I agree Echostorm.
We have had several newbies in the shop who have commented on the video, they were affected by it for sure.
Created a good discussion point, and I'm sure it has turned some people off, which is likely to be a good thing for the sport long term.

The guy is out of hospital, walking around, has a few stitches in a head cut and some nasty bruising and minor fractures, miracle man!!

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

It's just lucky he survived and didn't kill anyone or then it would be really bad for your sport.

The fun police ban sports for accidents, not human beings for dying!

The Kevin kite website!

http://www.kevinkite.org/

Ok, this is my two bobs worth from Tropical Storm Fay (in Alabama). The motivation for the guy to head out would be the fact that decent winds over this way are few are far between in summer, I've only been able to get out once in the last 3 months due to the lack of wind. Not saying I agree with his decision, but I'm just saying that I'm sure most of us Aus can relate to that feeling in winter when a front is coming that you think of heading down and checking it out anyway. Granted there is a definate difference between a tropical Storm and just an everyday winter front in WA. But to be honest with you a day either side of the actual storm didn't look that bad, albeit a bit gusty.

His decision was obviously a bad one, but I don't think he really needs us to tell him that. Granted there is publicity surrounding it, I have had almost everyone I know here asking me if I've seen the footage etc, seeing as I'm the only kiter any of them know. Some of this publicity is bad, with us left looking like dangerous maniacs in SOME people's eyes. But as raised above, it should act as a bit of motivation for the people that want to get into kiting to take lessons.

P.S. Can't wait to head home for good in 6 weeks and be done with the septic tanks for good

Read the thread.
Listen to the guys interview.
Read Afflatus's comment, 2nd or third post in the thread, hilarious.
LOL.

kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2350835&sid=0203388e4256ea4c16037a8814634f86

The guy has not learned or is whacked out on something, he is doing a lot of damage to the image of the sport.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

Has anyone had a look at his myspace site, linked to from the kevinkite site? I found this on it with the title: "The dumbest thing I have done so far this year"

I just gave myself a black eye. Funny story...

So I get hungry and want to leave my house to get something to eat. I am very hungry so i might mention that I am running. My front door is at the end of a hallway. So if the door is partially open there is a small space between the door and the wall. Well I didnt realize how fast I was running so I try to open the door faster. This was my mistake ---- could I have a do-over I would slow my speed to leave the house.

Well i got there too early and pinned my head between the wall and the door. like it would have been bad enough to just hit my head with the door...but my head was against the wall and the door slammed into my face - it hurt really bad so i came back inside and have yet to get something to eat.

Maybe I should start wearing a helmet?

The presenter certainly baulked at his response to that one.

Any sympathy I had for this guy has gone.

Make your own mind up but listen to this interview

abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5647429&page=1

For the money it has cost him in medical bills if the wind is so light over there that compelled him to go out in a tropical storm, he could have spent the money on a 19 meter Speed II and be kiting every day.

www.reuters.com/article/storm-gustav-downgrade/hurricane-gustav-downgraded-as-winds-flag-over-haiti-idUSN2640348520080827

Get ya snowboarding helmets ready!!!!!

I went to his website to donate, but they would only accept cash. I wanted to donate two of my own brain cells, I figured it would probably double the number that he currently has.

What a tool!

Call me harsh but if your going kiting in a TC then you gotta pay your dues. I'm not giving him some money because he is a dickhead. While I'm at it I might go donate some free money to drink drivers and hoons like kitecrazzy. Seriously, I'm sympathetic he got hurt, that sucks. The audacity to put out his hands asking for money when he deliberately placed himself in a dangerous situation is dumbfounding and then to claim he would do it all again just is icing on the cake.

Don't hang sh!t on me or anyone else who has the guts to tell it as it is....kiting in this weather is the height of stupidity...it doesn't get much higher!
Maybe we can put 5 bullets in a six shot revolver and take a spin.....

All we need in this sport is cowboys and their "mates" doing moronic things and we'll all have to find the eye of the storm to kite in....'cause we'll have no-where else to go!

Don't get me wrong , I hope this guy will be fine but as mr float said..the conditions need respect.

IMO

KiteDevil said...

Im not hanging sh1t on anyone, just putting it out there that head injuries usually remain undiagnosed and cause huge problems for individuals and their relatives, and in this case maybe kitesurfing as a sport??

I agree kiting in those conditions its asking for it, I just don't think the guy is all there in his interview.

IMO

Having read about his encounter with the door, before the TC incident, I don't think he's there at all. Any time, period.

Maybe he fell on his head as an infant, or his mother was a crack whore and he was fathered by a hundred inmates of the mental asylum that she was incarcerated in. Either way, I do feel sorry for the people that share the World with him.