Sherman accident 6/13

[yengis]

Hi all,

I've been following BAK for quite awhile and learned a lot from everyone here. I haven't posted since I still consider myself kind of a newb but felt I needed to get this one off my chest. I came to Sherman today for my first visit here, staying 5 days hoping to make some good progress. I just rigged up in the launch area and was getting ready to go when a young kid came running up from the beach screaming to call 911. He was really shook up so we knew it was serious. We called and went down to see what was going on. There was a kiter down and had pretty bad facial and head injuries. Myself and another kiter kept him down and immobile waiting for the paramedics to come. Luckily, he was breathing OK and had a decent pulse but he was really disoriented. After 15 really long minutes help arrived and the kiter was eventually airlifted out to Muir Medical Center. I think he has a long recovery ahead of him but he Hopefully he'll be OK. The camp hosts said it has been over a year and a half since they had an incident like this. I heard a few conflicting stories about what happened but he definitely hit a big log and his kite was in the bushes.

Part of me said I better call it a day but I felt like I should 'get on the horse' and go out. I ended up going out and had a mediocre session but felt better for giving it a go. I've got a lesson with Nat/Edge Kiteboarding tomorrow so looking forward to a better day.

Be safe out there everyone.

Greg

[dealbst]

Hey Greg,

I spoke with you just before I left tonight. I showed up just as the helicopter landed down by the lower launch and they loaded him up.

What I heard was this person has been kiting Sherman for quite some time. Some floks said he was having some difficulties (like over powered) at the Upper Launch. Kiters asked if he was okay and he said yes. An eyewitness from the water said he sent his kite hard one way then tried to correct and sent it hard over the bushes launching him through a group of young beach-goers and into the log.

If someone knows him please keep us updated on his recovery.

-Steve

[kitecrazy]

This is quite unfortunate. I hope to hear good reports of recovery and minimal injuries to the kiter and beach goers.

[le noun]

That sucks, please if somebody can keep us posted on the guy.
Now if he was really a sherman regular, I don't see how he could have rigged too big in the first place and then crash his kite and not pull his safety. That just seems weird to me.
But I guess things get really out of control really fast with our sport sometimes.

[dealbst]

Luckily no Beach-goers were injured--just shaken up. :shock: From what I understand this happened so fast I don't think he had time to pull his safety.

[sloughslut]

Poor guy ((( i hope he is allright.

[etxxz]

sucks more what he's gonna have to pay for that air lift... idk why, but this country may have great medical help, but damn you sure pay for it. just ask my little brother who fell down a cliff, had a big tree branch go through his leg and got a nice $15k helicopter ride to the hospital. lets not forget surgery for the removing the branch, 3 days inpatient. i think the total was around 40-50k for a little accident like this guy at sherman just went through.

i'd like to know exactly what he did to put himself in that situation. was it lack of experience? damn and everything at sherman is so pointy and thorny.. ouch

[NCKite_Ryder]

I'm a confident advanced (beginner advanced) rider and pulled a rookie move at Dillon the other day.

Launched my 8m, grabbed my surfboard and was walking out into the surf and noticed my chicken loop wasn't really around my hook, the donkey had slipped it forward and out of the hook but it was still somewhat tethered from the pressure of the donkey on the hook and loop... was basically about to unhook at any moment.

And it did right as I looked at it... the kite unhooked I grabbed the chicken loop like as if I stacked on an unhooked trick trying to recover suicide style, steered the kite back to 12, and then hooked back in. (if i didn't have unhooked skills I would of yarded myself)

In this specific situation the kite would of just fallen on the beach "depowered" perhaps knocking a few other kiters... But every situation is different... could of wrapped a kite, landed on a kid, ended up in a parking lot etc..

Its worth double and tripple checking your setup even if you are a professional. Accidents happen.

[marinkiter]

Yeah a few weeks ago I rigged my 9 (I had been on a 12 for my previous couple sessions so was used to slower steering). I also used my bar with 20m lines and I was used to 23m and hadn't been on 20 meter lines for a long time. Wind seemed light so my first power stroke I gave it some juice and I dipped it way too fast - just wasn't used to the speed of that kite with those lines. Tried to pull it back, started to over correct and as I felt it crossing 12 I just let go of the bar. I was fine and didn't get pulled towards shore much but it was a wake up call... always feel the kite a little before dipping it, and always be mindful near shore, especially when you are not warmed up and acclimated.

[OliverG]

Poor guy ((( i hope he is allright.

My sentiments as well, no one needs this. It's really unfortunate to go out for what's supposed to be a nice, fun day and have it end up like this.