RRD 2010 bar and shoulder injury

[super_monkey]

I am pretty sure that these things happen to all brands depending on what you do and how you kite. I am partial to systems that make it very easy to let go of everything. Thinking that things would have been different if you only had a different bar is a waste of time. The 2011 bar could have done worse so if I were in your shoes (and I kinda have been with a dislocated hip some seasons ago) I would just be glad to be ok and learn from the number of mistakes that you made.

Heal up and get yourself a North :), jk

[GerritL2K]

Yes, i think you did get the setup from me at the shop. The DD should not have come off. Come by the shop when you are up to it and we will take a look at the bar and replace the DD for you. I too had an issue becoming unhooked a few times and started noticing that after a crash or on light wind days i would pull the bar in really far and my chicken loop would be almost off the spreader bar with just the DD holding it. I now practice quickly looking to make sure the CL is securely on the hook in these situations because no DD will for sure hold the CL on if it not all the way hooked onto the spreader bar. I noticed this mainly on another brand with a softer DD. The RRD seems to hold on better although slightly harder to pull out to unhook sometimes.

Regardless of anything I want to make sure you are stoked on your gear riding safely. I will go over some tips with you to avoid coming unhooked and for securing the depower cleat. I do agree i have had unexpected things happen with several different brands i have ridden and all seem to be worked out when i change my riding/rigging procedure a little since all equipment is different. I can demonstrate the most likely situation on how you can become unhooked on accident and how to avoid it. It is rare for the DD to rip off the CL unless the CL is has come off the spreader bar hook and the DD is wedged in the spreader bar and the only thing really holding your CL on. At this point all the tension is put directly onto the DD instead of the CL which results in damaging the DD or the DD popping off and becoming unhooked. The DD should only be a guard from the CL falling off the spreader bar when you pull the bar in too far or when you crash and the lines become slacked. I hope i am describing this correctly. I can demonstrate it much better than in words.

P.s. I am pretty sure i damaged my ear drum yesterday practicing back roll kite loops on the Obsession 12m and can only hear out of one ear. Not stoked.

Best regards,

Gerrit
Live2kite

[Piotrp]

Garrit - first, I'm sorry about you ear-drum... what a bummer. I know a really good ENT doctors (I had surgeries for surfer's ear on both sides). I hope, your condition is not serious.

I definitely will come by the shop. I'll be curious to hear any advice you might have. This forced out-of-the water period will be a good time for me to reflect on different strategies to keep myself safe in the future.

Take care and I'll see you soon.

[rambo]

Piotrp - you are smart in taking a little break. Not sure on your case but if you had a full separation of the shoulder your Labrum is probably torn and unfortunately physical therapy won't heal it back to the way it was. Also what happens when your shoulder separates is that it will push the other bone into your shoulder socket creating a dent in bone where your muscle will slide over it a increase the chances of further separations. I would suggest getting an MRI just to verify. Just my advice as from experience I think these are the most painful injuries. If you want a specialist I recommend Dr McAdams at Stanford Medical center, as he is the best though Eppely is good also.

[GerritL2K]

Piotrp - sound’s good. I too have bad surfer's ear with about 70% closure in both ears. Since i have been kiting most of the time and don't surf 5 days a week anymore the progression has slowed to a point that hopefully i don't need to get surgery however i do suffer from vertigo and dizziness on occasion. I found out that my eardrum is ok and i just had a lot of water stuck in my ear. It is much harder to get it out due to my ear canal closure. Stopped hurting and a day full of dropping swimmers ear drops did the trick. I thought the pressure and painful feeling and the way I hit the water did more damage but thankfully it was minor. Thanks for the offer on the referral. I may still get your ENT's info anyway.

Thanks again,

Gerrit

[Piotrp]

Thanks a lot, Rambo - frankly, I don't know if it was a full separation - neither the emergency-room doctor, nor the orthopedist "shared" that knowledge with me. It looks pretty far away on the x-rays, but I don't know how to read those. When the ER doctor manipulated it back into the socket, it slipped back quickly and easily (and stopped hurting immediately), but I don't know if this any indication of the severity of the injury.

I guess, i will do what I can and hope for the best.