triest om te horen
We had a fellow kiter die two weeks ago when he was lofted and carried 50m downwind and slammed into a concrete wall head first. He was using a 9m kite and the conditions changed unfavorably very quickly. He was using a snap shackle that under load was very difficult to release. There were two people trying to hold this guy down and they were beginning to be picked up as well. He was unble to deply his safety, got ripped from the grip of the two that were holding him down. It was a tragic event that got eveyone to start thinking more about safety both on and off the water. The rider was relatively new to the sport, 8 months and was on a 9m kite and the gusts we measured at almost 40 knots. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but if your equipment isn't set up correctly and you don't test it occasionaly, you're gonna find out the hard way. Anyway, i thought that i should share this info with those of you who like to ride locked in using shacklesand similiar types of devices.
We had a safety meeting to discuss allot if issues reagrding potential safety issues that if not addressed, will result in more accidents if people don't start using their heads in a different way. It all begins with the training they recieve when they take classes. I believe that knowledge is key and riding should come second. I feel too many classes are more about the practicle side of the sport(getting them to ride) and not enough safety awareness. The safety aspect doesn't end once the class is over. We all have to be more concious about our surroundings and especially understanding the weather. Thant's enough for now I guess.
http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2317163