It may depower but it will still continue to fly in the path it was heading in. It will still hit what it was aiming for. Surely it would be a better option if your on a bow to depower a bit and steer the kite away from danger and try and control the situation rather than just opting for the quick release and forget about the kite. Same goes for bows and C's. You learn nothing from going to QR every time your in a bit of trouble, most situations you are able to save yourself if you keep your cool and concentrate on the kite.

quote:

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Originally posted by echostorm

In the surf KNOW YOUR SAFETY RELEASES!!!!! Before I go out EVERYTIME I do three checks to see how quick I can get to my safety. You must do this 6000 times before it becomes a reflex.

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Pulling your safety will not always work. I once had a back line wrap around my wrist on the other side of the bar and the kite powered up. Result was a looping kite with no quick release dragging me along by my arm. Fortunately I was far enough offshore to ride straight downwind, which eased the pressure on the lines enough for me to get my wrist out of there. Scarey moment though. Plus I had welts on my wrist for a week or two.

I always do my tricks with plenty of space downwind now. Of course that means I'm in deeper water with all the sharkies