Sherman accident 6/13

[OliverG]

This is related and this thread made me try to recall this service. I think I will sign up for a Family Membership as the annual cost is really so low. Less than what you'd pay for iKite. Seems to cover most of CA...

http://www.calstar.org/
http://www.calstar.org/membership/default.aspx

I hope no one needs this, but like health, car or homeowners insurance you could be troubled even more so without it...

[Aloha]

First off, I hope this kiter is doing better. Things can go bad quick out there, and we've all had our sketchy moments in this extreme sport...

Ollie the Calstar link is compelling. For example does anyone know if it was a Calstar lift that picked this unlucky kiter up yesterday? I'm wondering if you have good odds of being within Calstar lift range at most places we kite to make the membership worth it...

[sc-surfer]

First off, I hope this kiter is doing better. Things can go bad quick out there, and we've all had our sketchy moments in this extreme sport...

Ollie the Calstar link is compelling. For example does anyone know if it was a Calstar lift that picked this unlucky kiter up yesterday? I'm wondering if you have good odds of being within Calstar lift range at most places we kite to make the membership worth it...

(retired paramedic speaking). The calstar deal is fully legit!! If you spend any time where you might need an airlift it is CHEAP insurance! It has saved many people tons of money.
Also, I believe some of the other companies honor the deal. Someone should confirm this but I remember the question coming up in the past. You don't necessarily get to choose what air service you get. Local dispatch will send the closest available bird. Calstar is one of the bigger providers and do cover a lot of the state but sometimes they are all on a call. There are several other companies out there and they all share coverage when needed. Around here it's usually Stanford life flight and Reach out of sac area. Since you can't choose I believe there is some kind of reciprocity but double check.

The cheapest flight is near $10k and it goes up from there. The annual cost of the plan is a no brainer.

[OliverG]

I suppose the reciprocity can be looked into but I ordered up the family plan on principle. Don't want to ever use it but AAA cost me more annually than this...

[cliftoncutshall]

I was running my lines when he launched. He did the way over powered skip to the top of the launch before he got under his kite. Dave and I both told him to punch out but he seemed determined to manage the situation. I offered a hold down so he could land his kite but he politely said "I've got it thanks". I asked him if he had any depower left and he said no. It was a flexifoil set up and I am not familiar so I could not tell if it was depowered. I suggeted again that he set it down but he said it felt ok. It was only a 10M. I put up an 11M right after he went down the path and was pretty lit but not unreasonably so. I am half way down the path when the 911 kid went running by. The guy was an unconscious and bloodied lump in the logs. A friend who is an EMT was near by so I deferred to him and got out of the way. "Went kiting". Great session but hard to focus on having fun and not be watching the scene at the beach. I waited for things to clear out before heading in.

2 Lessons learned

ONE) Shit happens! Regardless of how many precautions you take, an accident can happen to anyone, of any skill level, at any time. It might not even be your fault. There are some variables which are simply out of our control. Dusted off the helmet I bought when I started kiting and used it! Plan on being religious about protecting my skull. Don't ever wanna be "that guy".

TWO) Take Charge! I might have been able to stop this from happening. I know the whole he is a grown man and knows the risks argument but I am left with the feeling that had I been more assertive in my suggestion to put the kite down I might have been able to convince him to do so. The bottom line is even though it is not my responsibility, my conscience is not clear because even though he may not have known, I knew it was a sketchy situation and was shaking my head as he went down the path.

[recoprianto]

Does anyone know the identity of this person that was injured?

[CdoG]

Frist my deepest sympathy and best wishes to whoever got hurt.
Clifoncutshell
Thanks for posting that
The #1 thing we can do to help the kite community
is get involved when you see something sketchy going down
or some kiter acting out of the guide
Get Involved
it sounds like you did,shy from putting you hands on him

[amlerner]

I offered a hold down so he could land his kite but he politely said "I've got it thanks". I asked him if he had any depower left and he said no.

This happened to me at the racetrack a couple weeks back. The wind was light so I was self-launching an 11 m from a fixed point. I screwed up the launch, put the kite down and reset everything to launch again; another kiter showed up and helped with a second launch. During the time it took to reset the lines and launch again the wind ramped up so I should have been on a 7 m. The second it was in the air I could barely control it fully depowered. The kiter that helped with the launch quickly held me down and in a split second decision I backed out of the session and we landed it. I forget his name but he seemed like some holy apparition saving me from myself.

Shook me up pretty bad - tripled my AD&D insurance and made some resolutions (like check the wind again right before launch, don't be lazy about scaling down the kite if necessary and return to wearing a helmet)

[sloughslut]

Does anyone know the identity of this person that was injured?

I know who it was but dont know him well, i have seen him around since i started kiting 03-04 dont know his full name but its his chocie to have his name posted online not mine. I hope he gets well, this could happen to any of us. I want to get the hellicopter insurance as well, cheap insurance.

[marinaTKB]

Whenever someone is there to help launch or land you, please take it! We had a recent incident in Pismo Beach involving a kiter who did a self launch with a knot he didn't see in his middle lines which didn't allow the kite to depower on a somewhat gusty day on the lower to mid 20's. before the very experienced kiter knew it, he was being launched over the dunes. He is currently paralyzed from the waist down but has been getting some feeling back starting 3 days after his accident so we are all just wishing him continued success in this area as he does his rehab work up in Santa Clara....