Sherman accident 6/13

[kitenaked]

[/quote]......And its always the same injury of someone getting lofted into the brush cause they have to keep their kite at noon.[/quote]

Yes, loftings happen when the kite is close to noon, but they happen probably moreso from lack of people's ability to think quick and adjust the kite, let go of the bar, release safety's, depower the kite while on land, etc...

Now deceased Matt Splatt got airlifted out a few years ago because of his board leash wrapped around his chicken loop and harness hook. Wind did come up, he was way overpowered, got lofted, unable to release (or perhaps wasnt quick enough... or didnt even try to engage the proper release...).

Leave your board at the beach before you launch your kite....or leave it at the beach when you are coming back in. This way you have an extra hand available to engage safteys or control the kite better.

Walking the path in or out with your kite at an angle also opens yourself up to a drag through the bushes.... seen that a bunch of times, but

Most people launch at the inside and keep their kite at an angle as they are walking the path to the water. It is otherwise tough to walk a powered kitebackwards...easier keeping the kite at an angle.

Coming in, I keep it up high cause it keeps my body facing the direction I am travelling down the path, but stay ready for shit to happen....

After your kite is secure, then walk back out there with a beer and pick up your board.

[sailfree]

Right of way always goes to the kite in the air already. Never be in a rush to get on the water. Your turn will come.

Are you talking about the launch area or the beach? I'm pretty sure it's the other way around near the beach. Rider in the water is safe, and should give way to the kiter launching from the beach. If you are talking about launch area, then I agree 100%. Not good to have too many kites in the air close by, better wait.

[friggin old guy]

When you're walking your kite back to the back area to land, you're setting yourself up for hindenburg or loft if you keep it at zenith. You can angle it but basically back fly it as you're walking down the path, especially if you sheet out. Kite at 12 on land is basically just a bad idea. That goes double on shifty/gusty conditions like it was this morning....south influence.

Beach is always an option for landing if you're OP'd since there are almost always people there to lend a hand if you need it. The less time you have your kite in the air on land, the less time for something bad to happen.

There is plenty of room at Sherman the way it is....but that assumes people just keep aware, move stuff out of the landing zone and watch before they launch/make the run in to make sure they're not getting in the way of somebody already inbound/outbound.

Sometimes you have to wait a few minutes......it can be frustrating when a whole herd of people come in just when you're ready to launch, but that usually indicates that the wind's either jacking or dying so it's time to evaluate what kite you're putting up...or whether to go out at all......

[recoprianto]

Baby proofing Sherman is impossible and is not the answer. You can never get away from the on-shore wind and big logs float in to the beach all the time. Rigging at the beach sucks on busy days because the area is small and if you get an inexperienced person rigging, it screws up the rotation in and out of the water.

Quit selling Sherman as a place where everyone can kite. It just isn't. Instead start spreading that kiters should stay away until they are proficient. Make it less beginner friendly and word will get out that you only go there if you can handle yourself.

Sherman is not a spot for folks to learn unless they are way upwind doing assisted downwinders and are being picked up before they get to the beach. I hate to be the guy that brings this all up, but it is all true.

This is a semi-extreme sport. People are going to get hurt from time to time. If you don't want to potentially get hurt, sit at home and watch netflix.

[sloughslut]

i learned at sherman before boats were invented, we used to walk back up levee ::)

[kitecrazy]

Reco's spot on...
(haha - Netflix. Who watches TV any more?)

[NCKite_Ryder]

Netflix Sucks...

I still think the lauch could be significantly improved without much work.

Like adding a "beginner" launch at Sherman... People are going to go out, regardless of their skill... i did, we would rock Sherman on old Fuels and get blown down the river and pick each other up.

[kitecrazy]

There is a semi-beginner launch at sherman. It involves getting a boat ride to kiteopia and launching there. It's side/side-off shore launching, lots of open setup area, plenty of down-wind leg room.

Adding launches is a lot of work...and where is a good spot for one?

Some of the things needed are permission from land managment (Levee district, private owners, county parks, etc), resources ( $$, time, people, materials), basic rules governing the use of said "beginner" launch and someone to maintain the launch after all the work is done.

Little baja is a good down-wind get out if you get washed from the county park but it is also an advanced launch site with side-on wind, riprap along the path into the water and barbed wire lining the launch/landing area.

[recoprianto]

i learned at sherman before boats were invented, we used to walk back up levee ::)

My words are referring to the parking lot launch. The levee is a different game

[le noun]

just launch from the beach then.

(yes Le Noun we know you are a bartender and kite Monday's at 11:00am).

You should stop by the bar for a beer after a Saturday session and tell me all about it. 8)