Near lofting (seriously) at Sherman

[jono]

All:

Just wanted to point out a very serious near accident that happened Monday at Sherman. A bunch of locals saw this so don't think I'm embellishing any of this -- this is what happened and it's very concerning. Those of you who saw it, please post your view.

While chillin in the parking lot, I met a nice lady who was asking all kinds of questions about kiting, Sherman, etc. Apparently she was a very adventurous and brave young lady from Toronto (and originally Russian named OlЯ I think) took a ride upwind with someone, not sure if it was a formal lesson or just a ride. She had no formal lessons, a friend gave her a couple hours of instruction at some point. She wanted to get time in the water so she got a ride upwind.

Monday was light from about 1100 to 1500, but then came up fast. Apparently this young lady rigged a 9M kite upwind at the drop-off zone. She was (forgive me for guessing OlЯ) about 100lbs. At 1600 it was blowing about 28 sustained.

I'm chilling on the beach at the main beach launch and see someone body dragging from way out directly to the beach. It was OlЯ. She was getting lofted out of the water to her ankles just body dragging and it took me a second to clue in, but I realized she was totally OVER POWERED, lost her board and was COMING IN HOT.

When I realized what was going on, I got off my ass and headed to the water line to grab her or do something. I got to the water line and as she could touch the bottom she was getting lofted a bit more. Her depower sheet was fully powered up so I yelled something about pulling in some sheet. She started looking at the cleat, but that was bad cause the kite started moving around. I told her "watch your kite" and realized the depower was not and option. If she didn't know the depower, I wasn't sure she would know the eject (chicken loop/primary release) so I didn't think that was an option either. I told her "I'm going to get you, I'll hold you down" but I didn't really think I could since she was SO overpowered.

She stabilized the kite and was still coming into the beach fast. At about 5 feet away she started getting nervous and punched her primary release (BEST MOVE EVER) and the bar went flinging by my head (and Donny who was next to me ready to catch her). I grabbed her leash and gripped down. She was getting pulled HARD to me and the blackberry bushes, drift wood line, etc. My plan was to body slam her if she met my elbows to prevent her from going into the driftwood/berries. As she was about to meet my elbows with the leash zooming through my hands, the kite hit the ground and everything stopped.

At this point people helped her get her lines fixed up, Andre (from Waddell) came in with her board 5 minutes after she landed (AWESOME), and we discussed the situation.

I am VERY CONCERNED with people getting upwind rides at 1200, launching and ending up on the beach around 1600/1700 with WAY BIG winds compared to when they left. I know people like to do this at Sherman cause downwinders are fun, but as we all know the winds get strong in the 1400-all night hour, so it's a bit concerning when newbies come in so lit.

I'm not sure how someone with NO LEGIT LESSONS can get a ride 2 miles upwind. I know students will say all kinds of things to get what they want, but I also think that a minimum knowledge should be required to put yourself in that kind of DANGER.

We are all aware of the accident that happened last year from this kind of activity -- I was there last year and I thought I was about to see the same thing again. Let's be safe and guide the new people in a good direction, AND not allow people with massive motivation and huge courage to put themselves in unrecognized danger.

[windhorny]

wow, glad she is alright. She definately seemed like the adventurous type no doubt.

Thats a really good point though, as the season starts to come in for sherman the winds can and usually do jump a bit after the early after noon session.


When a boat brings you up to the island, do they ride down with you as well?

[little e]

You can either get the boat to follow you for a bit more $, or you can just get it to drop you off...

[Greg]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Some people dont seem to have enough of it,
Others dont want to give it up.....................
This is an unregulated sport (so far).
Kiters have to use good judgement, ask lots of questions,
know what they are getting into....
If it's over their head- THEY need to say so, and then be
WILLING to PAY to PLAY..

The people in this sport that get hurt are either:
TOO COCKY or Too Newbie or a combination of the two.

Sadly- some have to die to get others to pay attention.
Sherman is an advanced/intermediate kite launch-
It's NO a place for newbies without supervision,
L.M.G.

[reyrivera]

Hey Jono,
Actually, that was Andreas from SF, not Waddell, BAK user name is earthquake. :mrgreen: I was the guy that you spoke with you briefly, the Santa Cruz dude.

After her adventures, I inspected her gear. Turns out some dude sold her a 9 m link with a modified profire bar. The amstel rope was one size too big so the stopper travel was too tight and the depower handle does not cleat properly. If she is reading this forum, I think she needs to go purchase a replacement rope from slingshot to fix her bar.

[reyrivera]

Oh, she also had a modified leash, no quick release, the leash was instead shackled to her harness.

[jono]

Rey:

Ah, thanks for the clarification on who got the board -- good work. Was probably lucky her board leash broke at the 12 Marker so there was no board coming in with her to the beach ;).

Yes, there was a bunch of stuff messed up with that gear, the hardline with no release on the secondary was scary. You did a good job looking that stuff over and figuring out what was going on -- when she said the bar stopper didn't work right I was really concerned, imagine that thing locking the bar in power mode and you can't get it out cause the line is too thick.

OlЯ: If you read this, sign up for an account and send one of us discussing this a message. We are all concerned about other kiter safety and I'm sure whomever you talk to will be more than willing to give you tips on gear, help you fix the gear you have (LMG helped me rig a new chicken loop line last year), etc. You handled the situation perfectly, but not having the situation at all is always best ;).

[couzteau]

Good Job Jono, watching out for what was happening out there. Regardless of everything that went wrong before you and others stepped in, it's great to see that people watch out and help. =D>

I talked to Olga (her real name, but common russian pronunciation makes it more like Ole) right before she took with the boat, because she lost her helmet. I'm really glad no one got hurt.

---
btw: my real name is Jochen.

[Czech]

About a week ago I completed my IKO cert, just to *learn* some more stuff. If you read these forums long enough and you observe people and their gear you will see that alot of the stuff out there is modified. It never made any sense to me to go out and modify gear, the testing that goes into this is far beyond what someone can make in their garage. The new IKO rules prohibit schools from using leashes, further all kites that will be recognized by the IKO must have a center *punch out* release not one off to the side that can be pulled only by one hand....Point is; keep your gear *stock* and in good condition and know your safety system *in and out* and you will be much safer on and off the water............."How many times have you punched out?" This is something that should be a *reaction* not something that you have to think about..... I am still having deep conversations with people that are convinced that board leashes are not dangerous.......

[earthquake]

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