On the Rocks at Hs. Lordships

[stone]

I think a more proactive approach could have been taken. Personally, if you have to be on a 14m Contra, you probably shouldn't be out.

I used to ride a contra 14 regularly, until I lost about 25 pounds and realized I just wasn't using it anymore (sold it in Texas). As others have pointed out, without knowing a rider's weight it is useless to generalize on appropriate kite size. I was at 3rd yesterday barely sufficiently powered on a 12, saw one guy on a contra 14 and for the first time wished I still had it.

[stone]

Apparently the kite is still in the tree as of this morning. Anyone got an extension ladder and a truck to move it with? I'm free during the day and would be glad to help out (either on the ladder or just holding it). For obvious reasons, we don't want that kite coming loose on its own.

http://www.sunsetsailboards.com/blog/41 ... y-kitemare

[reyrivera]

Probably safer to shoot the main bladder out with a BB gun. That looks like a sketchy ladder rescue.

[reyrivera]

Yuri's potato gun, maybe.

[robert-g]

Could this incident been avoided? Maybe!
The truth is more and more kiters will venture out to Berkeley.
We as a community need to do a better job at policing our beaches. To the newbie's.
Be honest with yourself and ask yourself if you are ready to kite there. Just because you can stay upwind at alameda does not mean you can do it at Berkeley , There are alot of other variables that you need to adjust for.
If you get into trouble, loose your board , what ever. Don't walk onto the rocks or the bay trail with your kite in the air. As you can all see that's a big no! No!. Put your kite in the water, roll up your lines and walk onto the beach with kite in hand.

Fortunately this guy didn't kill himself or worse, hurt some other person in the parking lot.

[CdoG]

iAm hearing thats what happen to this kiter
he lost his board upwind of the rock at hsloardships...
board drifted into the rocks he went into the rocks after it and slipped
inputting a kite loop....

yesterday as kiters were running in
kiters where trying to go out
when kiters are comeing in
its uslly becouse the wind is dieing

berkeley should not be your next location after alameda

3rd then sherm and next the race track
no board leashes, and now gojos

no hate here just ROCKS

[CdoG]

P.S.

the kiters running to get out, as we where running in
swam in

[mephastopholes]

There’s a valuable resource right here within this website for those pondering this location as a potential riding spot: https://www.bayareakiteboarding.com/for ... f=23&t=842
Read up on it here beforehand, especially noting the points about “not a beginner location… "If the wind dies and you find yourself unable to return to the Emery Point beach, you will have to come in at the long beach along the frontage road. You will have to dump your kite in the water well in advance of the beach, pull your safety and reel in your kite. No exceptions here… if your kite ends up on the road or highway you will be on the news and your fellow kiters will not be very happy!”.
And definitely ask the locals for advice. A keen eye will even note some of that local knowledge being shared in this thread along with the their concern for access: such as the wind line being much further outside as well as rigging the appropriate kite sizes. As previously stated, you’ve got to be honest with your own ability and know that you can make that immediate push upwind and get well away from the rocky shore. If the wind is light enough to warrant anything larger than a 12M, you’re basically gambling and hoping that it holds long enough for you to make it out and back past the rocks before completely shutting off. Better off just saving it for a windier day.

The guy who’s kite is still residing in that tree is lucky to only be needing stitches, but this could’ve turned out much, much worse.

[Greg]

Frankly-
This should be a reminder about HELMETS!!!
HAD this fella had a lid on, HE, like ME, probably would have saved himself (and others) allot of grief and expense (MONEY)...
Example: My little ride to the hospital (about 1.5 hrs total) to get cleaned and sewn up cost me $3500.. Trang's accident was a little different, he was knocked out and drown (FULL CPR to REVIVE, then MONTHS of COMA, 6 months IN THE I.C.U. nearly dieing of INFECTION.... His medical bills cost well in EXCESS of ONE MILLION DOLLARS). I know this as TRUTH because I lived it along with Trang.... WE BOTH were VERY LUCKY!!! I avoided spending the REST OF MY LIFE in a wheelchair by inches.
My son Frank DIED for failing to wear his helmet while skateboarding, he was 14 years old preparing for his 1st competition... MY BELIEF is he DIDN'T WANT to LOOK LIKE A KOOK with the pro-skaters around.... AND THEREFORE DIED OF PEER-PRESSURE!! (THINK ABOUT THAT)

Bottom line: HELMETS SAVE LIVES, and at less then $50 there is NO excuse EVERY KITER does not wear one....

BTW: Did you read the part about the Windsurfers trying to UNHARNESS the kiter???
Had this kiters kite not been caught by the tree he might be dead right now, or worse he might have hung one of those windsurfers. (sorry for the off-color joke).
TRUTH IS: A Helmet should be worn by EVERY KITER and that helmet should be ON BEFORE you hook into your harness...

[windhorny]

I had a few pretty close calls at pt. richmond. Got cut up pretty good by the barnacles on the rocks trying to climb out of the water due to not having enough power to get upwind. I didnt want to have to walk the 5 miles back. So I ended up very carefully walking up the mountain of rocks on the other side of the water way trying to get upwind by walking and then riding back to where I started from. Hard to visualize I know but it was really really stupid! I also ended up walking my kite in the air through someone's wedding which basically made everyone stop talking and just stare as the wierdo with lines attached to him hopped through the ceremony. I had no choice at that point but to continue, there were too many buildings and posts to land the kite.

Anyways, that was my last expedition with Don, who I named deathwish Don after seeing him pull some miraculous stunts off with self launches there.

I call it luck, but didnt walk away without learning a lesson. it is truth we should ALL wear helmets. And truthfully they dont look stupid at all. It is just a decision we all make for ourselves.

Just remember that humans were not designed to fly nor swim. we sometimes assume since our gear was developed by a large company that all the risk is on their hands. Everytime that heli flies in we are proven very wrong.