3rd Ave - Kiter accident at upper launch

[gatorjos]

So sorry to to hear about this unfortunate incident, I wish him a fast and complete recovery.

Have talked to a couple kiters who've had bad launch incidents, in each case they were using a new kite and bar. If something is not tuned or rigged right bad things can happen, and happen fast. Or it might be new de-power system you are not accustomed to. IMHO it is best to work out any kinks on a big sandy open beach with no rocks, beachgoers, etc, nearby if you can find such a location in your area. That's my two cents anyway.

Slingshot packs their Compstick with the stopper ball all the way down. If you don't notice this on your new bar you will launch at full power. Ask me how I know.


Wishing Lyn a speedy recovery....

[jsin138]

Slingshot packs their Compstick with the stopper ball all the way down. If you don't notice this on your new bar you will launch at full power. Ask me how I know.

I'll bite. What are you talking about? The stopper ball was pinning the bar against the butter box? That wouldn't be very helpful. Just sheet in a couple feet of trim line. jk

[WindMuch]

Slingshot packs their Compstick with the stopper ball all the way down.

Hey Jos - I've probably had 5+ new Slingy bars over the past 3 seasons and I've not seen one ship with the stopper ball all the way down...

Kirk out

[mikecim]

Any new update on how he is doing?

[usa4]

He's recovering...slowly but surely with operations & PT forthcoming.
1. Fractured pelvis
2. Vertebra in lumbar area fractured
3. Forearm compound break. Screws pinned; etc.
4. Hand missing some small bones (popped out) probably going to be rodded out, fused, screwed. May have some wrist damage so they may have to fuse.
5. Gash in skull; cat scan found a little blood, drained.

Huge thanks to Bill Martinson, Mo & Steve getting Lyns van back to his family from 3rd Ave.

[biba]

it sounds terrible and I wish him speedy recovery.

[etxxz]

scary.. how your life can change from a little mistake. Big repercussion with so much power on the line. Kinsley anyone..? hope this guy recovers 100%!

[jsin138]

Spent some time talking with Lyn the day before the accident. I noticed he was rigging a different kite than I'm used to seeing him on. After asking him about it, he shared his stoke for brand new gear, but also said he had the same kite in a different size so it wasn't all that new to him. Such a bummer to see him injured the following day.

"When in doubt, punch out". A kite landing on the rocks can be fixed by Sonny in 24 hours, we can't. Not criticizing Lyn, just a note for other, possibly newer, kiters who may be reading this thread. My best to Lyn and his family & a full speedy recovery.

-Jason

[shred_da_gorge]

Wow, just catching up on this news - recognize the name from windsurfing and I'll add my wishes for a speedy and full recovery.

...write your name and an emergency contact phone number on your board, kite bag, helmet etc. - one of the main problems was figuring out who he was...

Great advice jrc! I have name/address/phone on most of my gear (not just boards) but recently started kiting with my Road ID wristband for cycling. I feel it's a small price to pay for a potential lifesaver, but since it's waterproof I figure it can't hurt for kiting and surfing too. The link is http://www.roadid.com.

Also I'll second the advice on de-powered launching (without arguing the physics of it with an aeronautical engineer ;). Recently launching off the Hood River sandbar the launcher was a newbie who kept moving with my kite as I was moving to remove its luff. Another fellow watching the escapades came over and told me "oh, you've got your kite too de-powered!" and proceeded to release it fully. Jackass! I was a little ticked... re-de-powered it and yelled "I got this - and you (to the launcher), hold still and let me do the moving please!".

Another digression... someone mentioned Lyn was on a 10m Rebel and someone else mentioned it was new equipment. I know these kites well and can say the new 10m Rebels have much more low-end power than the old ones. My buddy has gone down a few kite sizes as he's upgraded his Rebel quiver annually. I've been using his 2012 8m which definitely pulls harder than my 2010 10m. My friend (who replaced his '08 14m with a '12 11m for SPI) would even conjecture it 'd be like flying a 12m in this situation. Of course there's no way for people to really know this, I wasn't there so can't say, and I don't get to upgrade quivers frequently ;).

Again - all my best for a speedy and full comeback Lyn!!

[gatorjos]

Slingshot packs their Compstick with the stopper ball all the way down.

Hey Jos - I've probably had 5+ new Slingy bars over the past 3 seasons and I've not seen one ship with the stopper ball all the way down...

Kirk out

Kirk,

My brand new rally from last month had it like that. The kite I nearly got into trouble with was my 10m RPM that I bought new in Boracay. I double-triple checked the lines when rigging for the first time, but failed to see the stopper bar was down all the way. Gave the thumbs up to launch only to realize I couldn't sheet out (don't recall if I had pulled some depower). It was very windy and a sketchy 10 seconds or so, but fortunately nothing bad happened. Boracay has a super tight beach , so there was no room to do anything...

Maybe I'm getting knock-off compsticks ;)