QLD
79 posts
please for your safety and others have a really good idea or some lessons under your belt before strapping a kite to yourself so far this season I have seen or heard of so many people being hurt I have helped so many people launch and say really ,I won't even piick up their kite because it would be a virtual hot launch if **** goes wrong we all panic a little some are quicker to respond than others but knowing what to do makes all the difference,ask people around you if you are unsure we will help but if we turn around as simply say are you really confident in what you are doing,don't take it to heart we just don't want anyone to get hurt its a great sport we do just my 2cents worth
QLD
79 posts
Unfortunately the last one from last Sunday at Sandgate
is still in the icu ward
QLD
1451 posts
jesus christ! sandgates as safe as you can get what **** happen?!?! did padi get any of the action on the webcam?
QLD
79 posts
guy got dragged over foreshore wall kite crashed near some oldies kite went over road happened further down from Padi on the grassed area
QLD
1211 posts
How long had the unfortunate person in icu been going solo since his lessons? Was the wind direct onshore at sandgate? Was it purely operator error? Kites are very dangerous if not handled with caution. Every session now I have that anxiety within me but its a healthy respect for my kite. No matter how good you are things can turn from good to bad in the blink of a eye.
QLD
1211 posts
Yeah your right and thinking/ reacting quickly
181 posts
Don't u need to experience some low level danger 1st to learn how to deal with it? Which school teaches u how to deal with it? They just teach u how to avoid it.
U can get in the trouble without your fault or control.
My personal (humble) opinion is kiting isn't for everyone. By that, i don't mean physical state or how fast u progressed or how badass tricks u are able to put out. There should be healthy attitude like minding others safety including yours, evaluating yours and others ability level.
It's the mixture of understanding, advices and experience.... Not school lvl. And that is 50%. Other 50% is; are you a jerk?
QLD
136 posts
Kiting isn't for everyone, but is advertised for anyone. The thing is lessons only teach you a small fraction of what you really need to know, and you need to be prepared to get your ass handed to you while learning the rest.
28 posts
Have had some conversations over the last few years with fellow kiters, and the consensus was that as we got more experienced, we were more prepared to use safety/release options earlier to get out of trouble. Perhaps we were lucky, that we have learned when we are in a difficult situation, and perhaps by experience we now recognise "stuff this, SAFETY" instead of wrestling with the kite, or trying to muscle through a difficult situation. Personally, being forced to go through all of this when doing instructor training was invaluable. Like most, I was pretty good at using the safety and doing rescue in my own lessons (my kite instructor made me do this every lesson), but hadn't had to use it much ever since. Only things that are practiced regularly become second nature. Ask any pilot.
The little grass area at Sandgate is not an ideal launching and landing area, combine this with kiters often standing too far upwind to launch (hot launch waiting to happen). Much safer to walk the kite out into the water / on to the sand - but you shouldn't expect the launcher to have to initiate this! Interesting though that this little area has become much much more busy over the last few seasons, it appears that less people are happy or comfortable launching and landing down Padi's end of the beach. This is a shame.
